Ever since I had to part with my puppies, when I moved to OSU, I have wanted to have another dog of my own. We have a lovely Old English Sheepdog named Oliver who I love to death, but Carrie has had it since long before she knew me, so its her dog, not mine. When I was younger I wanted a Dalmation, named LouDog, like the one the late Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell had, but with age that urge had dwindled, though I would not turn down a Dal pup, if offered one. I loved the playfulness, obedience, and frindship of my Lab, Murphy. The one problem I had with him was purely aesthetic, I would have wished in an ideal world that he was a tad bigger. Through some research I have decided, if I had the choice (which if I get another dog, odds are I won't) of any breed of dog, I would get a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. A Little info on Chessies (from the AKC Website):
General Appearance
Equally proficient on land and in the water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was developed along the Chesapeake Bay to hunt waterfowl under the most adverse weather and water conditions, often having to break ice during the course of many strenuous multiple retrieves. Frequently the Chesapeake must face wind, tide and long cold swims in its work. The breed's characteristics are specifically suited to enable the Chesapeake to function with ease, efficiency and endurance. In head, the Chesapeake's skull is broad and round with a medium stop. The jaws should be of sufficient length and strength to carry large game birds with an easy, tender hold. The double coat consists of a short, harsh, wavy outer coat and a dense, fine, wooly undercoat containing an abundance of natural oil and is ideally suited for the icy rugged conditions of weather the Chesapeake often works in. In body, the Chesapeake is a strong, well-balanced, powerfully built animal of moderate size and medium length in body and leg, deep and wide in chest, the shoulders built with full liberty of movement, and with no tendency to weakness in any feature, particularly the rear. The power though, should not be at the expense of agility or stamina. Size and substance should not be excessive as this is a working retriever of an active nature.
Distinctive features include eyes that are very clear, of yellowish or amber hue, hindquarters as high or a trifle higher than the shoulders, and a double coat which tends to wave on shoulders, neck, back and loins only.
The Chesapeake is valued for its bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and affectionate protective nature. Extreme shyness or extreme aggressive tendencies are not desirable in the breed either as a gun dog or companion.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Males should measure 23 to 26 inches; females should measure 21 to 24 inches. Oversized or undersized animals are to be severely penalized. Proportion--Height from the top of the shoulder blades to the ground should be slightly less than the body length from the breastbone to the point of buttocks. Depth of body should extend at least to the elbow. Shoulder to elbow and elbow to ground should be equal. Weight--Males should weigh 65 to 80 pounds; females should weigh 55 to 70 pounds.
Coat
Coat should be thick and short, nowhere over 1½ inches long, with a dense fine wooly undercoat. Hair on the face and legs should be very short and straight with a tendency to wave on the shoulders, neck, back and loins only. Moderate feathering on rear of hindquarters and tail is permissible.
The texture of the Chesapeake's coat is very important, as the Chesapeake is used for hunting under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. The oil in the harsh outer coat and wooly undercoat is of extreme value in preventing the cold water from reaching the Chesapeake's skin and aids in quick drying. A Chesapeake's coat should resist the water in the same way that a duck's feathers do. When the Chesapeake leaves the water and shakes, the coat should not hold water at all, being merely moist.
Color
The color of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be as nearly that of its working surroundings as possible. Any color of brown, sedge or deadgrass is acceptable, self-colored Chesapeakes being preferred. One color is not to be preferred over another. A white spot on the breast, belly, toes, or back of the feet (immediately above the large pad) is permissible, but the smaller the spot the better, solid colored preferred. The color of the coat and its texture must be given every consideration when judging on the bench or in the ring. Honorable scars are not to be penalized.
Temperament
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever should show a bright and happy disposition with an intelligent expression. Courage, willingness to work, alertness, nose, intelligence, love of water, general quality and, most of all, disposition should be given primary consideration in the selection and breeding of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Now I realize that this is the kind of formal language needed for judging Dog Shows, but you can get the idea. One of the things I like the best about the breed is its disposition. I want an active-ish dog, that can also handle a household, and is friendly. I also like that although it is friendly to people and good with kids, it tends to only respect one person as Master. Maybe I am being a bit selfish, but then it can be MY dog. Ah well, who knows, maybe someday.
TomC
Just a quick highlight on how those awesome Ohio State Buckeyes fared today. After stumbling the last two games, and behind strong performances from Ron Lewis (22pts) and finally, Greg Oden (17pts, 9 rebs) the Buckeyes polished off Memphis rather soundly, 92-76. They are now a member of rather rarefied air, being in the NCAA "Final Four". They will play the winner of Georgetown and North Carolina, which is a game that will be played later today (Sunday) at 5:05pm.
