January has always been a hectic month for working dogs, with extra days fitting into an already pretty full diary, especially keeper’s days, tenant farmer days and young boys’ days. Personally, I cannot believe I made it up to Manchester, picking up on the Friday and Saturday then out again on the Monday. The dogs, my 5 strong team plus a cocker loved and enjoyed it, but I went down with the dreaded cough and cold that so many people seem to have. The first week put me in bed for three days, week 2 and we are still full of it. A feeble reason but this is my best offer of any apologies for the lack of breed notes.
And, we are off! Manchester 2024, the first CH show to give us CCs. 31 dogs entered under judge Frank Kane; 8 absentees brought this number to 23 with 12 dogs (2a) 19 bitches (6a). BOB DCC & G4 (D Bell) Mahon-Hunns, Newton’s SH CH Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle JW; RDCC & BV Barker’s SH CH Next Generations Chesepi Range Rider (imp USA); BCC Middleton & Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe WGC EW’22 SHCEx; RBCC Mayhew’s SH CH Arnac Bay Flax; BP Thomas & Playle’s Riptide Gentleman’s Relish; BSB Corcoran & Jones’ Oakmarsh Kingsley Adsila.
It was nice to see 4 puppies entered, 2 dogs 2 bitches, all from different litters with 1 imported from America.
A few more questions that I have been asked, which are overweight dogs and high tails. I know I have answered the question of high tails previously. In my long-time breed experience, I have found tail carriage, length and shape is hereditary. A high tail can take 3 or 4 generations to correct. Kennels that accept high tails will have several, where this fault becomes fixed. To breed for and keep the correct tail is another one of those breed characteristics good breeders need to maintain. A high tail or a “foxhound” tail that curves over is not a gundog tail. Several years ago, I was annoyed and shocked to hear one of our CC judges say a gay tail was perfectly acceptable, I do wonder if this judge has ever worked a Chesapeake. The American Chesapeake Club Breed Standard, December 1993, states the tail should be straight or slightly curved and should not curl over the back or side kink.
The other question is about being overweight. At this time of year, I would have expected all Chesapeake’s to be in good hard condition and with muscle. I must admit that I was very disappointed at a recent show to see overweight dogs. Showing overweight dogs seems to be more and more common, when the urge to win a card or a ribbon encourages breeders to breed for more, more substance more body and more coat. When you stray from the breed standard you risk changing the breed. It is hard sometimes and look at some dogs, read the breed standard and wonder if the two are related. Much of today’s breed/type maybe influenced by American show kennels. I was recently sent much interesting reading from breeders/owners in America where they discus overweight dogs. Whatever we want, big, small, too much substance, not enough substance, plenty of drive or no drive at all, the bottom line is we can all make our own decisions when it comes to breeding. How many times I have heard of people breeding from a dog with faults, sometimes very bad faults, because they have found a good reason to breed it. There is such a wide parameter within Chesapeake’s that whether you line breed or outcross you very rarely know what you are going to produce. What I would say is if you breed for good nature, temperament, good health, endurance, speed and working ability you are three quarters of the way there. If you breed for the other quarter and lose it you lose everything! Just look at other breeds for proof of this.
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com