Issue: 11/10/2024
Yet again the question of coat has reached me. It is disappointing when owners, especially novice owners, who set out to do the right thing are querying what a Chesapeake’s coat should look and feel like. The American Breed Standard awards more points to coat and texture 18 than any other single feature. The standard askes for a harsh outer coat. There are 7 disqualifications – a curly coat or with a tendency to curl all over the body is one of these disqualifications. Dogs with DQ coat are normally ones with too long a coat or a curly coat, although some coats will lack top coat or the woolly undercoat. How harsh a coat can be can vary. The coat should also have sufficient natural oils, to help repel water – not baby oil or coconut oil rubbed on. The thick woolly undercoat almost springy to the touch will trap air and keep the dog warm. All this in a relatively short coat that requires the minimum of grooming and no trimming. Why therefore are judges that award CCs selecting dogs with DQ coats? Soft, long, open, fluffy or curly. I thought all of our judges were taught what a correct coat should be like, it is hard for me to explain to novices why a dog with the wrong coat is selected. Afterall you would not get a curly coated Labrador or a long coated Curly, so why are judges not selecting the correct coats? I remember someone saying, and I can’t remember who, “that without the correct coat a Chesapeake could be a Labrador”!
The other point that worries me is the lack of knowledge and understanding of colour. Many judges seem to think Chesapeakes should be brown – wrong again! I cannot understand how judges can pass the Club’s assessment and be mentored but still not know the colours of the breed. Imagine judging Labs and only pulling out one colour because you did not know the other two were correct. There are 3 main colours in Chesapeakes, with a lot of dark and light between all 3. One colour should not be placed above another. A solid colour would place above a colour with shading, such as hound markings, providing every other aspect of the two dogs were equal.
This summer I have exhibited 3 pups from the same litter, all 3 are of a solid colour and all 3 are the main colours in the standard – brown, sedge and deadgrass. I have not received any remarks regarding the colour of the brown pup, but have had a few remarks on the sedge pup, the deadgrass pup has raised several eyebrows, with one judge saying “as long as the colour is allowed”. I was taken back as this judge did not have the knowledge of the breed. Maybe this judge did not need to attend a seminar or be mentored. Thankfully, I will add, that the colour of these pups did not detract from all judges who assessed them, placing them very highly.
Kirsty Watts has again done well this weekend at Birmingham and District Gundog and Terrier Club with her 10-month-old Oakmarsh Little Acorn winning BP & PG2. BOB went to Mahon-Hunns, Middleton & Heskin’s Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple (imp USA); RBOB Watts’ Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC.
This year’s Euro Dog Show was held in Slovenia. There were 3 shows over 3 days, the first was the Slovenia National Show judged by Dusan Paunovic – 4 dogs entered, BOB Veteran & BOB went to Sona Sehnalikova’s Yes Yes New Coco Kelecsky Poklad from the Czech Republic, by Penrose Zodiac. The second day was the Slovakian European Club Winner Show, judge was Andrzej Stepinski – BOB Brigitte Rast’s Sailors Bay Federica Gutierriz (imp Argentina) CH; Junior Club Winner BOB Briggitte Rast’s Cinnamonscent Masterpiece, by Baymoss Tailor (bred by Greg Raby), which is by Ch, Dutch Ch, Lux Ch, Int Ch Penrose Incredible (who was also a BOB Euro Winner in 2019) x Penrose Octopussy. Day 3 was The Euro Dog Show, 8 dogs entered, judge Peter Berchtold – European Winner BOB Sona Sehnalikova’s Princess Winner Kelecsky Poklad; BOB Veteran & BOS Sona Sehnalikova’s Yes Yes New Coco Kelecsky Poklad; European Junior Winner BOB Sona Sehnalikova’s Elegance I’m Love New Line Treasure. This might sound somewhat confusing to our system where we have only one BOB, but FCI may have the 3 BOBs – 1 for overall, the next for the veteran and another for the junior. All 3 may be awarded the CACIB and CAC which is the International CC and the National CC. There were no UK dogs entered but there is UK breeding behind many of the dogs that were entered.
Pontypool Canine Club are running another eye testing day on Saturday 26th October near Pontypool. To book a place or for more information please contact Debra Roberts on pontypoolcaninesociety@gmail.com
Janet Morris
01873 880271
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com