Breeding Goal
My goal in breeding Chesapeake Bay Retrievers is to produce puppies that will ultimately be natural hunters, have a high degree of inherited ability, are easy to train, and have the temperament to live successfully in a family setting. In short, I want to produce dogs that have the strength and determination necessary to retrieve any downed game under severe conditions without coaxing, or coercion of any type, dogs are naturally intelligent enough to know when to calm down and be a gentle family pet.
Ability can be enhanced, or eliminated through training, but after dealing with a great many dogs, I believe firmly that training can only go so far in making a dog "turn it up" when the conditions call for it, and to "turn it down" when they don't. I have seen some dogs that excel in the field, yet are so juiced up that they must be kenneled when not hunting because they can't calm down. Those dogs are not particularly enjoyable to spend a slow day in the duck blind with either. Conversely, I have been around a great number of dogs that were very well mannered and a joy to be around, but I have never seen one of them jump into an ice choked river in January to retriever multiple ducks when the temperature was well below freezing. I say multiple ducks because I have seen a couple of dogs retrieve one duck under those conditions, but they wouldn't go back in again.
My training philosophy relies heavily on the dog's inherited ability and desire. I don't force break, nor do I use an electric collar. Their need to retrieve is innate, not man made. I select only the most willing and natural retrievers to include in my breeding program. Dogs, that the average hunter can hunt and live with successfully with a minimum amount of training. I've had countless people (many of them professional trainers), tell me that I won't be successful with my dogs unless I force break and use an e-collar. Who knows, if my dogs were only judged in the artificial world of hunt tests, they may be right. I don't mean to imply that the dogs that come out of my breedings cannot be trained using today's conventional methods, but I have chosen to use as little force as possible and then select as breeding candidates, the most successful of those dogs. I've heard it said that force breaking takes a dog from "wanting" to retrieve to "needing" to retrieve and I don't dispute that. However, force breaking and e-collars will also cover up a lack of natural inherited retrieving desire, low trainability, general lack of desire and hard-headedness. I think that most trainers, whether amateur or professional would agree that they can achieve far more success with a dog that has a high natural desire to do whatever task is asked of them. My evaluation occurs on the river in January when most dog trainers are snug and warm at home because the water is too cold for their dogs to swim in. Each of my dogs will go in that cold river as many times as necessary. The choice is theirs and they choose to cooperate.
My dogs are used extensively to hunt waterfowl on the Gunnison River in Western Colorado. We go every weekend during the season and whenever we can during the week. Retrieving ducks and geese on the Gunnison is always difficult due to the swift current, but can be down right perilous when the ice flows form in late December. It requires a dog that is physically strong and courageous to successfully hunt it. I have used my dogs individually to do the retrieving work for up to four hunters during the January hunts when the other dogs in the blind refused to even enter the water. I have seen Deckster, my male swim after a goose down river until he was gone from sight only to return to the blind 20 minutes later with the goose, and be ready to go again as soon as he returned. Both of those efforts require more than simply a trained retriever, the dog must have a very high natural desire to retrieve and be physically suited to handle the harsh conditions.
I don't believe that selecting dogs to breed should be based solely on their bench and field titles. However, I do believe that my selection method will produce dogs that will be successful in both those arenas. The success enjoyed by the people who have run dogs from my kennel in hunt tests validates my belief.
Deposits and Guarantee
I require a $250 deposit in order to reserve a puppy. Preferences are given based on the date that your deposit is received. In the event that a puppy cannot be obtained from a particular breeding, then the deposit will be refunded or you may choose to carry it over to the next litter. Should you change your mind and decide that you do not want a puppy after you have been placed on the reservation list, then you will loose your deposit.
Your puppy will be vaccinated and examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to your receipt of the puppy and its general health guaranteed for a period of two weeks from the date the puppy leaves my kennel. This guarantee does not include any accidents or negligence on the part of the purchaser.
At twenty-four months of age your dog will be capable of receiving an OFA Certification. This guarantee expires once the pup has reached twenty-eight months of age. and is void if the puppy has been bred.
I also guarantee that your puppy purchased from me will be capable of receiving a CERF Certification at twelve months of age. This guarantee expires at eighteen months of age.
If a puppy has been found to be defective, it must be returned to me in good condition and transportation expenses must be paid by the customer. If the puppy is confirmed defective by a certified veterinarian of my choosing, then either the original purchase price of the puppy will be refunded or the defective puppy will be replaced with a puppy from comparable breeding with in one year. The defective puppy will not remain with the original purchaser.
As much as I strive to produce puppies with sound temperaments, I cannot guarantee the temperaments of the puppies I produce. Both genetics and the environment in which the puppy is raised contribute to the ultimate temperament of your dog, as I have no control over the environment in which the puppy is raised, I cannot guarantee the temperament.
There are no other guarantees or warrantees implied or intended unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. The above guarantee in non-transferable.
Purchase Price and Shipping Charges
(Purchase Price is subject to change prior to litter announcement)
I require a $250 deposit to hold a puppy, in the form of a check made payable to Dave Brennan. Please contact me by phone or email about the availability of our puppies and current price. The balance of the payment is due before the puppy reaches six weeks of age by certified check or money order. Any shipping charges will be the responsibility of the purchaser.
Our Second litter this year is a repeat of our 2024 litter between Tess and Jet. The decision was easy, given the outstanding feed back we received on the pups from the first breeding and the fact Tess and Jet compliment each other perfectly in their temperament, athleticism and health clearances. Pups from this breeding can be expected to be very birdy, sweet tempered, and exceptionally athletic and fast.
Jet's numerous field and obedience titles are a testament to both his training and more importantly his desire to please and trainability. Two traits that Tess shares that are very important whether or not you want to compete in competitive dog games, develop an outstanding hunting partner, or have a family companion.
Despite the fact that Tess has not had the opportunity to participate in the dog games, she has the same drive and desire to please. She exhibits these traits in the hunting field.
