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The Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Relates the origins and history of the Chesapeake Bay retriever and explains the standards of the breed, what to look for in selecting a puppy, and how to train and show a dog
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2024
This is a review of the Howell hardback, first edition, third printing, from 1983.
This is actually an anthology of articles about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or Chessie. Other authors include:
* Anne Rogers Clark
* Eve Keeler
* Nancy Lowenthal
* Ellen Loftsgaard
* Janet Horn
* Mildred Buckholz (hmmm, imagine being stuck with that name).
The introduction is written by August Belmont. Now, knowing a lot about horse racing history, I nearly had a heart attack seeing that name. But no, this isn't that August Belmont, or even that other August Belmont, August Belmont, Jr. I have no idea who this freaking August Belmont is, or even if he's related to the horse racing August Belmonts.
AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH.
Now, back to the book. We'll, there certainly is a lot of information here, and a fair number of black and white photographs, most of which showing a Chessie with a dead duck in his or her mouth. I'm opposed to sport hunting, so not happy with the emphasis on hunting here. Most of the book deals with showing Chessies and training them for the field. It got so tedious that I had to stop at page 130.
I love dogs, but as a reading experience, this book was excruciating. The only reasonably readable part was at the beginning, when the history of the breed up to 1980 was given. It was all downhill from there.
There is nothing here about having a Chessie as a dog, instead of a breeding machine, hunting tool, or a way to puff up your ego through dog shows. August Belmont notes in his introduction that breeders trying to make family dogs out of Chessies have not been entirely successful.
James Michner, in his bestselling epic, Chesapeake, wrote that Chessies just were not as friendly or affectionate as Labrador retrievers. I have no idea if this is true. This book certainly didn't help.
This is actually an anthology of articles about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, or Chessie. Other authors include:
* Anne Rogers Clark
* Eve Keeler
* Nancy Lowenthal
* Ellen Loftsgaard
* Janet Horn
* Mildred Buckholz (hmmm, imagine being stuck with that name).
The introduction is written by August Belmont. Now, knowing a lot about horse racing history, I nearly had a heart attack seeing that name. But no, this isn't that August Belmont, or even that other August Belmont, August Belmont, Jr. I have no idea who this freaking August Belmont is, or even if he's related to the horse racing August Belmonts.
AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH.
Now, back to the book. We'll, there certainly is a lot of information here, and a fair number of black and white photographs, most of which showing a Chessie with a dead duck in his or her mouth. I'm opposed to sport hunting, so not happy with the emphasis on hunting here. Most of the book deals with showing Chessies and training them for the field. It got so tedious that I had to stop at page 130.
I love dogs, but as a reading experience, this book was excruciating. The only reasonably readable part was at the beginning, when the history of the breed up to 1980 was given. It was all downhill from there.
There is nothing here about having a Chessie as a dog, instead of a breeding machine, hunting tool, or a way to puff up your ego through dog shows. August Belmont notes in his introduction that breeders trying to make family dogs out of Chessies have not been entirely successful.
James Michner, in his bestselling epic, Chesapeake, wrote that Chessies just were not as friendly or affectionate as Labrador retrievers. I have no idea if this is true. This book certainly didn't help.
December 30, 2009
If you own a Chessie you know information on this breed is scarce. The info is solid however heavy on history, origin and records.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews