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Family raised Chesapeake Bay Retrievers bred for companionship, hunting, and conformation.
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Family raised Great Danes for companionship and conformation.
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Family raised Labrador Retrievers bred for companionship and workability.
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Health Tested Parents, Breeder Lifetime Support
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
So you think that you can handle a Chessie? Can you outwit a dog that can talk back? Can you be a dominant alpha? Chessies are NOT for first time dog owners! They are great lumbering oafs often compared to a Labrador, but they couldn't be more different. It goes like this; "You can order a Lab (Labrador); ask a Golden (Retriever); but you must negotiate with a Chesapeake." Chessies are very hard headed and strong willed; they will test their dominance with you their entire life, so you must be the big dog at all times. They are thinkers and always two steps ahead, they keep you on your toes. Though the loyalty, trust, and enjoyment you get from the Chessie makes it all worth it. You can't ask for a better hunting companion, show dog, or family pet. The Chessie is a very versatile breed, you can hunt them, show them, or just have them around as babysitters. These dogs will ALWAYS go the extra mile to please you; they are amazing in the field as well as in the ring or on the couch. They will glue themselves to their family and treat your kids as their own. They are great with almost all other animals, though they tend to be indifferent to other dogs, not aggressive, they could just careless often times. They are also a TRUE AMERICAN BREED, developed in America. Oh and another thing, I hope you like dog hair! If you are intending for your new friend to be an indoor outdoor companion, invest in a GREAT vacuum, trust me you will need it. Especially since the coat of a Chesapeake should not be brushed, shaven, or even bathed often. The Chesapeake is a double coat breed, so PLEASE DO NOT shave your chessie!!
History of the Chessie.
"Chesapeake Bay Retrievers trace their history to two pups who were rescued from a foundering ship in Maryland in 1807. The male "Sailor" and female "Canton" were described as Newfoundland dogs, but were more accurately Lesser Newfoundland or St. John's water dogs. These two lived in different parts of the bay area and there is no record of a litter being produced together. They were bred with area dogs, with more consideration given to ability than to breed, to create the beginnings of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed. There are few records of the breeds of these early dogs, but spaniels and hounds were included. Dogs from both Chesapeake Bay shores were recognized as one of three types of Chesapeake Bay Ducking Dog in 1877. In 1918 a single type, called the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, was recognized by the American Kennel Club, and there have been few changes to the breed standard since then.
In 1964, it was declared the official dog of Maryland.[20]
It is the mascot of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Members of the breed were owned by General George Armstrong Custer, President Theodore Roosevelt, and actors Paul Walker and Tom Felton.[21]"
Read the rest of this article on WIKIPEDIA.
Tempermant
​The quintessential Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and an affectionate protective nature. Some can be quite vocal when happy, and some will 'smile' by baring their front teeth in a peculiar grin - this is not a threat but a sign of joy or submissiveness.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can make excellent family dogs when socialized properly. Some Chesapeakes are assertive and willful and may be reserved with strangers, but others are passive and outgoing with people.
Why do you want a Dane? This is a very important question. For the grandeur, for saying you own the largest dog on the block? Our program includes dogs that will NOT reach the 200# world record weights. Danes are not meant to be nor should they be that large. We believe a smaller Dane is a healthier Dane. WE DO NOT BREED FOR LOOSE JOWLS OR MELTING FACE! We may have European lineage in our lines, but if you want sag, look at a Neapolitan mastiff. Be ready to hear, "You got a saddle for that thing?" "What breed is that?" "Is that a dog or a pony?" Brush them off and move on. People will instinctively think your dog will eat theirs, comes with the territory unfortunately. They will blame your dog, pick up their precious little dogs, and all around make you feel like the bad guy. Do your best to maintain control of your dog with proper training and socialization and brush it off. Don't even get me started on the elitists' and the know it alls, the animal rights activists if you crop your Danes ears. Do you research and learn to have tough hide. These dogs are amazing and with training, socialization, and love (YOU NEED ALL OF THESE THINGS) you will have the legendary Gentle Giant.
Great Dane
History of the Great Dane
"Large boarhounds resembling the Great Dane appear in ancient Greece, in frescoes from Tiryns dating back to the 14th–13th centuries BC.[11]
These large boarhounds continue to appear throughout ancient Greece in subsequent centuries up to the Hellenistic era.[12][13][14][15] The Molossian hound, Suliot dog, and specific imports from Greece were used in the 18th century to increase the stature of the boarhounds in Austria and Germany and the wolfhounds in Ireland.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
Bigger dogs are depicted on numerous runestones in Scandinavia, on coinage in Denmark from the fifth century AD, and in the collection of Old Norse poems, known in English as Poetic Edda. The University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum holds at least seven skeletons of very large hunting dogs, dating from the fifth century BC to 1000 AD.
Hunting dog
A "chamber dog" with a gilded collar, Brandenburg (Germany), 1705
"Boar hounds" imported into Great Britain from the German Electorate of Hesse, 1807
In the middle of the 16th century, the nobility in many countries of Europe imported strong, long-legged dogs from England, which were descended from crossbreeds between English Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds. They were dog hybrids in different sizes and phenotypes with no formal breed.[23] These dogs were called Englische Docke or Englische Tocke – later written and spelled: Dogge – or Englischer Hund in Germany. The name simply meant "English dog". After time, the English word "dog" came to be the term for a molossoid dog in Germany[24] and in France.[25] Since the beginning of the 17th century, these dogs were bred in the courts of German nobility, independently of England.[26][27]
The dogs were used for hunting bear, boar, and deer at princely courts, with the favorites staying at night in the bedchambers of their lords. These Kammerhunde (chamber dogs) were outfitted with gilded collars, and helped protect the sleeping princes from assassins.[28][29]
While hunting boar or bears, the Englische Dogge was a catch dog used after the other hunting dogs to seize the bear or boar and hold it in place until the huntsman was able to kill it. When the hunting customs changed, particularly because of the use of firearms, many of the involved dog types disappeared. The Englische Dogge became rare, and was kept only as a dog of hobby or luxury."
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Read the rest of this article on WIKIPEDIA.
Temperament
The Great Dane is often described as a gentle giant, but he is naturally protective when the situation calls for it. He is affectionate and loves people, and those qualities should never be perverted by encouraging aggressive behavior. Keep in mind they are still puppies until about 2yo and we call them. "infants in a toddler's body".
Great Danes love children, but they must learn how to be gentle around them. And one swipe of that wagging tail will knock a toddler over, so it’s important to supervise their interactions. These big dogs can also learn to get along with other pets, especially when they are raised with them.
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Labrador Retrievers
About the Breed
The sweet-faced, lovable Labrador Retriever is America's most popular dog breed. Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions who have more than enough affection to go around for a family looking for a medium-to-large dog. The sturdy, well-balanced Labrador Retriever can, depending on the sex, stand from 21.5 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 55 to 80 pounds. The dense, hard coat comes in yellow, black, and a luscious chocolate. The head is wide, the eyes glimmer with kindliness, and the thick, tapering 'otter tail seems to be forever signaling the breed's innate eagerness. Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don't mistake his easygoing personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires lots of exercise, like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit.