Buoy is Learning His Trade

In early 2016, at 4 months of age, Buoy went home to the UK to join his ancestral Arnac pack and co-breeder, Chrissie Mayhew. He went to live at the home his mother Larch left when she came to live with us in the U.S. He’s had plenty of time to be a pup, learn good manners, and develop his retrieving skills.

Last winter, Buoy got to tag along a few times on the driven shoots that Chrissie works picking up game. These early visits were all about exposure to gunshot and the all the stimulation of a busy shoot. He was tested on a few retrieves, but then would be put up in the Land Rover so that the experienced dogs on the team could put in their day’s work. 

This season, two year-old Buoy is now really learning his trade. He’s a full-fledged member of the team and he’s proving to be just the right kind of dog for the job. Chrissie just sent this news yesterday: “Buoy on Friday was not good ............he was BRILLIANT!  He started the day with a cock runner during the drive on a reasonably bare field ....a good one for a young dog .......he picked it and came straight back despite there being shooting galore and more birds coming down. He has a really soft mouth. He then excelled himself at the next drive finding numerous birds ...nearly all runners ....Blue brought one back and dashed off for another before I could take it properly and it scooted off into the undergrowth so Buoy went after it and hunted and found it for me .....I am so pleased with him....he is as good as his mother. He got the dog of  the day award in my eyes.” As they say in the UK, he’s turning out to be a “cracking” retriever.

We don’t have any photos of Buoy working on the shoot because Chrissie has her hands full with the team of dogs and all the birds they deliver to her, but we do have this lovely photo of him at a working test. Photo courtesy of Sue Worrall, Watersplash.

Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy

Ringo's 2017 Hunting Season

As Ringo's second hunting season in Minnesota begins to draw to a close, it was time to check in with owners Grant and Pam Springer to see how Ringo has settled in as Grant's hunting partner. We had a nice long chat...the kind breeders love to have...in which the Springers went on and on about just how much they love this dog. It honestly brings me so much pride to hear about his gentle nature with people and other dogs, his athleticism, and, his skill as a retriever. Grant set my inbox on fire with photo after photo of Ringo who has grown into such a handsome boy. I'll let Grant's photos do the talking. Thank you Grant and Pam for loving our boy and giving him such a great life.

Delta Competes at Game Fair 2017 in the U.K.

At 21 months of age, Arnac Weatherdeck Delta (BISS GCH Chestnut Hills Windjammer SH WD x Arnac Bay Arapahoe WD) competed in the Euro Challenge team retriever competition at Game Fair 2017 in the UK at the end of July and we are very proud of what she accomplished with her owner, Jérémie Guéneau. Jérémie and Delta were members of the Swiss Team in a competition in which teams from European countries compete in a field competition for retriever breeds. Delta was by far the youngest dog and many of the other dogs competing are seasoned Field Trial Champions. And, Delta was the only Chesapeake to compete in this competition!

Jerry had this to say about the experience:
"Delta's first Game Fair is over and I'm really pleased with her. The ground was very thick crop-like plants, heavy winds, loudspeakers and the shooting stands nearby made it quite difficult for the dogs to work. Also many good open dogs struggled. In that competition the scores are not so important to me, and they don't show the quality of my lovely chessie girl; but having my dog sitting calmy next to me (considering her level of energy, going out like a rocket and despite all the noise around, still working to get this dummy back...well, what more could I expect from my dog that hasn't even turned two yet?!"

The gorgeous photos of Delta working were taken by Polarstar Photography.

Jérémie Guéneau and Arnac Weatherdeck Delta compete as part of the Swiss team in the Euro Challenge at Game Fair 2017 in the UK. Delta's sire is BISS GCH Chestnut Hills Windjammer SH WD. Her Dam is Arnac Bay Arapahoe WD. Breeders: Gina Downin (Weatherdeck) and Chrissie Mayhew (Arnac).