Swamp Collie or Bruiser?

[jmercer]

Here he is at 10 weeks, and at 10 months. By 10 months he had been to canada and hunt early season in Maryland.

[Glenn W]

Purely objective opinion here: the mother (right)/ daughter (left) slept under my son's crib every night for 2 years and would only let my wife or me near the crib---- yea, they can be on the protective side--- but as loyal a breed as they come:

[Capt-D]

hey Glenn,

did you train them yourself? how were they in hte field?

-D

[Glenn W]

hey Glenn,

did you train them yourself? how were they in hte field?

-D

These pictures are from 1986 or 87. I got the mother in 1983 after getting out of the Navy and while in Grad school (alot of spare time on my hands). I worked her just about every day the first year--- even if it was just 15 minutes in the back yard. Her first real retrieve @ about 9 mths was a crippled goose and the goose won--- pretty much a bust for the rest of that season as it scared the hell out of her. The next year, I was finishing up my thesis (i.e., I went hunting every day) and she came into her own. She had a love for finding a crippled bird and no dog loved the water more than this gal. (she once got swept out of Hatteras inlet from the Sound all the way out in the Ocean out of sight and ended up on Occracoke Island sometime much later in the day).
No credit to me, she just had the love to hunt--- She obeyed well, and had her Chessie moments for sure, but she was a once in a lifetime dog.
I gave the daughter as a wedding gift to my old roomate and best friend that moved to Louisianna. I venture to say she retrieved more ducks in her life than 10 hard hunting east coast dogs ever did--- limits were just a suggestion in Louisianna in the 80's. A bit timid for a Chessie, and not the cold water swimmer her mom was (likely from living in La.), she had the nose of a Blood Hound.
Before you get all giddy about the breed, I have had 3 others: One was from the best Field Trial stock I could afford (cost a bundle) and was never anything but a stew hound-- loved the water but didn't care about hunting. I then had a male that was ok, but nothing spectacular. I recently had a female I bought from Oklahoma of all places, and again this one drank from a silver bowl as a pup: good dog and pet, but she just didn't give a shit about obedience (ADHD if that's possible)--- gave her away here on SFC.
Point is, you pays your money and takes your chances. The key to "training" any water dog is paying your dues by putting in the time with the dog. Books may help but I don't put alot of stock in all that fancy shit. There are really only three steps (and stages) to training a good working dog that is also a family pet IMO: (1) love and bonding with the master (Swancaller stays with his pups 24/7 for 3 mths or so, no exceptions---); step 2 is obedience--- especially true with a Chessie as they will test you for a while. Step 3 is simply developing what comes natural to them--- retrieving in the water. There is a lot of backtracking between 2 and 3 for a couple years and sometimes a Chessie will really try you on step 1 during the first year.
Be aware that a Chessie with a good coat will smell like a rotten sock if you don't take it swimming or give it a bath from time to time.
Chessies sometimes have the reputaion of being less than friendly to strangers. They are instinctively protective of their home (with age) I will agree, but what good dog isn't?--- they just don't take shit from strangers on their turf. I've never seen a Chessie that didn't love kids.

[ncfish]

Before you get all giddy about the breed...

Excellent point Glenn- I've given to friends a lot of good house pet dogs through the years that just weren't hunters. And some that weren't even good pets! But for me, I 'd rather keep looking until I find the right dog for me instead of keeping one that I'm never going to be happy with.

I've never sent any to the pound though, all gone to good homes.

[Marlinmate]

I agree with Sea Draggin. The English Setter tempermant is perfect for a house hold especially with kids. They are loyal, obediant and very tolerant of my two boys, ages 3 and 1.

I saw her point a low flying ariplane one time!!!

[Glenn W]

The English Setter tempermant is perfect for a house hold especially with kids. They are loyal, obediant and very tolerant of my two boys, ages 3 and 1.

I saw her point a low flying ariplane one time!!!

Dang bro, you got you one of the smarter ones
Just kidding, they are great bird and family dogs---- by in large setters may not as buisness like as a pointer in the field, but who wants a robot or machine as a pet?.

[ncfish]

Boykin pics to give you a size reference...




After the hunt...


Just for political correctness, I'll include the other race...

Aaarrrggghhh, pirate pee...


About 4 months...


Don't think you could go wrong with any breed listed on this thread...

[Ace1st]

I think either of your choices can be what YOU make of them. IMO it all depends on the time you spend with them. Good Luck on finding your new friend.

[nauti dog]

i love our c.b.r. (chessie) but if your not a drinking man now you might be if you plan to have a chessie in the house. We have two. if you are thinking of a chessie i can give you the name of a top notch breeder and trainer from the eastern shore of MD. we bought our female from him and he field trained our male to a Jr. hunt title.