Chessie System
Thursday, December 9th, 2004
Is A Chesapeake Bay Retriever For You?
Is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever your kind of dog? It is certainly one of the most beautiful breeds, but does it mesh with your lifestyle? This hound was bred from the Newfoundland, the English Otter hound, and the Flat-Coat and Curly-Coated Retrievers in Maryland. As the name implies, the breed was designed for retrieving ducks and geese in the Chesapeake Bay, and as such is a tough, powerful swimmer with an oily double coat to keep it warm and dry in frozen waters. The dogs often enjoy sleeping outdoors because of their love of cold weather. The American Kennel Club placed Chesapeake Bay Retrievers into the Sporting Dog Breeds category in 1878. The dogs range in size from 21 to 26 inches at the shoulder and from 55 to 80 pounds.
In personality, “Chessies” can be taught obedience, but tend to be dominant when they sense their families to be meek. They are playful and get along with children, but can be a problem with other dogs in the home because of their territorial nature. This same characteristic can be an advantage in a dog who is needed for protection. Chessies are known for their loyalty to their families.
So, what would be the ideal family for a Chesapeake Bay Retriever? Answer these questions to see if you qualify:
1. Are you the outdoor type? Enjoy camping and hunting?
2. Do your friends consider you a born leader?
3. Do you have a big, rowdy, playful family?
4. Are you happiest when bathing and brushing a large, dirty, oily hound?
5. Do you have at least a large backyard? Preferably with a pond or pool? Live on the edge of a lake? With ducks? Do you eat them?
6. Do you live in a climate where it snows? Like to sleep with the windows open? In December?
7. Are you a soft-spoken librarian who likes nothing better than to curl up with a good book?
8. Do you live in an apartment? Alone?
9. Are you looking for a lapdog?
10. Do you live in a warm region, or at least keep your apartment nice and warm throughout the winter? And the rest of the year too?
11. Are you a vegetarian? Turn off Animal Planet when things get violent?
12. Is your idea of athletic activity a leisurely stroll in the park feeding the cute ducks?
If you answered “yes” to questions 1-6, then a Chesapeake Bay Retriever might be just the breed for you. If you answered “yes” to questions 7-12, consider a toy breed.
About the Author
Lea Mullins, a long time dog enthusiast, provides history of the Aussie dog. To get more information on history of different breeds of dog, visit TrainPetDog.com.
Fallen Flags: Chessie System at Weverton
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Sand Patch, The East Slope $29.95 CSX crests the Allegheny Mountains in Pensylvania at Sand Patch summit. This famous line has been the favorite of railfans for decades. Here is an up-to-date look at the former B&O line. We’ll explore the east slope from Cooks Mills to the summit in fall and in spring. Older power fights the unrelenting westbound grade, often with manned helpers. This is real mountain railroading! The narration c… |
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Mountain Grades of the B&O $29.49 Visit famous Baltimore & Ohio Railroad locations like Sand Patch Grade, Cranberry Grade and more. This material was shot in 1983, 1989 and 1991 with a mix of video and color movie-film dating back to 1969. See a colorful mix of power and a style of railroading that is vanished forever. This DVD even brings you the last Western Maryland units in service. Chessie fans will see lots of “tri-color” … |
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2101, Stompin’ on Sand Patch $29.95 Steam engine 2101 is the engine that died and then was resurrected. We see her as she begins her new life. After a life in Reading freight service and a stint hauling rail fans on the famous Reading Rambles in the early 1960s 2101 was left to rust in a Baltimore scrap yard. 2101 was then rebuilt in just a few months to pull The American Freedom Train. She took over for Southern Pacific engine 444… |
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Chessie System Embroidered Hat Hat Made In America $16.99 Black adjustable cotton twill hats with the licensed Chessie logo. We have found a source for American made hats and now offer them at a $4 up charge over the Chinese hats. All product is decorated in our shop on a decommissioned Air Force base in Sacramento but the origin of the blank is now up to you…. |
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Chessie System Sunset Railroad Train T-Shirt Tee Shirt Ash tees and sweats with Geeps pulling coal under a C&O style signal bridge. – – Junior Sizes T-Shirts and Sweatshirts – Adult Sizes T-Shirts & Sweatshirts – T-shirt sizes Child S through Adult XXXL – Sweatshirt sizes Child S through Adult 3XL… |
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Chessie System Embroidered Denim Railroad Train Embroidered Long Sleeve Denim Shirts with the licensed Chessie System Logo over the pocket. – Specialty colors are available at $2 more per shirt. Use the drop down menu to select your favorite color and sleeve length. – – – Sizes Adult Medium through 2XL… |
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Athearn N RTR ACF 2970 Covered Hopper, Chessie ATH23346 $12.99 This is an Athearn N Scale Chessie System/WM #604999 ACF 2970 2-Bay Centerflow Covered Hopper Car. It measures approx. 2.75″ long and has the following features: Fully assembled and ready for your layout, Photo-etched roof walks, Separately applied wire grab irons and brake piping, Detailed underbody, Razor sharp painting and printing, McHenry knuckle spring coupler installed (body mounted) and Pa… |
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N RTR ACF 2970 Covered Hopper, Chessie/WM #604952 $12.99 This is an Athearn N Scale Chessie System/WM #604952 ACF 2970 2-Bay Centerflow Covered Hopper Car. It measures approx. 2.75″ long and has the following features: Fully assembled and ready for your layout, Photo-etched roof walks, Separately applied wire grab irons and brake piping, Detailed underbody, Razor sharp painting and printing, McHenry knuckle spring coupler installed (body mounted) and Pa… |
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Athearn N RTR ACF 2970 Covered Hopper, Chessie ATH23348 $12.99 This is an Athearn N Scale Chessie System/WM #604979 ACF 2970 2-Bay Centerflow Covered Hopper Car. It measures approx. 2.75″ long and has the following features: Fully assembled and ready for your layout, Photo-etched roof walks, Separately applied wire grab irons and brake piping, Detailed underbody, Razor sharp painting and printing, McHenry knuckle spring coupler installed (body mounted) and Pa… |
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The Chessie Era $14.95 A delightful album of Chessie System photographs taken from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s – the Chessie Era. For 13 years the Chessie System existed as a holding company for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the Western Maryland Railway. During this time their locomotives and cars wore the brilliant yellow, maroon and blue paint scheme and the famous Chessie sleepi… |