Our Dogs

Capt. Bill Smith

Capt. Bill Smith

Active member
We all think that our dogs are special and they are, but I have to tell you a quick story about my seven year old Chesapeake Jack and a retrieve he made yesterday.....my 2 sons and I were at Reel Point on Shelter Island pass shooting ducks when my son Derrick hit a butterball that crippled land out in Gardiner's Bay. Jack took off after it and with reservations I let him go since I was in my Carolina Skiff. I just found out that Jack has bad spinal arthritis that I have been treating with a new diet and supplements that appears to be doing wonders. He'll never be 100%, but at least he doesn't seem to be in the pain he was and can move much better. Anyway he took off after the cripple and after swimming about 3/4 of a mile towards Gardiner's Island he got the bird and started back. Watching him I got off my anchor and went out in the bay to pick him up, but he wanted no part of it. Totally focused he just kept swimming with the bird in his mouth towards the beach as I watched him for about a minute before taking off and getting back on the anchor. Just about then he walked out of the water, up on the beach and took the bird to my son Derrick and dropped it at his feet. I can't tell you the feelings that ran through me. I was so proud and so happy for him.
Chesapeake's are really an exceptional breed, and after having dogs my entire life, I have to say that Jack, my third Chesapeake so far is the best damn dog I've ever had or seen. So much so that in my will it states that our ashes be mixed together and thrown off Reel Point on an incoming tide so that together we'll be in Coecles Harbor where I learned to hunt and fish as a kid at our summer house.
 
You witnessed what most of us do on a regular basis with our pups when we hunt with them a lot. Sounds to me like you have a winner there for sure. Talk about being focused---Jack is one special dog like you mentioned.
Al
 
Jack has always been an amazing retriever and cripple finder, some days at the preserve where we work him and my sons dog retrieveing 50 plus birds at a shoot easily, but with what his vet said was "the worst case of spinal arthritis he's ever seen" that retrieve brought tears to my eyes.

There are among the old-time gunners witnesses enough to pile up volumes of testimony showing that for courage, endurance and determination the Chesapeake Bay dogs stand in the front of all breeds
 
Capt. bill I have a dvd that we got thru the american chesapeake club, centers around some famous old chesapeales on the east end. there are great segments from a hunt test or field trial back in 39 or so. A few years ago I was talking to an old Long Island baymen/hunt guide/decoy carver/dog breeder, who was at the same event a year earlier. He told me about one chessie who chased a cripple so far offshore [strong offshore wind] that they lost sight of him. Everyone thought he was lost. Much to everyones amazement, he showed up with the duck two and a half hours later. By the way there is a shot of the montauk light, amazing how far inshore it was back then! The winner of the field trial is called Captain Jack, most people think this dog is actually Skipper Bob an old time chessie of legend. If you havnt already seen this dvd look up the Acc website I am sure copies are still availablle. As a side thought there is footage of skipper bob on an old dragger named Viking out of montauk I am sure it was one of the "Splinter Fleet" a bunch of old ww1 sub chasers converted to work boats. They did a tow which is probably in gardiners bay, not much by todays standards but the flounders are all nice big "Snow shoes" as my dad and grandfather would have called them. Rich
 
That's amazing...That field trial may very well have been here on Shelter Island. In fact about an eighth of a mile from my house on Coecles Harbor. I'll look for that DVD right away. It is a necessity! There were many great dogs that came out of this area, when I says 'dogs' you know i mean only one type. The Shagwong line was a famous one, and you used to see many more Chesapeake's out here than we do now, except I have to say that in the past few years, I am seeing more. Just ran into a guy yesterday in Sag Harbor that had a great looking male.
Capt. Jack is really down which is why I was in Sag Harbor at the Vet. Xrays show his stomach about 3 times its normal size and intestines full of pockets of gas. Also about 25% of his stomach is full of bones. Jerk got into something or found a dead deer. He's really feeling shitty, not eating and can't even take a crap. I just bought him some pumpkin pie filling. Read on the internet that it is a great laxative. Lucky that we have a great Vet here to go to as well.
I read a story years ago in Gun Dog magazine about a Chessie in Nova Scotia that took off after a crippled Old Squaw one afternoon. He too went over the horizon despite the owner calling him, screaming, etc. The owner finally went home when it got too dark and too cold, only to hear the dog scratching at the door, with the bird about 2 hours later!
Have never heard of Skipper Bob, but I know a few guys still around down there to ask. He must have lived in the old fishing village at Shangri La dock. Montauk is a great place. My best friend owns a marina there, and I'm there at least once a week. OK, enough rambling. I'm going to buy that DVD and take Jack for a walk on the beach. My 26 year old son has Jack's nephew Mahi. HE is another AMAZING Chesapeake! Only a year and a half old too. Killed 96 raccoons since last March and keeps right up with Jack retrieving. can do 50 plus birds at the preserve easily. Then they hit the couch, next to us!
I'll let you know what I find out about Bob, and thanks for the email. Made my day!
 
Didn't see the DVD offered, but joined and sent them an email about it. The more I think about it, the more I believe that field trial may have been here i 39......Can't ask my grandfather though.....
 
Capt Bill. the dvd is available by mail order send 15 dollars plus 3 dollars s&h to Joanne Silver ACC historian, 412 Woodbury Dr. Wyckoff, NJ 07418. Rich.
 
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