THE CHESAPEAKE BAY DOG. 



BY GEORGE W. KIERSTEAD. 



'OR the past dozen years, much has been written, pro 

 and con, in regard to this truly American dog; 

 American at least in name and characteristics, and, 

 I am inclined to believe, in origin. Strange to say, of all 

 that has been written and said, scarcely any two writers 

 agree as to the general make-up and appearance of the 

 typical Chesapeake. On this account, it is extremely 

 difficult to handle the subject properly, and it is almost 

 dangerous to advance ideas and ask that they be accepted 

 as authority. Having always stood on the results of my own 

 investigations and experiences on this subject, and having 

 met, in the press or in the judge' s ring, representatives from 

 every kennel of Chesapeakes in the United States, only to 

 see them carry off the field of battle or from the show 

 bench only such empty honors as were left after all higher 

 honors were bestowed upon the strain of Chesapeakes which 

 I champion, I fully appreciate the fact that a great deal 

 might be quoted that has already been written by men to 

 whom I give all due respect, but fear it would be of little 

 benefit to the reader, and that it might only confuse the 

 uninitiated. 



If you will stop for a moment and recall all you have 

 heard and read on the subject of Chesapeakes, I will ask, 

 Did not the relater, with two or three exceptions, tell what 

 some friend had seen, heard, or experienced in regard to 

 them, and tell little or nothing of his own observations and 

 experience? 



I know nothing, by experience, in regard to the Chesa- 

 peake Bay Dog' s work on the open waters of Chesapeake 

 Bay, and do not intend to discuss the subject from that 



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