368 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



desired one. On the Irish and English Spaniels; result, 

 dark liver and black the predominating colors, as a rule. 

 Large ears, and so rattle-headed that nothing could be done 

 with them. A second cross on the half-breeds; no better 

 results than the first. 



For my breeding stock, I always select from the litters 

 with a view to producing the color desired. I make it a 

 rule to breed a bitch inclined to white to a dog inclined to 

 black, and vice versa. By this I mean a bitch that showed 

 a lighter shade of color at the end of hairs than close to 

 the skin, and a dog whose coat showed as dark or darker 

 at ends than at the skin. I do not think it advisable to 

 mate an extra light-colored bitch with an extra light-colored 

 dog, or an extra dark bitch with an extra dark dog. The 

 happy medium is what I always try to strike as to breed- 

 ing stock. I have never failed to get good results as to 

 color when these rules were observed. 



I have known litters thrown in other kennels that con- 

 tained two and three cream- white puppies; I have known 

 of dark livers and blacks. In all these cases, it was no 

 fault of the breeding of either sire or dam, but simply the 

 result of improper blending of colors; and color I consider 

 one of the essential points in the Chesapeake. I have 

 known the eyes to be decidedly off color, both too light and 

 too dark, from the same improper cause. Breeding Chesa- 

 peakes is just like breeding any other class of dogs, a deal 

 of good, hard common-sense must be used to obtain the 

 best results. To overcome a weak or objectionable feature, 

 you must counter- balance it with the opposite feature; and 

 it may take two or three, or even more generations, to 

 eradicate it. 



These dogs are not early developers as to form, seldom 

 coming into perfect form and coat under eighteen months 

 or two years. On this account I would advise not breeding 

 under this age. Another advantage to be gained by late 

 breeding is, you have time to have your dog fairly well 

 broken, and then if he or she proves a successful sire or 

 dam, you are so much the gainer. 



