North Flow Chesapeakes

04/10/2026

I Loved Them First ❤️
Dear past and future puppy owners,
I loved them first. I thought of you years before you even realized. I planned for and cared about your baby long before you started thinking of adding to your family. I worried about your future with that puppy before you knew there would be one.
There were hours upon hours spent researching lines for the parents of your puppies. Going over breeder after breeder, choosing not only my pet but looking for a dog that will make you your pet. Worrying if you'd be happy, if I had chosen correctly and your puppy would grow up healthy and happy. Going over puppy after puppy with fellow breeders, running over my program with as many knowledgeable breeders as I can, determined to not miss anything. Tracing lines back as far as I could, learning the ins and outs not only for my knowledge but so that I was informed, prepared to go over every detail with you, to answer the questions that sometimes you don't even ask.
Then there's years of watching your puppies parents grow. Loving them and enjoying them as part of my family. Taking them every where I can, training them, socializing them, watching how they fill out. Asking myself I had made the right choice in both of them. Scrutinizing their conformation, how they move, and their temperament. There was the stress of health testing. Praying not only that my babies were healthy but that they had the genes to make your baby healthy.
Finally came the time to put your puppy’s parents together. For the next 63 days I worried, I obsessed, I grew excited. I watched your puppy’s mom like a hawk. Making sure my baby was okay, monitoring her diet better than I do my own. Concerned that she was getting enough of the right nutrients and that your growing baby was getting the best start possible. I spent hours on the couch, floor, and dog bed with her watching her tummy grow and anxiously waiting. As your baby and mine grew I laid my hands on her tummy and felt the first movements of your puppy. As the time grew close I spent most nights in the nursery with her. Making sure she didn't go into labor without me knowing, in case something went wrong and one of our babies needed help. When labor started my whole life stopped. I spent every second with her. Your baby was born into my hands and I held my breath as I cleaned them up, watching for movement and breathing, cleaning them, checking them over, and wondering if you'd love them as much as I already did. I helped your baby’s brother when mom got tired and he was stuck. I cried when your baby’s sister didn't make it.
For the first 8 weeks most of my life was filled with your baby. Watching them grow and making sure I was doing everything possible to make sure they started their lives the right way. Making sure each one was getting enough to eat, enough socialization time, that they were dewormed and given their shots. I was the first person they saw when they opened their eyes. I spent my weeks playing with them and keeping them safe.
I searched for you and interviewed you. As you spoke I tried to read your character. Would you love them as much as I do? Would you bring them in as part of your family? Would you care for this tiny life that I brought into this world that I am responsible for? Some of you were turned away but some of you were welcomed into our family. The day you took your baby home was harder than I'd ever let on. I was excited for you but I was also terrified. Had I chosen correctly? Were you who you seemed to be?
My love and worry didn't end there. I thought about your baby regularly, saddened when I didn't get updates, ecstatic when I did. I hoped you were caring for your baby the way I care for mine. I answered your questions happily and answered them again just as happily to your baby’s siblings new parents. When your puppy’s sister ate a couch I stayed up that night she was at the vets, waiting to hear that she was okay. When their brothers parents decided he no longer fit in their life I welcomed him home, sorry that I had chosen wrong for him and promised him it wouldn't happen again.
I loved your baby first and I will never stop.
~Author Unknown

03/10/2026

Tribute came into season.
Excited to announce her upcoming litter.
(Sailor) https://www.chessiebook.org/d/67666/c
(Tribute) https://www.chessiebook.org/d/71212/c

02/11/2026

Izzy (Miss Red) is headed to warmer temperatures in South Carolina, and then eventually Ohio. She is co-owned so will live with her co-owner & come to shows with me 😍

02/07/2026

Charli (Miss Orange) on a long trek to Minnesota ❤️

02/05/2026

Sharing because this is s
Well said & true.

BEWARE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER IS NOT A DOG FOR EVERYONE ! I say this because a Chesapeake "Cota" won the second highest honor at the Westminster KC last night. He displayed a vivacious and happpy personality-a bit goofy at times. BUT he is also a dog that was selectively bred, well trained, socialized and under control. It is a breed that takes work-NOT a LAB or GOLDEN in attitude. PLEASE READ BELOW. ONLY DEAL WITH EXPERIENCED BREEDERS-the breed has health issues that must be tested for too. RESEARCH. Dyane

About The Breed
The Chesapeake Bay retriever is one of the few dog breeds developed in the United States. They were bred to retrieve ducks and geese in cold water of Chesapeake Bay often under harsh weather conditions. While primarily used as a hunting dog, the breed is versatile- Chesapeakes do drug & bomb detection work, search & rescue, pet therapy, and competition in every type of AKC events for retrievers. They were developed to think things out on their own, be a guardian of a day's shoot and have physical toughness and endurance. Chesapeakes are usually excellent companions for children. They do have a watchdog nature but proper temperament is intimidation not aggression. Be aware that the watchdog instincts sometimes do not appear until the dog is older which is why training must start in puppy-hood. Extreme shyness, aggression or protectiveness are not correct traits for this breed. Puppies & dogs that exhibit any of these behaviors are the results of either bad breeding, bad training or both. If you DO NOT want a dog with any potential watchdog tendencies and you DO NOT want to take time to find a reputable breeder, you DO NOT want a Chesapeake.
The breed is valued for its bright and happy disposition, quiet good sense and affectionate, protective nature. They are quite intelligent, very loyal and learn quickly. Combine all this with the previously mentioned watchdog traits, physical toughness and independent thinking, it is IMPERATIVE that the breed is trained and socialized from puppy-hood. If you DO NOT have time to train and socialize your dog, you DO NOT want a Chesapeake.
In general, a Chesapeake is a calm, sensible and capable dog tending to be low energy indoors and active outdoors. They are VERY affectionate and like to be with their owners, often following you from room to room. Training requires that you establish the proper dominant leadership role with your puppy/dog from the beginning. Puppy kindergarten and formal obedience classes are highly recommended. They also like to mouth clothing, hands and their leash as puppies-these are behaviors which must not be allowed to continue. Be sure to have things available to give them that they are allowed to carry. DO NOT play tug of war with your puppy or dog. Besides ruining a dog for retrieving work, it is also a game that can give the dog the wrong idea of who is the "boss" if you let him win. Chesapeakes like to be with "their" people and blossom the more attention and affection they receive. They will love you back in return more than you can imagine. If you DO NOT have time for your dog, you DO NOT want a Chesapeake. They are NOT a breed to buy and stick in the backyard. In this type of setting, both you and the dog will be unhappy with each other.
Chesapeakes are wonderful companions for someone who likes to do outdoor activities; who wants a close relationship with their dog; who enjoys training and working with a dog of high intelligence; understands the watchdog nature of the breed; wants a dog who does not require a lot of grooming; wants a dog who loves to swim and has or will make the time to be with their dog. The affection and devotion this breed can bring to you is more than I can describe. If at the end of reading this, you are hesitating about the breed- you DO NOT want a Chesapeake. When it is the right dog for you, you are definite this is the dog.

01/31/2026

North Flow Rolling Chassis on her way to New York 😍

01/26/2026

Look how smart these puppies are!

01/25/2026

Puppy party complete. Exhausted puppies, happy people 😁

01/24/2026

A few changes today.

01/22/2026

Changed up the play area a bit.

01/19/2026

New stuff today.