Ceili and I had many firsts.  She eventually tolerated heeling enough to earn her CD and RE titles, although she always thought sit-down-sits were ridiculous.  We played with agility and she earned her NAP.  She also was my first therapy dog which is where she thrived.   She did a wonderful impression of a fur rug and could spend hours laying on the floor and letting the children fawn over her.  At home she loved to lay in the sun and watch the world go by.

Ptolemy was my first Chesapeake and was everything I wanted and more.  He was intelligent, loyal, mischievous, and loved to heel.  He would follow me around he yard for an hour while I mowed my lawn, always just there on my left.  He loved walks, fetch, and getting into things he wasn't supposed to have.  He earned his CD and RA and dabbled in agility before tearing a cruciate.  He was my first dock diver and thought retrieving in water was even better than retrieving on land.

Kjell has also come with many firsts.  He was my first show dog and first to earn champion and grand champion titles.  He was my first stud dog and first to sire a litter.   He was also the first of my dogs to earn lure coursing, fit dog and scent work titles.  

Aoife is also one of many firsts.  She is my first intact female, the first girl I breed and hers was the first litter I whelped.  Aoife was a COVID puppy and I was fortunate to be working from home when she was born and her breeder graciously allowed me to spend several weeks with her litter during their first eight weeks.  

Aili was one of the puppies in the first litter I bred; born and raised in my home.    

Through all of my firsts, my love for dogs, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers in particular, has only grown.  Each and every one has been unique - both fun and frustrating in turn - in their own way, yet everyone is such a Chessie.  I look forward to more firsts, and even more repeats with my Chessies in the future.