Blucollar Chesapeakes is a very small scale, hobby kennel located in the Capital District area of New York state owned and run by Michelle Dunn and her husband, Barry White.
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In 2002, my husband and I purchased our first Chesapeake Bay retriever from a breeder in South Carolina. We met the breeder at a field trial in NY, where he was competing, and drove home with our new pup, Ranger. That chunky, dark brown, bundle of fur grew up to be Wildfowler's Blucollar Ranger CD JH, the foundation dog of Blucollar Chesapeakes.
Then in 2003 we drove to Virginia and picked up a little female pup, Abby. That little, sleek, spit-fire grew up to be Blucollars Absolute Ambition CD JH, the foundation bitch of Blucollar Chesapeakes.
Ranger and Abby were the beginning of our passion for Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Ranger was a big, easy going goofball who loved everyone and had a strong desire to please. Abby was a streamline work-a-holic with a tremendous amount of drive and a very "independent" nature. We trained and competed successfully with them in AKC obedience trials and hunt tests where they both earned CD obedience titles as well as Junior Hunter titles.
In February of 2007 we decided to breed our first litter and in April, Abby had 8 beautiful pups! Unfortunately, Abby decided motherhood was not her cup of tea and this was the only litter she ever had.
But it was the only one we needed, as it produced the dog of our dreams, CH Blucollars Hocus Pocus RE UD MH (Hazel) and hence, the beginning of our lifestyle as we know it today!
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Currently, our main interest is training and competing with our Chesapeake Bay retrievers in AKC hunt tests, field trials, obedience trials and breed confirmation. We are also members of the American Chesapeake Club, Black Creek Retriever Club and Schenectady Dog Training Club.
Because this passion for the dogs is our hobby, and not a business, we both also work outside of the home (myself part-time and my husband full-time) to help pay for this "expensive hobby"! This leaves limited time to (properly) raise litters of puppies, so we generally only have a litter every few years. Basically, only when we're looking to add a pup to our household.
When we do plan a litter, our goal is to breed quality Chesapeake Bay retrievers that are sound in temperament and free from genetic diseases, while possessing strong natural hunting and retrieving instincts along with an independent, yet trainable, personality. We strive to produce athletic dogs that, with the proper training, can be successful in a variety of competitive venues, hunt waterfowl and/or upland birds by your side all day long, and most importantly, are wonderful family companions.
