Our backyard at Hope Springs Farm
Located in Fauquier County, Virginia, our farm is nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our 30 acres of pasture, woods and 3 ponds is the perfect setting to raise and train Chesapeake Bay retriever puppies. Started retrievers occasionally available. Owner is a Regional Director for the American Chesapeake Club, Blue Ridge Retriever Club member and was secretary/AKC delegate of Rappahannock River Retriever Club near Warrenton VA.
The only retriever made in the USA
(Above) Jezebel of the Hollow at the Chesapeake Bay with a blue crab, circa 1992
The Chesapeake is one of few breeds and the only retriever developed entirely in the U.S., for and by Americans, to retrieve our birds in our country. Chesapeakes originated on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to bring in the day's haul and guard the watermen's crab shacks. It was the first breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. All Chesapeakes are descended from two dogs shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland in 1802.
NEW! Become a fan of Hope Springs Farm and follow us on Facebook: share pictures of your Chesapeakes or other retrievers and your hunting adventures! We also put up to date information on planned breedings and our dogs on our page there.
Puppies are sold with 2 year soundness/genetic guarantee. Parents have hips/elbows xrayed/evaluated by OFA and ACVO CERF test on eyes, and other genetic tests including for DM (Degenerative Myelopathy--a devastating disease similar to human MS) and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy; causes dog to go blind). Primary emphasis on good dispositions, good looks and trainability. Nine generations of our dogs belong to satisfied customers and include those with hunt test and field trial accomplishments, show champions and obedience titles as well as family and hunting companions. We also host regular training sessions for all Chesapeake owners at our farm.
Follow us on Facebook or check our classifieds here for up to date info. on breeding plans, training days and started dogs; we occasionally hold back one or two pups from each litter that we like enough to keep for ourselves, but sometimes we can be talked into selling those to the right homes. These are pups that show exceptional promise: extra special, fanatic about birds at a young age, and fancy enough to show.
Occasionally we help broker dogs of other retrieving breeds, and because we enjoy a solid reputation in the retriever community, we are happy to recommend other breeders that we know from competing our dogs in AKC hunt tests and field trials. We do not badmouth other breeders because we don't need to. Our reputation and our dogs speak for themselves.
Our target market is the serious waterfowler, but Hope Springs dogs that have competed have earned placings in field trials and at the highest hunt test levels of AKC and HRC, the breed ring, obedience trials and other venues; and we believe a suitable dog for any athletic pursuit begins with sound, athletic and trainable parents. Some of our dogs currently running include HR Hope Springs Hush Hush SH, with Master passes, and HRCH Hope Springs Dowry MH (both are by Southern Md's Dances with Wolves MH**WDQ x CH Puffin II JH CD WDX) both out of our top producing matron Puffin, retired but still hunts and is sound and healthy at age 11. Even Lab owners who rarely look twice at Chesapeakes comment on our dogs' excellent work ethics, style and great dispositions. Usher is a proven sire; he has two titled offspring from his only litter old enough to compete: Hope Springs King Simba SH is doing master work now and daughter Panda, Hope Springs Double Puff** despite a late start, was a solid contestant before she aged out of derby and now doing Master work. Both were out of the late Jib, aka Hope Springs Rufsail JH** (DC AFC Sunday's Rufwater Canvasback MH x CH Puffin II JH CD). A homebred we sold and bought back with no training at age 2, Hope Springs Silver Lining is show-pointed and showing field promise, and Hope Springs Tanganyika JH is doing nice senior level work, she's one of the 10 puppies picturred in the top photo by Tugboat Woods Colt MH WDQ (bred here in 2000 and owned/campaigned by Tugboat Kennels) out of Hope Springs Rufsail**JH.
Above, fall 2010 litter out of MH/HRCH Sterling x Sandy MH** daughter Ceil aka Hope Springs Silver Lining sired by Rogue of Rainbow Farm***MH. Pictured below are all Chesapeake colors: ash, deadgrass, sedge and brown puppies. In the bottom photo there are three generations, from left, the late Jib aka the Thug, aka Hope Springs Rufsail**JH, next to Usher, HR Hope Springs Hush Hush SH, (red collar); matriarch CH Puffin II JH CD WDX, (red-brown in the middle) and Panda aka Hope Springs Double Puff**, the sedge puppy is Hope Springs High Cotton, show pointed including majors in Texas. If you want a Hope Springs puppy we strongly urge you to reserve it now, as most are sold before birth. Call Julie at 540/364-9480; we love to talk about our dogs.
Nearly all Chesapeakes love birds, and are proficient retrievers on land and water. Sadly, these are heritable characteristics often overlooked by large scale and show-only breeders. Hyper, aggressive and neurotic dogs can win in the show ring, but they're incapable of being trained so we stress disposition above all else. We've successfully developed a line known for being tractable, intelligent and sound with high prey drive and plenty of "go" which we encourage:
While we love a good looking dog, ours are capable of much more than mincing around a show ring. Unlike some who claim their dogs hunt because they chase squirrels, yard dogs, meter men and toddlers, we do hunt our dogs; we also compete in hunt tests and occasional field trials. BELOW, youngster Panda this fall with her first goose, a 17 lb. Canada. You can read more about her on the hunting dog brags section; she's featured in this story entitled "The Puppy Nobody Wanted". The good looking dogs in the bottom photo are three generations of homebreds from 9 weeks to 9 years.
Submitted by: Mike Ball on Jan 11, 2012
I got a Hope Springs puppy and feel very lucky to have a quality breeder nearby that actually hunts and competes the dogs. Our puppy had been introduced to birds, guns, and lots of things, and my family got to meet the adult dogs and all the puppies. We were impressed. Julie Reardon'
has an excellent breeding program and does a lot of extra socialization and puppy training. We'd highly recommend anyone who is serious about
hunting, competing or getting a confident, trainable puppy that is also good looking to check out Hope Springs.
Submitted by: D.M. & Schuyler Swift on Dec 10, 2011
A big thumbs up! Very pleasant to deal with and outstanding dogs. Knowledgeable and willing to go the extra step for the puppy buyer. Knows all the dogs in the pedigree for many generations and very honest.
Submitted by: Lee Ken Bora Salmon on Nov 29, 2011
Retrievers from America, bred for Americans.
Fine American dogs bred for the finest American hunter. You won't find a better Chesapeake than right here!
Submitted by: Lee Salmon on Nov 29, 2011
Pups from Hope Springs Farm are smart, tractable and a joy to train. They are very birdy and love to be in the field whether its for competition work or hunting with a family member. They are also very good looking dogs that are healthy. I would highly recommend this kennel to anyone seeking a Chessie.
Submitted by: Francois on Jul 06, 2011
We got our Chesapeake puppy Daisy from Julie in May from the Usher x Frosty litter and we are very pleased with her. Julie was great to deal with even though we are too far away to visit her farm and meet the puppies. She kept in touch almost every day sending pictures and updates and was wonderful even when we had shipping problems getting Daisy from Virginia to Quebec. We would recommend her as a breeder to anyone and our puppy is even more beautiful than her pictures.
Submitted by: Amy Adams on Jun 13, 2011
I drove from WI to VA to pick up my pup from Julie's Usher x Frosty breeding. I was looking for a mix of HT and FT in the breeding in hopes of training the pup for either forum. After researching several pairings available during that time frame, I selected Julie's breeding, am extremely happy that I did. My pup is all that I hoped for in body, disposition and potential. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Hope Springs Farm, and am very pleased with the Chessies that Julie Reardon's program produces.
Submitted by: Francois and Karyne on Jun 12, 2011
We got our Chesapeake puppy Daisy from Julie in May from the Usher x Frosty litter and we are very pleased with her. Julie was great to deal with even though we are too far away to visit her farm and meet the puppies. She kept in touch almost every day sending pictures and updates and was wonderful even when we had shipping problems getting Daisy from Virginia to Quebec. We would recommend her as a breeder to anyone and our puppy is even more beautiful than her pictures. She have a big potential to hunt test.
Thank you, Francois and Karyne
Submitted by: Josh and Charlene Masten on Mar 14, 2011
Julie has been a great Breeder to work with. We are getting a pup from Frosty x Usher litter and she has stayed in close contact with us through out Frosty's pregnancy and even during her whelping,informing us with any news. We are so excited to be getting our pup soon and getting him trained and ready for Hunt Tests. Thanks again Julie for everything.
Submitted by: Julie Hilton on Feb 19, 2011
I own Labs but have the highest respect for Hope Springs' breeding program and dogs, as well as the owner's wide network of contacts. Julie is very knowledgeable about and spends a lot of time caring for and socializing puppies, and is very well respected in the retriever community. Julie H., Winchester
Submitted by: Mark Smith on Dec 29, 2010
We were referred to Julie's Hope Springs Farm by the breeders of our last Chesapeake and we're thrilled with our puppy. He's everything represented and more--handsome, smart, trainable and good with our two children. We made several visits before our pup was ready, met her other dogs, plus attended a large Chesapeake field training day at Hope Springs and we'd recommend Hope Springs Farm pups to any serious waterfowler or hunt test competitor who wants prey drive, good disposition and good looks.
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