Who We Are:

My name is Bret Simpson, and this is Grace, my 5yr old female, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, that I adopted 5mths ago. We live in the small community of Prairie du Sac, which is situated along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Our “pack” consists of my wife Betty, and our three daughters, Hannah (11) Cameron (9) and Abigail (6).

Finding Grace:

I can honestly say, that at the time I first learned of Grace, our family was not considering adopting an older dog. We had recently lost our female Labrador, and as a family, had decided on purchasing a CBR puppy. But then I received a phone call from a friend, who had seen Grace and her information, listed at the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue website http://www.cbrrescue.org and suggested that I give the foster home a call. When I called Steve and Karen Olson, we were told that our family was 4th on the list of adoptive hopefuls, we discussed Grace and her story, and I was told that they would give me a call if she became available. Two weeks later I called again, and was asked if wed like to meet her. The rest, as they say, is history. From our initial meeting with Steve, Karen, and Grace, we knew she was the dog for us. She was great with my kids, she had a gentle temperament, and she listened well to commands given her by Steve.

Training:

I’m an avid hunter of upland birds and waterfowl. As we integrated Grace into our home, lifestyle and routines, I was assessing Grace and her trainability and her retrieving desire.

Grace and I would work together most everyday on small retrieving drills. During this time, I also had her enrolled in Obedience Classes, and we would work on the homework material from class as well. Chesapeakes are quick learners, and within a matter of weeks, not only was she performing the obedience commands, but I had also taught her how to “hold”, and retrieve her bumpers to heel/hand. With the success we were having with her other training, I moved Grace into field training. We worked over live birds, both Pheasants, and Chukars. She proved herself again, with a great nose, and a no quit attitude when finding birds to flush, or birds to retrieve after they had been shot. I was continually amazed at her ability to learn the concepts of upland hunting, and her desire to please, when we were in the field.

Why Rescue?

There are many good reasons to adopt a rescue dog. The general false understanding that rescue dogs can be problematic, is a misnomer. Most problems associated with rescue dogs are that of their human handlers, and their lack of understanding canine behavior. Rescue dogs offer a multitude of advantages. They are always spayed or neutered, they are current on all their shots, they are housebroken, and most have had some type of formalized training. Given the expenses associated with bringing a new pup home, housebreaking him, his first year of shots, and the boundless energy that puppies have for causing trouble, a rescue dog, may be the answer for your household.

Volunteers/Foster Homes Needed:

I became active in CBR Rescue of WI. 6 weeks after we had brought Grace home. I was asked to foster a 2 yr old female that was being rescued from a back yard breeder. Fostering a dog is a wonderful experience, by opening your home to a rescued dog, you are providing the foundation for the dogs return to a balanced life. Fostering consists of evaluating the dog, re-socializing the dog in a positive home atmosphere, determining the dogs character, working ability, and its likes/dislikes. It can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding to know that you are the first step in placing the dog in its new forever home.

If you have any questions regarding rescue opportunities, fostering, or adopting a dog, please contact me at 608/643/0437. Id be happy to take the time to answer any questions or concerns that you may have regarding the entire rescue process.

Thanks for reading about us.

Bret and Grace.