Chessie, formerly known as Chocolate, was our first adoptee.  As detailed elsewhere, our much beloved Symba died very suddenly and very unexpectedly in June, 1996.   As we began to search on the Internet for breeders, we encountered the Keeshond Rescue page.  All it took was one look at the photos and one read-through of her biography and Eileen was sold on Chocolate; her heart just went out to Chocolate.

Chocolate was at Dina Zinnes's home in nearby Champaign, IL, so we arranged to meet Dina in early July.  Before we got there, Dina made a number of phone calls to check up on our adoption application.  Receiving a glowing report from our friends and from our vet, Dina welcomed us in and introduced us to Chocolate, as well as to a number of other rescues.  Chocolate took well to our Houska, and Houska took to her as well.   Most important, Chocolate captured our hearts as well.  Just look at that "black" tongue!  Who couldn't love this dog?  She came home with us four days later; on the ride home to Springfield from Champaign, we decided that Chocolate needed a new name, since chocolate is so poisonous to dogs.  Eileen picked "Chessie," and the name just seemed right.

Chessie is such a good-natured dog, always willing to
put up with whatever "indignities" we thrust upon her.

Houska and Chessie quickly became very good friends, playing together with great relish.  As more and more dogs have come into our pack, few of them ever played with Houska, but almost all of them play with Chessie.

One of Eileen's nicknames for Chessie is "Cinnamon Stick," owing its origin to what we suspect is her Cinnamon Chow-Chow parent.  Her other parent is certainly Keeshond, though we'll never know for sure.

Chessie is an insistent pup when it comes to wanting attention, batting at a conveniently placed arm or hand with her (usually wet and cold!) nose or with a paw.   She likes to play with stuffed toys as long as they still have stuffing in them; when she gets ahold of them, though, they won't have stuffing in them for long!   Chessie also is especially fond of bones and can chew one non-stop for hours at a stretch.