About Us
Soon after my engagement to my husband in 1993 we bought our first dog together. She was a very sweet Rottweiler we named Stormy. I began reading up on Rotts and the dog fancy and decided to try the conformation ring. It didn't take too long to figure out that Stormy just wasn’t meant for the show ring. Even though Stormy’s show career was short lived I knew that some day I would get back in the ring. Stormy wasn’t a show dog but she was a sound bitch with a wonderful temperament so we made the decision to breed her. Stormy had two liters before we had her spayed. She had large liters (13 each time) and next to no milk. We found out just how much work breeding can be right from the start! But taking care of those sweet little balls of fur was worth every sleepless night! The next few years were spent starting our own family but I continued my interest in the Dog Fancy.
In 1997 I began working part time for a vet who showed Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. My husband is an avid hunter who had a different dog for each type of game he sought. When we discovered that the Chessies hunted upland game and waterfowl we decided that they would be a great fit for our family! As Chesapeake Bay Retriever owners and Breeders we have gotten more than we had hoped for with the Chessies. Not only are they natural hunters they are instinctively protective of their home and family. This is important to us because we live on a self-sustaining farm and having dogs alert you when anything is out of the ordinary is a must! My husband gained a hunting companion that can do it all, I gained a dog that would do well in the show ring and my boys got their best friends!
Even though we have had Chessies for ten years we waited until a few years ago to begin breeding them. We wanted to make sure our foundation stock was sound and to chose the best combinations of breedings possible. We want every pup raised here at Hemann Hills Chessies to be of the highest quality and find the best possible families for them once they arrive! 
Our farm is in Troy Illinois, about 30 minutes East of St. Louis Missouri. Now that our children are old enough to help with the dogs we are making working the dogs a family passtime. Our youngest son, Mark is starting to show and Jacob wants to try some hunt tests so visit us from time to time to see what is new with the Hemann crew!
Steve, Rachael, Jacob and Mark Hemann
