I owned my first Chesapeake in 1976, however I don't consider myself as having started a breeding program until 1979 when my first litter was produced. Here is a short history of how I got started in Chesapeakes and where things are today.
I owe my start in Chesapeake’s to Sam Johnson. In 1970 when I was 13 yrs old, Sam introduced me to the breed through hunting. He also taught me what a Chesapeake should be as a family dog as well as a hunting dog. In 1976 he gave to me as a gift, my first Chesapeake. Her call name was Toby. She came from James Masik in Wisconsin. Toby came to be Ch. Irish’s Shining Princess. She excelled at upland hunting and is the foundation of my breeding program.
I eventually decided I wanted to breed her. Chesapeakes were hard to find back then. So I took some pictures of Toby to the Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) show to look for a male. When I arrived at the benching area there were no people around. I walked along looking at the dogs in their crates. For whatever reason, the moment I saw Moose – Ch. Shore Waters Michigan CD, I knew he was the dog I wanted to breed to Toby. Against the advice of the show people, I chose Moose. I think it was his size that caused objection. Moose was owned by Maggie Fisher. I don't recall the name of his breeder.
The breeding produced one puppy that died shortly after whelping. I was on sick leave from work and I didn’t have the money for another stud fee, so Moose's owner told me she would accept 2 puppies in exchange for a repeat breeding. With the second breeding Toby whelped 14 puppies. From that litter I kept a male I called Jack – Ch. Irish’s Royal Knight. He became my first Top 10 dog. My Cousin took a female, Babe – Irish’s Lady Grace.
Also at that same DKC show, several people upon seeing Toby’s photo, told me I should show her. So with some introductory pointers from Kyle James of Jala Kennel, I taught myself and Toby how to show. Right after I started showing Toby I met John Wood of Blustrywood Kennel. John became my other primary mentor. He not only refined my showing skills, but also taught me how proper structure and movement were so important in the breed.
Toby was bred one more time in 1981 to Griffin – BISS Ch. Wyndham’s Algonquin TDX WD, owned by Gerald & Helen Szostak and Ed Atkins, Bred by Ed. A bitch named Jackie came from that litter.
Jack, Babe & Jackie - These three offspring of Toby’s along with their kids – Ch. Victor’s Ocqueoc Tedddybear, Ch. Irish’s Gallant Prince, Irish’s Crowning Glory and Ch. Feighners Royal Lady Tarabel, were and still are very influential in my breeding program. Through a few select outcrosses and line breeding back to Toby, Irish's Clover Leaf Kennel has produced 9 generations of sound Chesapeakes with great temperaments and outstanding natural hunting abilities.
Gary Irish
I owe my start in Chesapeake’s to Sam Johnson. In 1970 when I was 13 yrs old, Sam introduced me to the breed through hunting. He also taught me what a Chesapeake should be as a family dog as well as a hunting dog. In 1976 he gave to me as a gift, my first Chesapeake. Her call name was Toby. She came from James Masik in Wisconsin. Toby came to be Ch. Irish’s Shining Princess. She excelled at upland hunting and is the foundation of my breeding program.
I eventually decided I wanted to breed her. Chesapeakes were hard to find back then. So I took some pictures of Toby to the Detroit Kennel Club (DKC) show to look for a male. When I arrived at the benching area there were no people around. I walked along looking at the dogs in their crates. For whatever reason, the moment I saw Moose – Ch. Shore Waters Michigan CD, I knew he was the dog I wanted to breed to Toby. Against the advice of the show people, I chose Moose. I think it was his size that caused objection. Moose was owned by Maggie Fisher. I don't recall the name of his breeder.
The breeding produced one puppy that died shortly after whelping. I was on sick leave from work and I didn’t have the money for another stud fee, so Moose's owner told me she would accept 2 puppies in exchange for a repeat breeding. With the second breeding Toby whelped 14 puppies. From that litter I kept a male I called Jack – Ch. Irish’s Royal Knight. He became my first Top 10 dog. My Cousin took a female, Babe – Irish’s Lady Grace.
Also at that same DKC show, several people upon seeing Toby’s photo, told me I should show her. So with some introductory pointers from Kyle James of Jala Kennel, I taught myself and Toby how to show. Right after I started showing Toby I met John Wood of Blustrywood Kennel. John became my other primary mentor. He not only refined my showing skills, but also taught me how proper structure and movement were so important in the breed.
Toby was bred one more time in 1981 to Griffin – BISS Ch. Wyndham’s Algonquin TDX WD, owned by Gerald & Helen Szostak and Ed Atkins, Bred by Ed. A bitch named Jackie came from that litter.
Jack, Babe & Jackie - These three offspring of Toby’s along with their kids – Ch. Victor’s Ocqueoc Tedddybear, Ch. Irish’s Gallant Prince, Irish’s Crowning Glory and Ch. Feighners Royal Lady Tarabel, were and still are very influential in my breeding program. Through a few select outcrosses and line breeding back to Toby, Irish's Clover Leaf Kennel has produced 9 generations of sound Chesapeakes with great temperaments and outstanding natural hunting abilities.
Gary Irish