First, I would like to thank the Lifetime Achievement Committee and the American Chesapeake club for the honor of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020.
I have enjoyed representing the breed as a breeder/owner/handler in the show ring, obedience ring, performance events and Pet Therapy and have loved every minute of it. My concern was for the future of this breed. I have been striving to breed for correct form, function, temperament and health.
My whole life I have been involved in dogs, like many I grew up with a mix. Back then they called it The Pound. We lived in Jersey City, NJ. One Sweet Memory was my mother didn’t drive. We took the bus and brought a puppy home on the bus which was just too funny. My mother talked the driver into letting us on the bus.
As I grew up, I had Golden Retrievers and worked them in obedience. I remember seeing a Chesapeake and fell in love. I had to wait 6 months and I was lucky to find a pup in Pennsylvania from Homespun Chesapeakes. Many remember my first Chesapeake Coco Loco, Am/Can CH Homespun Silver’s Starburst CDX, JH, TDI, Delta, CGC. I never looked back and immediately signed her up for obedience classes.
Since I was now getting involved, I joined an AKC club (Ramapo Kennel Club) and met my obedience mentor Sue Cone. Since Coco Loco was show quality, I got involved with showing. Yep, and that started my love and devotion to the breed. A year later I got Sophie as a show/brood bitch. She was marvelous working all around Chesapeake Am/Can CH Rocky Creeks Just Sophie CDX TDI JH Delta CGC. I was fortunate to breed Sophie to CH Ashby of Shore Waters Bussy CD JH owned by Patsy Barber. That produced Am/Can/PR/World CH*Silvercreeks I Love Lucy JH WD CGC TDI Delta. Lucy became my foundation bitch and is the second top producing bitch in the history of the breed and many of her offspring and grandchildren became foundation dogs for other breeders.
I worked very hard to prove the sound temperament of the breed and all my dogs get involved with pet therapy programs. I was so proud to have my dogs represent the breed during 9/11 and helped open numerous hospital programs.
This led me to work for the improvement of the breed and work for the American Chesapeake Club. I have worked on multiple committees, the ACC Board and ACC President. I developed the ACC Club Library while Historian and developed the Dual Award Program. I have held numerous ACC Supported Shows and now working on my second National Specialty.
I would like to thank my two mentors Sue Cone and Dyane Baldwin. Thank my husband who passed Stan Silver. He was always there to support my challenges and he so loved the breed. So many people have always been there for me. Last year I was awarded the second AKC Chesapeake Platinum Breeder of Merit which took a lot of support and work from my puppy buyers and myself. I have made a lot of great friends along the way that also have always been there for me. Thank You.
My wish is for the next generation of breeders coming up to get themselves a qualified mentor and continue for the betterment of the breed.
Thank You.
Respectfully,
Joanne Silver