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Few people consistently stand out and will leave an indelible mark in the history of our breed. Sandy Dollar is one of those people. This year marks Sandy’s 50th year breeding and raising Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, participating in and promoting the club while being an exemplary steward and role model for us in the breed and in competition.
Sandy has held numerous positions in the club including serving as Board Member and as the Regional Director for Wisconsin for almost 20 years. She selflessly helps whenever needed in regional and national events from soliciting donations, to running raffles, to sewing quilts for the auction. Sandy is also a lifetime member in both the Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club and the Madison Retriever Club, where she has similarly committed herself in service and in participation. Sandy was one of the first people to compete in AKC hunt tests. She was a high point judge for many years and judged numerous events per year at all levels. Curt and Sandy started Cur-San’s Kennel in 1966 when they bought a bitch named ‘Red Hot Cinder’ as Curt’s hunting dog. Their first litter was whelped in 1968. In the following years, Curt and Sandy, with their children, bred, raised, exhibited, trained and competed with their Chesapeakes. A skijoring sled still hangs on the wall over her whelping pens with the baskets and bushels of titles and ribbons won by their dogs. Sandy truly maintains the tenets that we all strive to uphold in the breed: conformation, field ability. trainability and good temperament.
Sandy breeds to ensure the best possible outcomes for the puppy and for the breed’s continuation. She educates her puppy buyers, giving them books or training DVD’s, and maintaining a lifetime of open-door communication if they ever have questions or need mentoring. Sandy advocates for club membership to all her puppy buyers. Curt and Sandy owned and operated a sporting clays course in conjunction with the kennel for 26 years. Their home in Hancock hosted the annual Chesapeake Fun Weekend; a tradition that has continued with successor RD’s. They moved shortly before Curt’s premature death in 2002, and Sandy continues to host weekly training days for puppy buyers, Chessie people, and fortunate guests. Two things usually happen at test or trial when you step to the line with a Cur-San’s dog – good dog people will recognize her breeding, and they will usually express their respect for Sandy. Few people in the retriever world, let alone the Chesapeake world, have such a reputation. The ACC is fortunate to have her as member, friend and mentor. We congratulate you on your recognition!
Submitted by J. Stancer (WI), D. Sunderlage (WI), and D. Pantazis (IL)