Although I owned my first Chesapeake in 1976, 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 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 purchased and owned by Maggie Fisher. 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 Maggie 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. That was the extent of my breeding involvement with Maggie for many years to follow. Also at the 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 I have produced 9 generations of sound Chesapeakes with great temperaments and outstanding natural hunting abilities. My 30 + year breeding program has become the foundation of a few kennels along the way. North Shore Kennel (Canada) - Dana & Veronica Mercer started their breeding program with Keely – Am/Can Ch. Codin's Irish Mystic Keely, a bitch out of my Dexter – Ch. Irish’s C.K. Dexter Haven and a Jack granddaughter bought from Steve Hill. In addition to Keely, they have purchased 3 other Chesapeakes from me.  Their first Chesapeake was Irish – Ch. Irish’s Royal Canadian Cub (bred by Linda Lance), Bailey – Ch. Irish’s Royal Enchantress and Joshua – BIS, MBISS Am/Can Ch. Irish’s Royal Prince of Tides. They have done some line breeding back to my lines and also some select outcrosses.  They are producing quality dogs strong in breed type and ability. Feather Haven Kennel - Daphne Black was looking to improve the structure and trainability of her dogs as well as get back to our part of where her first Chesapeake - Nestle came from.  Daphne runs a good honest breeding program.  I have let her use quite a few of my males to get her program where she wants it to be.  She is producing sound dogs that excel in the field and are conformationally correct.  She is extremely satisfied with the results she is getting.  (see testimonial page coming soon) NorthWyn Kennel (formerly Northwind) -  Maggie Fisher came to me in 1996 asking to co-own a female.  She had been without Chesapeakes for a period of time and wanted to re-establish her kennel. That is when she purchased Reed - Ch. Irish's Whispering Northwind UD SH.  Later in 1999 Maggie came to me for a male to co-own. That male is Connor – Ch. Irish’s Northwind Navigator CD JH.  With my experience I directed Reed’s first breeding - a line breeding to Ch. Irish’s Mystical Merlin.  I also selected the stud for her last breeding, an out cross to Ch. Redlions Short Fuse.  These 2 breeding’s produced Logan & Fisher, which have continued in the re-establishment of her kennel.