I am a member of the Canadian Kennel Club and the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada. I have been involved in dogs for over 30 years, exhibiting German Shepherd Dogs for 25 years and breeding German Shepherd Dogs for 4 years.
I started competing with my dogs in 1992. I first ventured into the obedience ring with Azzie. Together we achieved his Companion Dog title and his Temperament Certification. He was then officially known as Sunflower’s Aztec Asyak CD, TC and he was an amazing dog. A year later I stepped into the conformation ring, first I showed either Doc or Lonna’s dogs (they were both great with letting novice people step in the ring with their dogs). Then in 1993, I stepped into the ring with another German Shepherd Dog that had joined our family. Gamble was a long coat German Shepherd and became Roll of The Dice of Sunflower TC,HIC and was the dam of my first Champion.
In 1988, for my 12th birthday, I received my first German Shepherd Dog as a gift from my parents. Enter Azzie and he was the door way to a whole new world. As he was my first dog, I was responsible for everything involving him. We signed up for obedience classes with the local dog club. Through the club I met many breeders, but two stand out. Doc Coulas taught me all about handling a dog. And Lonna Fisher, was Azzie’s breeder. Lonna became my mentor in the world of dogs, both in showing and breeding. I also joined the local dog club, Skeena Valley Kennel Club and would later serve on the executive board.
In 2000, I moved from BC to Alberta. In Alberta work took over and I did not show as often. Then in 2001 I stopped showing for 7 years (although I would still go out and watch some shows). I still continued to own a German Shepherd Dog, Sunflower’s Immortal of Dilquin (my heart dog). In 2008, I decided to get back into showing dogs and purchased Kenna (BIM Ch.Edales Wild Thyme). Then my grandmother transferred the Chilco Kennel name to me in 2010. Now I was ready to breed my first litter.
In 1994 Gamble was leased to Lonna for a litter, she was bred to Sel.Ch.Cherpa’s Cincinnati v Woodside ROMC. From that litter I achieved my first Champion in 1996, Multi.Group Winner, Best Puppy In Show, Ch.Sunflower’s Kissin Kris CD,TC,HIC. The first time Kris was shown she was awarded a Group 1st, Group 4th, 2 Best Puppy In Groups and a Best Puppy In Show…I was hooked. Kris and I continued to show in conformation, obedience and agility (there was no rally at this time). In 1999 Kris was leased back to Lonna for a litter, I was not ready to breed yet but I was very involved with this litter.
I have loved dogs my whole life. My introduction to the world of purebred dogs began early. My grandmother established Chilco Kennels in 1967, under the Chilco kennel name she bred, showed and raced Siberian Huskies like Ch.Paija Takgami of Chilco. She also got involved with the Karelian Bear Dog breed and helped to get them recognized in Canada. She owned was the first of it’s Karelian Bear Dog to achieve a Canadian Championship. Growing up, my family had several Siberian Huskies that were bred by my grandmother. My first time competing was in a 4-H event with my mother’s Siberian Husky in obedience. My grandmother also ran a boarding kennel, along with her own kennel. It was on a visit to her kennel that I met my first German Shepherd Dog, it was love at first meeting. I wanted one of those loyal and intelligent dogs ever since.
In 2017, we continue to collaborate with our breeding efforts to produce the best German Shepherd Dogs possible. We look forward to the future of our breeding program.. Watch for our newest stars to be hitting the rings (Sunflower‘s Donner of Chilco and Sunflower‘s Liberty of Chilco). And watch litter announcements from our maturing dogs (Best Brace In Show, Reserve Futurity Female, Best Puppy In Group, Gch.Chilco’s Eclipse of Sunflower and Best Brace In Show, Champion Sunflower‘s ExpressMail Chilco Gch.major pt‘d)
In 2013, Sunflower and Chilco Kennels bred our first co-bred litter. Gch.Hausmekon’s Flag of Honor x BIM Ch.Edales Wild Thyme. To say I was excited would be an understatement. This was the start of a beautiful collaboration between our Kennels. This breeding produced Best Opposite in Maturity, Best Opposite in Futurity, Grand Champion Chilco’s The Fuzz of Sunflower (only the 2nd long coat German Shepherd to achieve a Grand Championship) and Best Brace In Show, Champion Sunflower’s ExpressMail Chico (Grand Champion major pointed) and Reserve Maturity Female, Reserve Futurity Female Chilco’s Ladybug of Sunflower.
In 2011 we (Sunflower and Chilco Kennels) imported a dog from the United States. We picked up Gch.Hausmekon’s Flag of Honor at the Canadian National, Codie was not quite 2 years old, he achieved his Championship the following year and his Grand Championship shortly after. He was both of our Kennels first Grand Champion. He was the perfect sire for my first litter
My start in showing dogs began after a life changing experience when I was introduced very suddenly, I must admit, to my life long companion known as RA (rheumatoid arthritis) or as I call it on my bad days - a pain in the butt! In October 1972 I walked into the Vancouver General Hospital unassisted and very ill with what we all thought was a bad case of the flu, three weeks later I walked, or hobbled, out on two canes. A week later I was the owner of a brand new four wheeled vehicle, known as my wheelchair along with my constant companion RA. The great thing is that my family, who was against any type of dog since I already had a dog, a collie cross called Tina, several budgies, many cats and a assortment of lizards, agreed to my purchase of a show dog.
I lived in Vancouver, British Columbia and my first show dog was a Shetland Sheepdog. Kingsgate's Katrina of Hi-Hope CD, a tri-colored female bought on November 24, 1972. She had taught me a lot. We found out she had a bone cyst in her front leg, followed by two knee surgeries, which did not heal properly. It was my vet's advice to put her to sleep at 4 years of age. It was then that I got a very scared Shepherd that was advertised in a local paper. In 1976 while at a sanction match I met Anja Heibloem (Hausmekon Kennels), who a few days later showed up with a beautiful female German Shepherd Dog puppy, which began my love affair with the breed.
My start in the breed did not go smoothly, that first pup was dysplastic. I than purchased my foundation bitch Athena (Ch.Semiahmoo's Athena Tee CD ROMC OFA H/E - a Bel Vista's Joey Baby daughter) , my first litter bred from an OFA "Excellent" sire to an OFA "Good" dam, both of which had full mouths and correct bites, produced a litter of 7 beautiful pups, all of which had missing teeth and were severely dyplastic. I made it my mission to produce healthier animals, that was over 45 years ago. Through all the years, the tears, heartbreak, joy and laughter, the German Shepherd Dog has always been with me. I have produced several Champions under my kennel name Sunflower, my first homebred Champion was a bitch named Ch.Sunflower's That's Just Twin. Raising dogs has shown me that with blood, sweat and tears you can achieve your dreams.
I moved from Vancouver to Terrace B.C. in August of 1980. In July of 1999 I moved to Edmonton, Alberta. Being in the city has cut down the numbers of dogs that I can have but not my desire to produce the best quality animals we can. The RA has worsened with age and I find myself depend on my "four wheels" more. And although I may be down in numbers, I am not out :). As long as I have the passion and I am physically able to do so, I will strive to breed the best German Shepherd Dogs possible. In 2000 I also met my life partner here in Edmonton. John came into my life and not only accepted the dogs, but readily joined in the raising and showing of them too. He loves to come to the shows and share in the successes we now have. He has even taken it one step further and gone into the conformation ring.
We imported a lovely black male (from Hausmekon Kennels) in 2011 and were excited to add him to our breeding program. Codie is the sire of our current dam Ch.Sunflower's ExpressMail Chilco (GCh.major pt'd). In order to continue to produce the highest quality of dogs possible we made the decision in 2013 to combine our breeding program with Chilco Kennels. And together we work to continue our goal of producing dogs of outstanding health, temperament and quality. We look forward to moving a head with our current and upcoming dogs. Look for us in and out of the show ring with our two new stars Sunflower's Donner of Chilco and Sunflower's Liberty of Chilco. Thank you for taking the time to visit and please feel free to email me at anytime. I love talking about this breed that holds my heart (German Shepherd Dogs), but I also love talking about all breeds of dogs.
I have am a life time member of the Canadian Kennel Club. I have also been a member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada, as well as the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. I served as a show secretary and/or club secretary for the German Shepherd Dog Club of BC and the Skeena Valley Kennel Club. I have also been a member of the Lower Mainland Shutzhund Club and the Lakes and District Kennel Club. Over the years I have dabbled in several other breeds (although always maintaining my German Shepherds), I have owned and/or bred Rough/Smooth Collies, Siberian Huskies and Karelian Bear Dogs. I also found my way to the SPCA (in BC), I became an Agent for them in Northern BC and assisted on many cases. One of my most memorable was looking after an abandoned seal pup for several hours before it was flown down to the Vancouver Aquarium.