Silver

May 1, 2000 - January 28, 2013

Sire: Can/Am Ch Yan-KEE Marquis, CHOF, ROMX (Leroy)

Dam: Am/Can Ch Fantasia LadySlipper’s Apprentice, COM (Tammy)

Silver began his show career at six months by winning Best Puppy in Group at a Group Six specialty in Canada, followed by placing first in his Futurity Class at the Keeshond Club of America National Specialty. He and Geof were show buddies, earning Silver the Top Keeshond spot in the Keeshond Club of Canada statistics for 2003 and 2004. His show career ended too soon, when he lost some front teeth to a chain link fence, but he did get that rabbit!  He came out of retirement July 2013, winning Best Veteran Dog at The Canadian National Specialty -- his last hurrah.

Silver's greatest and most important contribution was as our Pack Leader, a position he held firmly with style and grace for more than a decade.  Always in the center of things, he welcomed guests, human and canine, with aplomb. He also approved those who would join the LadySlipper Kees Family. Silver’s presence compelled an adequate response from other dogs, even or perhaps, especially at our cookouts, when it was not unusual to have 50 or so dogs running around our yard.

Silver revealed his sensitivity and caring for his pack by bringing measured portions of kibble to Magic, months before her stomach cancer could be diagnosed. Silver treated every litter of puppies as his. He was always the first to visit new pups and took an active role guiding their socialization; firmly correcting anything he considered misbehavior with a certain look, grumble or snarl.  

When not on duty, our Silver Bells was also a champion cuddler.