Our first Keeshond "Truffle", purchased from a pet store in 1983, led us to connect with other Kees families and membership in the nearest breed club. Club members introduced us to AKC shows and fun matches. Our second Kees "LadySlipper", while never bred or shown, deepened our love for the breed and inspired the kennel name, LadySlipper Kees.
It has been said that no one wakes up one day and decides to show dogs, but that is exactly what Geof did after retiring from his Security business. A bit later we acquired our first show Keeshond, appropriately named, Fantasia LadySlipper's Apprentice (Tammy). Geof and Tammy earned both AKC and CKC championships and national rankings in the USA and Canada, 100% novice owner handled.
Finding a reputable breeder willing to place a potential show dog with a novice who had never shown a dog had been challenging, and we eventually decided that we would need to breed our own next great show dog. Tammy became our foundation bitch. Our breeding program has produced dogs titled in conformation in both the USA and Canada, including several finished entirely from the Bred by Exhibitor class. and dogs titled in agility, obedience, and rally. Some LadySlipper Kees have earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen title and others have done therapy work, demonstrating the versatility of the Keeshond breed.
Our breeding priorities are to produce healthy, sound dogs that display the characteristic Keesie temperament that makes them such wonderful family companions. Our secondary goal is to introduce others to conformation showing and other activities they can enjoy with their dogs. We are proud to have cultivated a number of new Dog Show Families and to have fostered an extended LadySlipper Kees family of loving homes.