MFSDA SPOTLIGHT on member:
Suzie Schafer – Harmony in Dogs
Irish Setters have been a harmonious part of my entire life. My parents had them in the early years of their marriage and made sure that there was always at least one in the house. In 1996, we got our first show puppy from a prominent breeder in Michigan and I started competing in Junior Showmanship in 2000 at the age of 10. My mother and I would travel the Midwest to as many shows as we could so I could compete in juniors to qualify for Westminster and Eukanuba. Along the way I finished my juniors bitch, Tara, and our other young dog, Maxwell with specialty majors and group placements. Both of those dogs saw me through my High School highlights; homecoming, prom, and graduation.
After graduating college from Oakland University, I decided to show dogs professionally in the New England area. Golden Retrievers suddenly became a big part of my handling career, and I got involved with some wonderful breeders who trusted me to travel with their dogs all over the Atlantic coast. I co-bred my first litter of Goldens in September 2018.
I am fortunate enough to be a part of two very well-known Irish Setter breeding programs: Emerald Isl’s and Chappell Irish Setters. Debbie Davis (Emerald Isl’s) and Melinda Higby (Chappell) have been overly generous with their willingness to take someone under their wing as a young teenager and include them in their lives.
This rollicking breed has taken me on some exciting rides. Penny, GCH. Darnelle’s Pennies From Heaven, won the Irish Setter National Specialty in 2014, Best of Breed Morris & Essex Kennel Club 2015, AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Sporting Group One in 2015, and my first ever Best in Show at the Lagniappe Kennel Club 2017 from the veteran bitch class.
I now reside in Jacksonville, Florida with my beloved Irish: Penny, Sassy, Voldemort, and Dolly.
After graduating college from Oakland University, I decided to show dogs professionally in the New England area. Golden Retrievers suddenly became a big part of my handling career, and I got involved with some wonderful breeders who trusted me to travel with their dogs all over the Atlantic coast. I co-bred my first litter of Goldens in September 2018.
I am fortunate enough to be a part of two very well-known Irish Setter breeding programs: Emerald Isl’s and Chappell Irish Setters. Debbie Davis (Emerald Isl’s) and Melinda Higby (Chappell) have been overly generous with their willingness to take someone under their wing as a young teenager and include them in their lives.
This rollicking breed has taken me on some exciting rides. Penny, GCH. Darnelle’s Pennies From Heaven, won the Irish Setter National Specialty in 2014, Best of Breed Morris & Essex Kennel Club 2015, AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Sporting Group One in 2015, and my first ever Best in Show at the Lagniappe Kennel Club 2017 from the veteran bitch class.
I now reside in Jacksonville, Florida with my beloved Irish: Penny, Sassy, Voldemort, and Dolly.
