Shannon grew up in Southern California on a thoroughbred ranch, but her parents also trained Arabians.  Shannon's mother was put in touch with Carroll and Ruby Hayhurst, of the famed Whirlaway Whippets, through Johnny & Karen Johnston, of Gypsy Whippets.  It then all started in 1974, Shannon was only 9, when she obtained her first Whippet from Carroll & Ruby.  Shannon's first 4 Whippets came from Carroll & Ruby of Whirlaway. 

At the time Whippets were only the beloved pets of Shannon, but she would occasionally attend a 4-H show and then later, AKC shows.  She grew up showing Arabians, having shown the Canadian National Champion Arabian Western Pleasure horse, "McMac" - as well as owning a 3 time National Champion half Arabian mare, She's A "Flame". 

Shannon met her husband Brad through Arabians as he was also a trainer, throughout this time she always had a Whippet.  They started their family of four... Sterling, 22 - Krystyl, 20 - Kassandra, 18 & Stuart - 13.  Her last Whippet, "Sil:, passed away at a rip old age in 1988.  It wasn't until December of 1999 that they got another Whippet, and then a new story begins...

Shannon got "Kevin" in December of 1999, after having moved from New York to North Carolina and no longer having horses -Shannon wanted to go back to her true love, Whippets.  We got Kevin (Kismet's Midnight Rambler) from Kiesha Crawmer who re-introduced mom to the show ring.  Krystyl quickly fell in love with the breed and wanted to show Kevin in Juniors.  So Krystyl & Kevin started their show careers together and had some great success in the Juniors ring, before Krystyl decided that she enjoyed the breed ring even more.  Together Shannon & Krystyl finished Kevin's Championship and before long became - Best In Field Winning, Ch. Kismet's Midnight Rambler MC, LCM, CRX, OTR - but before doing this, they got their second Whippet and future foundation bitch, "Sweet Pea" (SDW Diamondntheruff V Hasue) and between Shannon and their soon to be good friend, Barbara Wayne, they finished Sweet Pea.  Barbara lead her to her Winners Bitch win at the Canfield, Ohio Mid-West Specialty weekend, for a 5 point major.  She came home only needing 1 point to finish but they decided to breed her to Barbara's beautiful boy "Blaze" (SBIS Ch. Bohem Circus Runaway ROM) and when Sweet Pea was 5 weeks in whelp with her first litter of 10 puppies, she completed her Championship!  She became Ch. SDW Diamondntheruff V Hasue SC, FCh, CR.  During all this, they decided that they had to have a black and white Whippet, something Shannon always loved.  They soon found "Daisy" (Shannon Down Talkn To The Moon) and though she was never really shown, she proved to be the beginning of the Shannon Down performance dogs, having been an awesome lure courser herself.  She soon became Best In Field Winning, Shannon Down Talkn To The Moon MC, FCh, CRX, OTR.  Kevin, Sweet Pea and Daisy were the beginning of Shannon Down!

Sweet Pea and Daisy's kids and grandkids grace the Shannon Down household today, though Daisy is retired in a wonderful home nearby them, Sweet Pea still lives at Shannon Down as queen of the couches.  Their foundation litter came in 2002 when Sweet Pea whelped her first litter sired by Blaze.  This litter produced 10 stunning puppies or many different colors and types.  So far, as these dogs are still gracing the show ring and coursing field, two have finished their show Championships - "Brooks" (SBOS Ch. Shannon Down Blazing Saddles SC, CRX-3, OTRM-2) and "Leigh" (Multiple Group Placing, 2004 Top 20 Contender Ch. Shannon Down Blazing Angel SC, CR, OTR) and many others are pointed with one who only needs a major to finish his Championship - "Isaac" (SDW Lifelong Blazing Hot! SC, CR, OTR) who is also just 3 singles away from his AKC Field Championship!  Eight of the ten puppies have titles in the show ring, coursing, racing and/or obedience and therapy.

In 2004, the Shannon Down family moved to South Carolina where they now reside and they have been splitting their time between showing, coursing, racing and raising litters.  The year of 2007 was focused on AKC Lure Coursing where they, to their amazement, finished 6 of their own dogs AKC Field Championships as well as finishing Kiesha's boy "Murphy's" (FC CuRas A Clockwork Orange SC, FCh, SR, CRX-3, ORC) Field Championship as a Veteran. 

Going back another year, Kiesha leased Daisy to be bred to her, then new dog, Murphy.  Shannon and Krystyl got "Bosley" (Shannon Down Full Throttle V Kismet) from this breeding who has helped them in their journey into the race world.  Bosley soon became - Multiple NOTRA Meet Winning, FC Shannon Down Full Throttle V Kismet SC, FCh, CRX-4, ORC.  Bosley is working on his WRCh title (about 2/3 of the way there) and is pointed towards his show Championship.  They hope to make history one day with Bosley, making him the only Whippet to have the following titles - Oval Race Champion (ORC), Straight Racing Champion (WRCh), FC (AKC Field Champion) and Ch. (show Champion).  He already has two of these titles, is on his way to finishing another and just starting on the last one!

During the many years of being back in the Whippet world, Shannon Down has obtained and bred dogs of two different lines - the show dogs and the race dogs.  Having had Bosley enlighten Shannon to the wonderful world of racing, she got her first race bred Whippets from Don Papin of Windyglen Sighthounds and then from Genny Holland of Appaws Whippets and their race lines have blossomed from there, having leased a beautiful and fast girl named "Raku" (Wheatland Raku OTRM) from Kim Otero.  Their race lines are just starting and the show lines are still being built upon but most importantly all the dogs at Shannon Down and dogs that Shannon Down has bred are the most wonderful companions and live first and foremost as couch and bed dogs.

Shannon & Krystyl and the rest of the Shannon Down family look forward to the 2008 year!

Enjoy the photos below, more photos will be added very soon...