DesertWind St Bernards is owned and operated by Tanya Rossmann of Okotoks, Alberta. An avid Arabian horse breeder and amateur trainer since the mid 80s, Rossmann grew up surrounded by dogs, cats and winged critters. Among those beloved canines was the Saint Bernard influence when her mother, the late Mia Rossmann, bred Saint Bernards. 
 

Tanya Rossmann, had the opportunity to own her first Saint In the Late nineties. Enamored by the breeds temperament and size, she welcomed Montana Mntn’s Timberbuck . Timmy was a wonderful addition to Rossmann’s growing collection of canines at the time. 
 

After a stretch of years without the giant breed in her life, Rossmann searched for a Saint Bernard worthy of starting a breeding program which led her to Tikki Smith at Lasquite’s Saint Bernards. Lasquite’s Queen Querida. ‘Midget’ and Lasquite’s Ask’er V Kasper were the first to join in the vision. Losing Midget at too young an age was a huge loss, but undeterred, Rossmann ventured to Switzerland in 2015 to bring home a male from the motherland, one whose pedigree boasts bloodlines du Grande St. Bernard. Smitten with her new addition’s bold, friendly temperament and obvious imprint of his parentage, a new chapter for DesertWind now included GCH Orpheus du Grand Blettay CGN PCD. Excited to see how his progeny would turn out, Rossmann’s first litter arrived in 2016. GCH DesertWind’s Alpha X Orpheus was one of those puppies and in summer of 2016 she was awarded Best Baby Puppy in Show at 4.5 months of age. 
 

Other progeny from the first DesertWind litter include CH DesertWinds Arielle X Orpheus who has just recently attained her conformation championship for Jill and Evan Perry of Aldersyde Alberta. DesertWind’s Ami X Orpheus who is actively competing in nose work trials in New York with Ashlin Cook, and has attained her NW1 NACSW Title in the spring of 2018. DesertWind’s Avellon X Orpheus is in training to be a therapy dog for Doug and Karen Harris of Ellensburg Washington. DesertWind’s Ameretto Lasquite boasts her home on Lasqueti Island with Tikki Smith. DesertWind’s Anouk X Orpheus lives with his loving family the Burnistons in Red Deer Alberta. 
 

Lasquite’s Chikira DesertWind joined the herd in February 2017. She is already working towards her Canadian championship too. 
 

Rossmann’s interest in the breed as a working dog lured her to enroll in agility and nose work classes with Orpheus which he has thoroughly enjoyed. Orpheus was awarded his PCD title in early summer, 2018. The pair are hoping to expand on all three of these events in the future. The next adventure.....stay tuned.

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Article Credit Cyndi Rowat - Langdon AB Canada (Sep 2017)