Erika Stephens
Located in Akron, Ohio
I was the child obsessed with animals, though as a child reptiles and amphibians had my heart more than anything. I wanted to learn about them, about their behavior, about their instincts, and every crumb of information I could find. Steve Irwin was my hero, his compassion and passion for all creatures was something I connected with. As I’ve grown, that focus has turned to dogs, and grown into an immense passion for the breeds I love dearly, the Beauceron and Siberian Husky.
I have been a trainer of pet dogs for many years, working on house manners, cute tricks, good behavior in public and so forth. I have worked, handled, and trained hunting dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, and many many pet dogs in my years as a trainer and as a late in life Service dog handler. My husband Chris has also been a trainer for years now, with a strong focus on Service dogs in particular, so we are a very dog oriented household.
It wasn’t until a few years before I set out to purchase my first Beauceron Oath that I really had higher goals as far as showing, titling, and proving my dogs in a competition setting. Now my household includes my four Beaucerons Gardy, Tamaki, Séance, Reverie, and Niffin. As well as our Siberian Huskies, Zora and Sparrow.
I consider my roles at Des Vents as a researcher, nutrition nerd, and the down and dirty chore person. I will be the face most often seen in the whelping box, caring for our litters at all hours when they are smallest, and the one responsible for their introductions to the world. As an individual with a physical disability and chronic pain, I cannot always dedicate myself to the most physically demanding sports, and sometimes can’t even show all my dogs on a long weekend. Instead my focus is on what I can assist with, the pen and paper, the ongoing education, technology, and record keeping. Not to say I won’t be out all the time with our dogs, because I love showing and adore sporting with them as well.
I have a particularly high passion for working with my dogs as a partner, activities like mushing or bikejoring, herding, and trailing game where we are a team first and my trust has to be in my dog are at the top of my list. As such, you will often see that many of my dogs participate in these activities, even if we are not competing on a national level or in races. To keep the crew busy, we also dabble in many other activities such as obedience, rally, kayaking, hiking, lure coursing, and dock diving.
We currently live in West-Central Ohio, and if anyone would like to connect to meet anywhere in the region I am always happy to do so. Traveling an hour or two, or further for an event meetup is not out of the question! The crew and I love to do meet and greets for the breed and I will talk your ear off for hours if you let me. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to chat or meet in person.
Breeding Goals
My goal as a breeder is to produce a versatile dog – one capable of the jobs the breed was meant for and beyond. My ideal dog is a jack-of-all-trades, even if that means sacrificing being a master of a specific lofty goal. Dogs in my home will often be our most versatile, steadiest of partners. Both within the home as beloved pets, and as dabble dogs for any sports that catch our eye. When breeding, I will aim to choose careful pairings to maintain temperaments and structure while elevating drive as desired for that pairing.
