Our Story
Every breeding program has a beginning. Ours began with a passion for the Belgian Sheepdog and a commitment to preserving everything that makes this extraordinary breed so special.
Like many friendships in the dog world, ours began at a dog show.
When Don and I met Pat Snow of La Neige, she was planning a repeat breeding of Kodak and Risqué. We hoped to welcome a La Neige puppy into our family, and as the puppies grew, we made countless weekend trips from Kansas to Oklahoma. We spent our days visiting Pat and Hank, playing with puppies, taking photographs, and creating memories that would last a lifetime. What began as the hope of owning one of Pat’s dogs soon became the opportunity to learn from a breeder whose lifetime of dedication had earned tremendous respect.
That first puppy became the beginning of something far greater than we ever imagined.
As our friendship grew, so did conversations about the future. Pat believed this would likely be one of her final litters, and together we developed a path forward. It allowed Pat to remain connected to the breed she loved—sharing her knowledge, experience, trusted relationships, and her remarkable ability to place wonderful puppies in wonderful homes—while giving Don and me the opportunity to establish Prairiewind as our own breeding program.
From the beginning, our goal was never to recreate or continue La Neige. La Neige was Pat’s vision, her kennel, and her life’s work. It deserves to stand independently and be remembered for the extraordinary legacy Pat created.
Prairiewind is our own journey, built upon many of the same values that first drew us to the Belgian Sheepdog: health, temperament, structure, and breed type. It has been shaped by our own experiences, decisions, and long-term goals.
Over the years, our relationship became a true collaboration. Pat shared decades of knowledge, a lifelong friendships within the breed community, and a gift for connecting puppies with the right homes. Don and I immersed ourselves fully in learning every aspect of responsible breeding. We studied pedigrees, continued our education through Avidog Breeder College and Puppy Culture, imported dogs from Europe, whelped litters in our home, raised and socialized puppies, prepared dogs for the show ring, and continued learning through hands-on mentorship.
Together, we celebrated successes, learned from challenges, and encouraged one another to become better breeders.
One conversation has remained with me through the years. Early on, I told Pat how much I still had to learn. She told me I already had “the eye”—the instinct to recognize quality—and that everything else could be learned. We often found ourselves drawn to the same dogs and appreciating the same virtues. Her encouragement has stayed with me and continues to inspire our commitment to lifelong learning.
As Prairiewind matured, so did our vision. We imported several dogs, knowing every breeding program experiences both triumphs and disappointments. Some plans exceeded our expectations, while others became valuable lessons. Every experience helped shape the program we continue to build today.
Our first entirely Prairiewind breeding came from Nala, whom we imported from Italy. That remarkable litter produced two National Specialty Winners—a milestone beyond anything we imagined and one of our proudest accomplishments. We later repeated the breeding and welcomed our beloved Matteo.
We were also privileged to share meaningful co-breedings with Pat. Among the most memorable was breeding Soleil to Kodak, thoughtfully bringing those bloodlines back into La Neige—a breeding we remain especially proud to have shared.
Today, Prairiewind continues with its own vision and future. Our years with Pat remain one of the most meaningful chapters in our story. Her generosity, mentorship, friendship, and devotion to the Belgian Sheepdog helped shape our beginning, and we will always be grateful.
We believe the greatest way to honor Pat is to preserve the distinction between our two kennels. La Neige is Patricia Snow’s remarkable legacy and deserves to stand on its own accomplishments. Prairiewind is our work, building through our own experiences, choices, successes, and the lessons we continue to learn.
Although our stories became intertwined for many years, they remain two distinct journeys connected by friendship, mutual respect, and a shared love for the Belgian Sheepdog.
As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for where we began, hopeful in where we are today, and excitement for all that lies ahead.
-Don and Nancy May