StSanja Pekingese

The StSanja Kennel is Yorkshire based on the outskirts of Wakefield.   The founders, Ann and Barry Offiler, are both from doggy loving families.  Ann recalls never being without a dog in her childhood.  In fact, many breeds were kept including Corgies, Scotties and Pomeranians.

In 1964 Ann and Barry were married and in the November of the same year they purchased thier first Pekingese dog, he had no real breeding or great pedigree but he was a nice colour with a black mask and fringes.  This was their first love for the breed.  Quickly, another dog was purchased from the late Mrs Dromey (Dromeden) as a companion for their first peke, both these cost 12 guineas each. A considerable time was spent training these two, the older one took many Best in Match ribbons which led to their first entry at an Open Show under May Robetshaw which resulted in their match winning star not getting placed.  Whilst disappointed Barry learnt that something better had to be produced if they wished to succeed in the show ring.   In these early years Ann took a back seat due to her business commitments but eventually, after attending a few shows as spectators, they both decided to purchase a young bitch from Mrs Bull (Changte), which became the foundation of their line.

Eventually, their Changte bitch (San Fe-Fe) was mated to Simpson's Champion Penang Kung Fu which produced three bitch puppies.  The only survivor was registered Bradens Dolly, this was the Offiler's original affix before it was subsequently found to be similar to another affix.  StSanja was applied for and accepted, Dolly was a quality bitch.  After a few more litters and disappointments it was decided to mate Dolly to the young dog, Champion Josto Royal Flush, a son of Champion Jay Trump of Sunsalve, this was the dog they would like to base their lines around.  Every dog in the kennel is a descendant of Jay Trump.  Dolly produced two puppies, one of each, both became English Champions  The dog was transferred to the Simpson's, his name being Champion StSanja Trumps Up of Penang; the bitch was retained and named StSanja Prim-N-Proper.

Prim-N-Proper was then mated to Champion Rosayleen Casino Royale (Jay Trump son).  She had two puppies, one of each.  The dog was sold and the bitch became Champion StSanja The Thought of You (Ava) - in their opinion the best Pekingese they have ever bred - not only a prolific winner but also a great brood bitch.   Ava is the dam of three English champions, she was mated the first time to her grandfather, Jay Trump, this produced three bitch puppies and one dog.  One red bitch died, the other three were all blue and survived.  At this Ann felt she would never breed again but bad luck couldn't last forever and, so, they were determined to persevere.   However, it was decided to mate her again, this time to Champion Rosayleen Shining Star, a son of Champion Laparata Regal Star (Jay Trump son).  This produced two sons and a daughter, one was given to a friend and the other was purchased at five months by Mr Geoffrey Davies (Genderlee) - he was to become Champion StSanja Star Attraction of Genderlee (Rodney), the bitch was Champion StSanja Love Me or Leave Me (Beatrice) who won her first of many Challenge Certificates from the puppy class.  Another bitter disappointment was that Beatrice has never been a producer to continue that line, Rodney and Beatrice gained their Championships on the same day under Mr Eddie Hurdle (Sunsalve).

Ava's third litter to Yakee The Charmer (Cassidy son) produced a Best in Show winner and Crufts Toy Group Winner Champion Too Close for Comfort at Genderlee, again owned by Mr Davies, a gift from Ann and Barry as they felt they could not do the dog justice due to pressure of work as Barry as that time was a main board director for a multi-national company.  Around this time Miss Winifred Mee had imported from the States multi-champion Rodari Orient Express who the Offilers admired and so Ava was mated to him.  Three bitch puppies were born, one was a miniature, the other two were of a smaller type not in keeping with the kennel's dual purpose bitches.  One was retained and the others were given to the Mays and Davison partnership (Adiva) who had struck a great friendship with Ann and Barry.  Both were eventually mated, had to have caesareans and so were found good homes.

As yet they had no daughter from Ava who could continue the line so they decided to mate her, this time to Champion Nowai Harvey Moon, one bitch puppy was born - another chance to continue the line - StSanja Second Time Around (Charlotte), her KC name given to her due to her uncanny likeness to her mother.  Charlotte gained two reserve Challenge Certificates but her value as a brood bitch equalled that of her mother, mated to Champion Yakee For Your Eyes Only and had four dog puppies.  The pick of the litter was retained and became StSanja Here I Go Again (Albert).  The remaining three were sold to Mr Bert Easdon - one became StSanja Grand Finale of Yakee, a multi-group and Best in Show winner.  Albert did not particularly like showing so Miss Winifred Mee (Pekehuis) offered to take him under her wing and retain him for the show ring,  They both soon gelled and he gained his title and a group winner.   To Winifred, Ann and Barry are very grateful for all she did for them and the dog - as a gesture they transferred the dog into joint names.  Albert was used at stud by the Mays and Davison partnership at an early age and in his first litter, produced a champion daughter.

Albert was mated to Adiva When I'm Good and Ready (Sybil, line bred to Braden Dolly) for his second litter.  She had three bitches and one dog (the dog is now StSanja I Won't Dance) a group winner like his father.  The three girls are Championship show winners, one is well on her way to becoming an Irish champion, the other has a reserve Challenge Certificate and a dual reserve Challenge Certificate winning son.  The third bitch was kept  in the kennel for breeding purposes.   Charlotte was mated to Champion Tenling Golden Arrow of Pekehuis for her second litter, again four dog puppies.  One stood out from birth who became Champion StSanja Step by Step who now is the present-day star of the kennel.

This history covers only a small aspect of this progressive kennel which has, like many, experienced its ups and downs and disappointments but, with a good strong foundation of quality bitches and a clear indication of exactly where they want to be, the future looks bright for the StSanja kennel. There have been ten StSanja English Champions to date with countless abroad and so to Ann, Barry, Mike and granddaughter (who is waiting in the wings), there is no doubt that this kennel will retain its position for many more years to come.