ABOUT
SOUTHERNWIND
Southernwind Kennels was founded in 1974 by Maria Cecilia Martinez after a lifetime shaped by dogs, horses, training, judging, and work alongside public-service programs. More than five decades later, the program remains grounded in health, stable temperament, functional structure, responsible breeding, and purposeful puppy development.
Maria Cecilia Martinez — Founder of Southernwind Kennels
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Maria Cecilia Martinez has spent more than 52 years breeding, training, evaluating, and educating people about working and companion dogs. Her experience includes family dogs, sport, protection work, service roles, and the developmental decisions that shape temperament long before a puppy leaves the breeder.
Her authority was not built through titles alone. It was built through decades of whelping litters, raising puppies, training dogs and horses, working alongside police programs, and living with the long-term consequences of breeding decisions. That experience continues to guide every Southernwind pairing and every family she educates.
She served as an AKC and FCI judge and an FCI Temperament Test Judge, evaluating dogs across multiple breeds with particular knowledge of German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retrievers. Her evaluations were grounded not only in breed type and appearance, but also in temperament, functional structure, movement, and the dog’s ability to perform its intended purpose.
Early in her career Maria Cecilia became the first woman in Puerto Rico to establish and manage a professional guard dog and personal protection training program, providing trained protection dogs and canine bodyguard services for high-profile individuals. This pioneering work required the development of dogs with both reliable protection skills and stable temperaments, laying the foundation for the balanced working philosophy that would later influence the Southernwind breeding program.
Her commitment to animal welfare extended into leadership roles within the broader animal community, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Humane Society, contributing to initiatives promoting responsible animal care and education.
Beyond the canine field, Maria Cecilia was deeply involved in the equestrian world. In 1994 she founded and directed the racehorse training facility Haras Las Trinitarias, where she served as Owner, Manager, and Director of Training Operations, preparing and conditioning over 180 racehorses per racing season. Her work in the racing industry also led her to serve on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Racing Horse Association.
Her knowledge of animal behavior and development also led to collaboration with public institutions. While working with the Puerto Rico Mounted Police horse division, Maria Cecilia served as a voluntary advisor to the Puerto Rico Police Superintendent on K9 matters, assisting in the evaluation and development of working dogs.
Maria Cecilia’s commitment to the positive role animals can play in human lives extended far beyond breeding and training. She was invited to develop and implement the first dog-assisted rehabilitation program for women inmates in Puerto Rico, where shelter dogs were brought into a specially designed kennel facility inside the prison. The program, which she helped design and structure, taught inmates how to care for, train, and rehabilitate dogs while developing responsibility, empathy, and life skills.
Around the same period, Cecilia also created a rehabilitation program for recovering addicts at Hogar Eliezer, where selected participants worked directly with dogs as part of their recovery process. The program demonstrated remarkable success in helping individuals rebuild discipline, purpose, and emotional stability.
Many of the participants from that original group continue to stay in contact with Maria Cecilia decades later, sharing updates about their lives and families.
Throughout these years, Cecilia and her dogs also participated in community outreach, visiting schools to educate children about responsible dog ownership and the importance of compassion toward animals.
They also visited hospitals and homes for the elderly, where the presence of the dogs brought comfort and joy to patients and residents.
These experiences reinforced Cecilia’s belief that dogs are far more than companions; they are capable of transforming lives, building responsibility, and reconnecting people with empathy and purpose.
Areas of Expertise
• German Shepherd breeding and genetics
• canine temperament evaluation
• puppy development and early neurological stimulation
• working dog development and training
• breed structure and functional movement
• responsible breeding and breed preservation
Maria Cecilia remains dedicated to mentoring owners, educating families, and sharing the knowledge gained from a lifetime devoted to understanding and developing balanced, capable dogs.
Through the Southernwind blog, Maria Cecilia Martinez shares educational articles on German Shepherd breeding, puppy development, canine temperament, and responsible dog ownership.
Explore the knowledge center:
https://www.southernwindk9.com/german-shepherd-blog
Today, Southernwind Kennels continues to operate under the same principles that guided its beginnings: respect for the German Shepherd Dog, commitment to sound health and stable temperament, and the belief that properly developed dogs can profoundly enrich human lives.
Through her writing, mentorship, and breeding program, Maria Cecilia continues to share the knowledge gained from more than fifty years of hands-on experience developing balanced, capable dogs and helping families build meaningful relationships with them.
Connect with Maria Cecilia Martinez- Southernwind Kennels Social Media-
• Website – https://www.southernwindk9.com
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@Southernwindkennels/videos
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/k9southernwind/
• X (Twitter) – https://x.com/ceciliamart
• Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/ceciliamart/
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliamart2211/
• TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@southernwindk9
THE GREATNESS OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD.
The greatness of the German Shepherd is not found in an exaggerated outline or a collection of titles. It lies in versatility: the ability to think, recover from stress, work with a handler, adapt to family life, and remain physically capable of performing the tasks for which the breed was created. Beauty without soundness is decoration; drive without stability can become a liability.
Southernwind breeding decisions are built around the dog as a complete animal. Health screening, pedigree, genetic diversity, functional structure, temperament, working capacity, and the compatibility of two individual dogs matter more than color, fashion, or one famous name in a pedigree. A champion ancestor can provide useful information, but it does not guarantee quality in every puppy.
Not every puppy from a well-bred litter will be suited to the same role—and it should not be expected to be. Some mature into family companions, while others may show aptitude for sport, service, scent work, protection, or other demanding roles. Responsible placement requires continuous observation, realistic expectations, and matching the individual puppy to the home—not assigning its future based on color, sex, or one isolated puppy test..
From birth, Southernwind puppies are raised through a structured program of age-appropriate sensory, environmental, handling, movement, and problem-solving experiences. The purpose is not to overwhelm puppies or manufacture fearlessness. It is to support recovery, adaptability, curiosity, and healthy coping while allowing us to observe each puppy’s individual responses. The program was shaped by decades of raising dogs and by lessons carried from work with horses and the Puerto Rico Mounted Police.
THE SOUTHERNWIND DIFFERENCE.
The Southernwind difference is not a secret formula or a marketing slogan. It begins before a mating takes place, with careful study of health, pedigree, temperament, functional structure, and working traits. It continues through pregnancy, whelping, daily observation, purposeful development, and the honest placement of each individual puppy.
Our breeding program is not designed to force every dog into the same mold. We seek clear-headed, physically capable, adaptable dogs with stable temperaments and the ability to engage with people. Some may possess the drives required for demanding work or sport; others are better suited to family life. Recognizing that difference is part of responsible breeding—not a failure of it.
Placement is not the end of our responsibility. Southernwind families receive continued education and honest guidance throughout the dog’s life, with referral to qualified veterinary, training, or behavior professionals when a concern requires expertise beyond the breeder’s role. The photographs, updates, successes, and difficulties owners share help us evaluate our breeding decisions across generations.
OUR BREEDING & RAISING PARTNERS
Shared Standards. Shared Responsibility.
Southernwind works with a small number of trusted partners who help care for breeding dogs and raise selected litters under the same expectations for health, cleanliness, observation, handling, and developmental exposure. Partnership does not remove responsibility from Southernwind; it extends that responsibility through people whose daily work and judgment we know personally.
Jenn and Ken Sowiecki –
Kennel Management, Whelping & Puppy Development
Jenn Sowiecki is Southernwind’s Kennel Manager and one of the people responsible for daily organization, communication with families, whelping support, and raising selected litters. Her consistency, close observation, and understanding of the Southernwind development program make her an essential part of our work. Ken’s support also contributes to the care and stability behind the program
Mona and Virgil White –
Breeding Partners for Over a Decade
Mona and Virgil have been part of the Southernwind journey for more than 10 years. They currently share five of our magnificent breeding dogs and have helped raise many exceptional litters. Their devotion, consistency, and care reflect the very spirit of what Southernwind stands for. Their partnership is not only appreciated — it’s deeply cherished.
