Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Choosing the correct German Shepherd Breeder is not an easy task with so many disreputable, incompetent, and misguided breeders. Since the presence of new German Shepherd Dog puppy is a twelve year investment and commitment, choosing the best place to purchase your next German Shepherd Dog puppy for you and your family involves careful consideration including life style and economics.Today, my discussion will focus on tell-tale signs of breeders to avoid.
First and most importantly, do not purchase your next German Shepherd Dogs puppy from a puppy mill.Dogs used for breeding in puppy mills have miserable lives and in many cases never live outside a crate, cage, or adequate kennel. Besides the obvious problems with the likely poor quality of puppies from puppy mills, the cruelty to the breeding animals is reason enough for a caring person to avoid puppy mills. In addition, avoid purchasing puppies from pet stores. Pet stores in general purchase all their puppies from puppy mills.While these types of puppy mills are somewhat better because they are overseen by the United States Department Of Agriculture and certain minimum living conditions are met; nevertheless, the breeding animals often have miserable lives with little to no love or socialization. Whereas, puppy mills that hide from the authorities and sell their puppies through the local newspaper, internet, parking lots, or even alongside the road are the worse culprits and largely are cruel places with harsh and often mentally ill owners. Do not support this cruelty.
Our Heidelberg German Shepherds Playing
How to recognize a puppy mill: First and most glaring indication of puppy mills is that puppy mills will breed several different types or breeds of dogs from Chihuahuas to German Shepherd Dogs.In addition, puppy mills will not readily let you see the parents or if they do so they will bring them to you so that you cannot see their living conditions.Often, they will place you in a room or fenced yard away from all their kennel operations and bring you the puppy one at a time or they may bring the entire litter out for you to choose from.The point being they will hide their dog raising activities from you. If they will not provide you with a tour of their entire facility, you probably should leave as quickly as possible.
Another blatant indication of a bad breeder and/or puppy mills are dog registrations with a parent club other than The American Kennel Club (AKC).AKC inspects all their breeders, and if standards are not met then that breeder’s registration rights are suspended.Puppy mills usually cannot stand the scrutiny of an AKC inspection. However, some Puppy mills do pass AKC inspections by moving sick animals off property and cleaning up their facility before the inspection. I wished that AKC would perform surprise inspections, but unfortunately at this time they schedule all inspections. For those breeders that are banned from AKC, they will often register their dogs with a club that is not familiar to most of us.We at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels have been told, over the years, by three different AKC inspectors that we have the cleanest kennels and best cared for dogs that they have ever seen.
Keystone Kennels in Winter
We at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels have devoted our lives to breeding and promoting the German Shepherd Dog.It has taken years to learn how to correctly breed our shepherds to produce the best possible puppy possible for our customers.Our breeding focuses on temperament, health, and appearances.For a powerful dog such as a German Shepherd Dog, temperament is absolutely the most important attribute.Perfect German Shepherd Dog temperament does not happen in a vacuum.By definition, backyard breeders randomly purchase German Shepherd Dogs from different breeders and then breed two different lines and types of German Shepherd Dogs. These breedings that put two random dogs together, mostly produce poor quality shepherds. Because the backyard breeder lacks basic breeding principles and knowledge, they have have no way of predicting the end product. These German shepherd Dogs are usually sold exclusively through advertisement in the local newspaper and almost always are the lower end of the price scale with puppies priced as low as $100.00 to $500.00. Avoid purchasing puppies from backyard breeders, that is if you can afford to go to a reputable breeder to ensure the highest possibility to acquire a healthy and good looking German Shepherd Dog puppy with the correct shepherd temperament.Although, on rare exception, you may find a good quality shepherd from a backyard breeder. However, more than likely, unless you are an expert in judging German Shepherd Dog puppies, you will end up with a puppy with serious temperament or health problems including an extremely structurally incorrect German Shepherd Dog that is just plain ugly.
To purchase a top-of-the-line German Shepherd Dog from a reputable breeder, you will likely have to spend approximately $1,500.00 or for a world class dog that turns heads, you may need to spend significantly more.
For years, we at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels have tried to keep our prices down around or below $1,500.00, but with the rise in cost of almost everything related to the operation of our kennel, we had to go up in our prices to where our average shepherd puppy is sold for $1,500.00.As the consumer of new German Shepherd Dog puppy, you should be aware of how expensive it is for a reputable breeder to consistently produce top quality German Shepherd Dog puppies. Doing things the right way and not cutting corners always cost more in time and money.
There are many bad breeders that are posing as reputable breeders and some clues to those that are legitimate and those that are not are provided below. The first thing you should ask is how long have they been breeding German Shepherd Dogs.While we all had to start at some point, longevity is a partial indication of legitimacy.More importantly, are they doing anything with their breeding dogs, such as AKC Championships, Herding Titles, Obedience Titles, proven Service Dogs, etc.If a breeder is not doing anything with the dogs he is breeding, this is an extremely strong indication that this is not a breeder that you would want to get your puppy from because they are likely only interested in selling puppies with little consideration for the dogs they breed. Not placing titles on the German Shepherd Dogs that you breed, in my opinion, is an inexcusable cutting of corner and indicates a lack professionalism. As the consumer, the only indication that these puppies are worthy of you and your family is the word of the breeder that has done nothing to prove their German Shepherd Dog lines.
A young Ch. Stefanie Being Shown
In addition, do they have a web page, and does it give the impression of professionalism.Do they readily state their guarantees and breeding philosophies? Be aware that breeding philosophies and guarantees are often rote and copied from reputable breeders by incompetent breeders. Also, If they are breeding and selling other breeds of dogs or other animals such as horses, this is indicative of a breeder that lacks dedication and focus on the German Shepherd Dog. Are they nut cases asking you to fill out applications and sign ridiculous restrictive contracts that threaten you with legal actions and fines? These are all indications of breeders that you may want to avoid. The only exception to signing a contract is possibly a non egregious show contract that clearly lays out the responsibility of the new owner and the breeder.
Legitimate breeders health screen and will be forthright about any health problem that they have observed in the dogs they breed.As the buyer, you need to be realistic and realize that all breeders of German Shepherd Dogs, overtime, have had certain health issues.If the breeder has been breeding for a number of years and has produced several hundred puppies over many years it is very likely they have most assuredly seen certain health concerns. This is just biology and the realities of the world that we live. What is important to you as the consumer is the rate of occurrence of these health concerns and the breeder’s willingness to discuss these issues with you.As a potential puppy buyer, you should realize that health concern discussions are going to be a touchy conversational subject for even the best and most reputable breeders. To be fair, save this discussion for an actual visit to their kennel so the breeder will know that you are a legitimate puppy buyer and not someone looking for information to disparage them or their dogs. Phone or email questions about Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) elbow and hip certification should be fine and readily addressed by the breeder.
Ask these questions when considering a breeder: Is the breeder knowledgeable about training, feeding correctly, and routine maintenance such as pest control, worming, and heart worm prevention? Do they take the time to share their knowledge with you?Do they explain how to correctly feed your new puppy so that the puppy grows correctly and fulfills its genetic potential?Do they convey a basic knowledge about proper nutrition for German Shepherd Dog puppies and adults or do just suggest a certain brand of dry-food without a detailed explanation for their recommendation?Are they available for questions and support after you have purchased your German Shepherd Dog puppy? Do they offer training? We at Keystone German Shepherd & Kennels offer several types of training including basic obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen training and testing, conformation training, Service Dog Training, etc. Our basic and obedience training and AKC Canine Good Citizen Training are free and included in the purchase of your new puppy. These are just some of the questions, you should ask when looking for a reputable German Shepherd Dog breeder.
AKC Canine Good Citizen Class at Keystone German Shepherds & Kennels
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Today I’m going to provide a very simple but extremely important health tip for your German Shepherd Dog. Simply, keep your German Shepherd Dog lean.
Everyone wants a fat healthy German Shepherd Dog puppy. A plump puppy indicates good health. However, German Shepherd Dogs, as do all large breed dogs, grow rapidly and even a few extra pounds can place undo stress on vulnerable and growing joints. Puppies play hard and often can come up lame, and the difference between limping for a few days and having a lifetime of lameness resulting from injuries can be a few extra pounds in a growing German Shepherd Dog puppy.
Lean Puppies Playing
Many owners cannot wait for their German Shepherd Dogs to bulk up once they turn two and have slowed in growth. Therefore, they often overfeed and unknowingly make their German Shepherd Dogs fat. Unfortunately the look they really want is not the rolly-polly dog that they have created, but rather that of a muscular mature German Shepherd Dog. German Shepherd Dogs are not stocky breeds by design, such as Rottweilers, St. Bernard, or Bernese Mountain dogs.
Usually by the time your German Shepherd Dog turns five they will have started to develop a mature well muscular look. This lean well muscled German Shepherd Dog will come naturally with proper nutrition and exercise. Be patient, with good genetics, diet, and exercise it will happen.
A Four-Year-Old Champion Heidelberg’s Bismark Naturally Bulking Up
Having your German Shepherd Dog adult overweight is more detrimental to their overall health than having them too heavy as puppies. While joints are still a concern, your German Shepherd Dog is now predisposed to diabetes, autoimmune disease, heart attack, stroke, and increased risk of cancer.
Keep your German Shepherd Dogs lean, and they will perform, feel, and look better.
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Trimming Your German Shepherd Dog’s Nails Conclusion
One of the most frustrating and difficult activities you may ever attempt with your German Shepherd Dog is trimming their nails if they resist or fight. Today I am going to tell you how to train your German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult to sit still while you trim their nails.
This training will take patience and persistence and will require you to perform theses exercises daily for a month or more. However, the exercises only take 5 to 10 minutes and have a secondary benefit of bonding closer to your German Shepherd Dog. Do not attempt to trim your German Shepherd Dog’s nail until they successfully complete the below exercises.
Every day as with the puppy, sit with your German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult and rub and massage them to get them to relax. Once relaxed play with their feet. If they become anxious stop and go back to rubbing and petting them. Continue daily with this exercise until you can hold their feet and spread their toes without resistance or anxiety.
Every day after you play with their feet, place your German Shepherd Dog adolescent on a grooming table. Good quality grooming tables and neck harness can be purchased for approximately $100.00 to $140.00. You need a grooming table if you own a German Shepherd Dog, therefore, invest in a good quality table that will last your lifetime.
German Shepherd Dog Grooming Table
Once on the grooming table place the lanyard over their neck and brush them out. If they show anxiety reassure them. Make the exercise of being on the grooming table a good experience for your German Shepherd Dog. Once they have become comfortable being on the table lift their feet up in the air and spread your German Shepherd Dog’s toes. While playing with their feet on the table, groom them by brushing and using a shedding comb, and acclimate to the nail clippers by gently rubbing them on their body and around their feet.
After Your German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult has become comfortable with the above exercises, you are ready to start trimming their nails. If possible have another family member to help hold your German Shepherd Dog on the grooming table. Confidently start trimming their nails. You will likely clip two or three nails before they realize something is not the same. Once your German Shepherd Dog realizes what you are doing they will become anxious and start resisting. Back off from the nail trimming and reassure your German Shepherd Dog by brushing and petting. Once they calm down start clipping their nails again. Repeat the calming efforts as needed. The first time that you do clip their nails it may take 30 minutes, but hang in there because it will get better each time you trim their nails.
The above method is the best method for training your German Shepherd Dog to sit calmly while you trim their nails. However, you may speed up the process if you lack the patience for the above method and you have a strong assistant. This method requires laying the German Shepherd Dog on their side on the grooming table. The assistant needs to hold the dog down distributing their weight on the neck and head and applying pressure to the rear legs. Do this as calmly as possible and within two or three nail trimmings your assistant will be able to hold onto your German Shepherd Dog adolescent or adult in a sitting position while you trim the nails. Eventually you will not need the assistant.
German Shepherd Dog Restrained on a Grooming Table
Trim your German Shepherd Dog’s nails on a regular basis and they will love you the more for it, and you will love having doors and door jams without scratch marks ,
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Today, I would like to discuss a grooming tip for your German Shepherd Dog, adult or puppy. Because German Shepherd Dog’s are relative clean in nature, they require very little grooming maintenance other than a good coat brushing a couple times a week and nails trimmed ideally twice a month. Many German Shepherd Dog owners never clip their dog’s nails because their puppy was not properly trained and conditioned to have their nails trimmed. Now as an adolescent or adult it is a nightmare to clip their German Shepherd Dog’s nails. Other owner are afraid of accidentally cutting the quick. Thus, many German Shepherd Dog owners avoid clipping nails or take their German Shepherd Dog to an expensive grooming service or veterinarian.
It is a health hazard to allow your German shepherd Dog’s nails to grow long. Sooner or later, due to the high activity level of your German shepherd Dog, they will snag and pull an entire nail off. Such an injury is highly susceptible to serious infections that can result in amputation of a toe.
While your German Shepherd Dog is a young puppy acclimate them to nail clipping by playing with their toes while they are being loved in your lap, on the couch, or in the floor. Make it a habit to play with their feet and toes by grabbing hold of the foot and spreading their toes apart. This conditions your German shepherd Dog puppy to be relaxed regarding having their feet and toes messed with. Then clip Your German Shepherd Dog puppy’s nails routinely at least every other week. If you do this as your German Shepherd Dog grows up, you will be able to always clip their nails without problems.
Human toe nail clippers are ideal for your German Shepherd Dog puppy, but eventually you will need to purchase a good quality scissor nail clipper as shown below. Never use the the guillotine type clippers on German Shepherd Dogs. Guillotine clippers tend to dull quickly and crush the nail rather than cut, which results in discomfort for your German Shepherd Dog.
Scissor Type Nail Clippers
Below the photograph shows the correct place to trim your German Shepherd Dog nails. The cut should be made in front of the quick where the nail starts to hook over. If nails are white you can see the quick, however, most our German Shepherd Dogs have darker nails making it impossible to see the quick. Through experience you will know where to trim the nail to avoid cutting into the quick. When you do cut into the quick it will cause some pain and bleeding, and you will need to apply styptic powder. Do not be afraid of cutting the quick because “it will happen”, but as you continue to trim your German Shepherd Dog’s nails you will learn how close to trim.
Tomorrow, I will discuss German Shepherd Dogs that resists or fights nail trimming and tell you how to train them so that their nails can easily be trimmed.
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
ALL PUPPIES BELOW ARE SOLD EXCEPT FOR CH. BOGIE X ESSENCE LITTER. Please go to keystonegermanshepherds.com for available puppies. Just Click Keystone German Shepherds banner up above.
We have a really nice selection of German shepherd puppies with litters available out of new Ch. Heidelberg’s Nashville v Oklahoman and Ch. Heidelberg’s Stefanie Missyw. Nashville (Noah) is co-owned by Dee Pierce. Noah is also only three points away from being a Grand Champion.
Ch. Heidelberg’s Nashville v Oklahoman (Noah)
Ch. Heidelberg’s Stefanie Missyw
Champion Noah is producing great size and bone with fearless temperaments. Noah’s current German shepherd puppy litter has four males and two females.
We are accepting deposits. Do not miss out on owning a future German shepherd dog champion out of this litter. German shepherd puppies will be available to go home on February 10, 2013. We also have two females and one male out of Grand Champion Champion (GrCh. Ch.) Heidelberg’s Kodiak v Queridad (Kodi) and Heidelberg’s Quinn Delta (Crystal). Crystal is co-owned with Riley Westfall and is currently being shown to her Championship. GrCh. Ch. Kodi is also a full time Medical Alert Service German shepherd dog. Below is a picture of Kodi and coming is a picture of Crystal:
GrCh. Ch. Kodi
Future Ch. Heidelberg’s Rain Quinn out of GrCh. Ch. Heidelberg’s Kodi x Crystal $1,500.00 SOLD
Sire:
Ch. Heidelberg’s Nashville v Oklahoman
AKC#: DN230362/01
Dam:
Ch. Heidelberg’s Stefanie Missyw
AKC#: DN177134/02
AKC Litter # DN355781
Males
4
Females
2
Date Whelped
12/3/12
SEX
COLOR
TATTOO
DEPOSIT
PUPPY’S NAME
PRICE
M
Black/Tan
HH1727
Heidelberg’s Quantum v Stefaniem
$1,876.00
M
Black/Tan
HH1728
Heidelberg’s Quasar v Stefaniem
$1,826.00
M
Black/Tan
HH1729
Sold
Heidelberg’s Quest v Stefaniem
$1,200.00
M
Black/Tan
HH1730
Sold
Heidelberg’s Quincy v Stefaniem
$1,200.00
F
Black/Tan
HH1731
Sold
Heidelberg’s Qubec Stefaniem
$1,400.00
F
Black/Tan
HH1732
Sold
Heidelberg’s Quora Stefaniem
$850.00
Sire:
GCh. Ch. Heidelberg’s Kodiak v Queridad
AKC#: DN218604/01
Dam:
Heidelberg’s Quinn Delta
AKC#: DN243651/02
AKC Litter # DN355459
Males
1
Females
2
Date Whelped
12/7/12
SEX
COLOR
TATTOO
DEPOSIT
PUPPY’S NAME
PRICE
M
Black/Tan
HH1733
Deposit
Heidelberg’s Rainer v Quinnd
$1,550.00
F
Black/Tan
HH1734
Sold
Heidelberg’s Rain Quinnd
$1,500.00
F
Black/Tan
HH1735
Sold
Heidelberg’s Reba Quinnd
$950.00
Quantum $1,876.00
Quasar $1,826.00
Quest $1,200.00 Sold
Quebec $1,400.00 Sold
Quora $850.00 Sold
Rainier $1,500.00 Sold
We also have a litter out of Ch. Heidelberg’s Bogie v Charisman and Heidelberg’s Essence Jackieq. Bogie has been a top producer the last three years and these puppies will be large. There are 2 males and 2 females in this German shepherd Dog puppy litter and we are accepting deposits. These German shepherd puppies will be ready to go home March 3, 2013.
Ask me a question and I promise to provide my opinion.
Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge
Hi Everyone,
Today, I am going to recommend that you add to your German Shepherd Dog’s diet one tablespoon of plain white yogurt to every meal. Yogurt contains the essential calcium in a highly digestible form that is needed for maintenance and growth. Once German Shepherd Dog puppies are weened they become lactose intolerant, which means they no longer are able to produce the enzyme lactase in sufficient quantities to digest most milk products. Certain cheeses and cottage cheese in small quantity and yogurt are digestible by your German Shepherd Dog.
German Shepherd Dogs love the taste of yogurt. Yogurt may help a finicky German Shepherd Dog eater to eat their food.
Yogurt is especially good for your growing German Shepherd Dog puppy by promoting and supporting proper bone and joint growth. Most all dry-food companies that sell puppy formulas, advertise their kibble as being fortified with calcium, but if you read the label the form of calcium added to the kibble is calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is ground up limestone and is not a readily digestible form of calcium. Therefore, the limestone powder passes through your German Shepherd Dog puppy’s digestive system unabsorbed and may even be detrimental by adding undo stress to your German Shepherd Dog puppy’s digestive system.
One heaping table spoon of a high quality Yogurt such as Dannon provides your German Shepherd Dog’s daily requirement for calcium, as well as probiotics such as acidophilus. Acidophilus will help your German Shepherd Dog digest their food more efficiently by assisting the breakdown of nutrients into a digestible form. This is one supplement for your German Shepherd Dog that may pay for itself by assisting in the more efficient digestion of your dog’s food. Thus, better absorption and less poop.
In addition, yogurt can help with diarrhea by replenishing the flora that is lost in your German Shepherd Dog’s digestive system during a bout of diarrhea. When one of our German Shepherd Dog has an upset stomach, we give them 5 to 6 heaping tablespoons of yogurt added to their dinner and in most cases this settles their stomach and reduces or ends their bout of diarrhea.
A good source of yogurt is as close as your local food store. We recommend a high quality yogurt because the cheaper brands may not have live acidophilus cultures.
Include yogurt in your diet regime for your dog, and your German Shepherd Dog will love you the more for it. You will not be disappointed, and will love purchasing less dog food and picking up less poop.
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