Vom Felsenhof German Shepherd kennel believes in breeding only the highest quality dogs. Breeding quality dogs starts with selecting only the best quality dogs, which includes proper conformation (the dogs meet/produce the breed standard for size, proper dentition, correct structure), excellent health and superb stable temperament. When selecting our breeding dogs, we first look at the dog's pedigree. By having an in-depth knowledge of bloodlines, including which bloodlines we have seen consistently produce the best conformationally correct, temperamentally sound, and most healthy dogs, we can then choose individuals who meet or exceed all of our expectations. Next, we look at what the dog actually is, meaning how does it measure up to it's genetic potential for correct conformation, health and temperament. Once we ensure that the dogs meet our stringent requirements, we do many health tests to certify that only the healthiest dogs are bred, including certification that our dogs are free of hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid disease, canine brucellosis, and degenerative myelopathy. All of the preceding conditions are genetic conditions which incidence we feel can be lessened and even eradicated through generations of careful, selective breeding on ALL breeders' part. (You can read more about these on our German Shepherd Health page.) Once we have this foundation information, we can then go forward with producing our fabulous puppies for ourselves and our clients. Many "back-yard-breeders" (if you can even stoop to calling them that!) will buy and breed German Shepherds just to produce puppies with little regard to selection of the quality we expect here at vom Felsenhof--the difference is obvious!
After undergoing our rigorous selection criterion, we finally decide which dogs to keep and breed together, based upon how well the male and female complement each other. While we wait for the females to be ready for breeding, which can take up to three years, depending on the maturity and health clearances of not only the female, but also of her intended mate, we have all necessary vaccinations updated, deworming performed, as well as heartworm/flea and tick preventatives administered to ensure that the puppies have the best and most healthy environment to start their lives, and will have the highest immunity possible, passed on to them by their mother. Once the female begins her season, she is taken to the veterinarian to ensure she is healthy, and progesterone timing tests are done to ensure that we are breeding our dogs on the best days (we do not believe in just throwing two dogs together alone together in a yard, where anything can happen (such as a nightmare situation where a female who has never been bred injures herself or the stud male, because she is unsure of what is happening.). Instead, we feel that it is in the best interest of our dogs for us to stay with them and supervise while they are breeding, with one person holding and controlling the male, and another holding and controlling the female. This allows us to know not only that both dogs are in a safe and controlled situation, but also to know exactly when our dogs were bred, and thus exactly when our puppies should be due!
Once bred, our expecting mothers are given a very rich diet consisting of 70% raw meat and 30% vegetable mix, consisting of only human grade ingredients, the appropriate vitamins and minerals needed for proper development of the puppies (this is not found in just feeding a dog food kibble from a bag purchased at the grocery store, but instead is a mixture which has taken many years and dog generations for us at vom Felsenhof to perfect!), and appropriate liquid intake (we give our expecting mothers goat milk, which we get from alfalfa, grain and grass fed goats) which is extremely important for adequate amniotic fluid production. Our expectant mothers are kept inside with our family (as are each of our dogs!), and only let our to play during non-extreme temperatures with direct supervision. They are introduced to their own special room where they will have their babies early on to get them used to the area. It is inside our house and is temperature regulated separately from the remainder of the house, to ensure that room stays at the proper temperature appropriate for mom, and then for our precious babies once they are born.
About a week prior to the expected birth of the puppies, we set up a whelping box. We have made our whelping boxes to specifications we have found most suitable for adequate space for mom (and us in the box with her!), protection of the puppies from being accidentally laid on by their mother, with enough room to grow. We have found that a five foot by five foot box with 24 inch walls works well to keep puppies contained until they are old enough to leave the "nest." This is placed on a hygienic, easy-to-sterilize ceramic tile floor with a large waterproof sheet on the bottom. On top of that, we place a soft blanket, and while they are very young, use rubber-backed bath rugs for extra softness and traction for little feet. This makes a nice place for mom to have her precious bundles of love! We have a video & sound monitoring system, which we use to monitor the expecting mother (and later the puppies!) without disrupting her throughout the night. When the day (usually at night!) comes that the puppies are due, we watch very carefully, and usually stay with the mom from that point on until the puppies are born and we know all is well. Puppies are welcomed to the world with a dryer-heated towel, cleaned up, weighed and marked (so we know which puppy is which from minute one!), dried, and given back to mom for nursing. We monitor each baby's weight on a twice daily basis for the first two weeks so that we know each puppy is getting an adequate amount of milk.
From that time on, our family spends hours upon hours giving one-on-one time and attention to each puppy puppies, handling and observing each precious baby singly so that we see each personality as it develops. We hold them, turn them over on their backs in our arms, clip toenails, check mouths, ears, noses and little bottoms to be sure all is well with them. We give each puppy individualized early neurological stimulation in doing this, which we feel encourages puppy brain development, and ensures that our babies are used to (and in fact search for) human contact and bonding, which paves the way for the bonding necessary for higher forms of advanced training later in their lives. (Many times, our clients will tell us that they have looked at puppies locally, and that when they go to visit, the puppies are often indifferent to or even afraid of them. This is usually because their puppies have been ignored as babies, have no socialization skills with people, or have genetically inferior temperaments. Alternately, vom Felsenhof puppies come bounding over to meet new people (even strangers!) looking for love and attention! This does not mean that they will not protect their family later, but it does mean that our clients can have visitors over without having to "put away the dog" to avoid biting or barking, etc. Our babies crave attention and get it!) Our puppies' living area is cleaned up twice daily, with morning and late afternoon complete washing/changing of their bedding. At one week of age and every two weeks thereafter, our puppies are dewormed. (You can read more about this on our Frequently Asked Questions page!) As they get older, puppies are taken outside to go potty after they wake up in the morning, after naps, after meals and drinks, and before bed. We have seen that this encourages babies to eliminate outside, and makes house training easier for their new families.
Vom Felsenhof puppies arrive to their new families with AKC registration already completed, AKC DNA certification (for Show/Working potential puppies), Puppy Evaluation paperwork, microchipped and/or tattooed, properly dewormed and vaccinated, and with shipping included anywhere in the Continental United States that Continental or Delta Airlines flies! Our precious babies leave when they are between eight and twelve weeks of age, depending on various factors. We do begin house training for our clients for puppies who stay past eight weeks. Puppies are shipped or personally delivered, with the price of the shipping or delivery included (there is a $300 discount for puppies picked up in person), including a new airline approved crate, comprehensive flight insurance, and health certificate required by the FAA for flight or delivery outside of the state. All airline reservations for delivery are taken care of by us and your puppy price includes free delivery to the airport. You need only pick up your new bundle of joy from the airport and begin enjoying your new family member!
All
vom Felsenhof puppies have a one year guarantee, or clients can purchase
a lifetime guarantee for an additional $1000 (you can read about this
comprehensive guarantee on our Frequently Asked
Questions page!)
ALL VOM
FELSENHOF PUPPY PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING!
Vom Felsenhof puppies are priced depending on various factors such as
parents, titling, certifications, show/working or pet companion, etc.
but prices are typically start at $1000 (pet companion with limited AKC registration, with
limited guarantee) and go up from there (show/working prospect with full AKC registration, with full
guarantee). We require a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your puppy
for you, which can be paid via Credit Card (PayPal), Check, Cash, Bank Wire
Transfer or Money Order. Puppies are chosen in order of deposit received
for Show/Working prospects first, and then Pet Companion puppies. Final
payment must be made 10 days prior to your puppy's departure from our
premises, and is usually made by bank wire transfer. Vom Felsenhof gives
up to $250 cash-back titling incentive bonuses for anyone who achieves
certain titles on their dogs. See Frequently Asked
Questions page for more information. We also give a $125 cash
referral incentive bonus to anyone who refers someone who purchases a
vom Felsenhof puppy, and is given for each puppy sold to every client
referred.
Since we consistently produce the highest quality German Shepherd Dogs, we feel absolutely confident that our clients will be happy with their purchase, and with the quality, care, service, and information provided to them by our family at vom Felsenhof kennel. We attempt to breed for longevity, which means a longer life span for your dog and more time with your best friend for you and your family. Click here to email us.
