My Standards

I breed companion dogs. That’s my focus, developing dogs that truly are great companions with wonderful temperaments and longevity. However, my dogs are by nature highly capable working dogs and some have gone on to be put in roles requiring that expertise like livestock herding or search and rescue.

BREEDING PROGRAM

My breeding program uses the German organization, Verein für deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) rules as a guideline. It is my belief, and that of many U.S. breeders of German Shepherd Dogs, that the standard results in longer-lived, healthier, happier dogs and does improve the breed over time.

There are significant differences between the breed philosophies and requirements of this organization in Germany vs that of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA). The SV is both a breed club and a registry for German Shepherd Dogs. The GSDCA is a breed club affiliated with the AKC only. This has lead to divergences in the bloodlines of breeds governed by these different national organizations.

Physically, the more obvious differences in the lines is that the top line of the German-line dogs is straighter, their heads broader and they have less extreme angulation. But the differences between the lines are more than just in the appearance of the breeds. Temperament, working dog ethic, health and more are arguably improved in the German-line dogs. ¹

There are countless generations of proven quality behind the bloodlines in my breeding program. 

The SV was founded in Germany in 1899 by Max von Stephanitz and his collegue, Arthur Meyer. This organization sets forward the standards of the German Shepherd Dog to this day. Von Stephanitz strongly believed that the German Shepherd Dogs’ working ability was of the utmost importance and that aesthetics were less important. Thus, in order to avoid the arguments that led to the disestablishment of an earlier club, the Phylax Society, the SV’s first breed standard stipulated that

“A pleasing appearance is desirable, but it cannot put the dog’s working ability into question.”

This sentence encapsulates the primary philosophical difference between the two bloodlines. In Germany, the SV does not permit registration of puppies unless their parents possess valuable prerequisites indicating good temperament, good structure and a long list of certifications for health and soundness. This is contrasted by the AKC system in which the only requirement for registration is that the parents are registered. There are no requirements for health and soundness certifications, no tests for sound temperament, no tests evaluating structure or dentition, no requirements whatsoever beyond the registration of the parents.

I import my sires from Germany and other countries like Austria and Poland. They are titled and breed surveyed. For these dogs to have these credentials, it means they have parents who possess valuable prerequisites and that they, themselves, have passed the SV temperament, title and breed survey requirements. These dogs must have passed the BH (Begleithunde) which is a combination temperament and obedience test required for the dog to get his/her Schutzhund title. Then they must have a show rating and a training title in either working competition (Schutzhund) or Herding. Lastly, they must pass a Breed Survey (Körung) that involves presenting the dogs individually to a judge with higher qualifications who examines the dog’s structure, dentition, height / weight as well as verifying that the other required certifications are in order. The latter include a DNA test proving parentage and x-ray certifications with passing grades for hips and elbows. If the dog comes from Germany, the x-rays are read and the dog rated by the SV. Only after passing all these criteria can a dog be considered suitable for breeding and eligible to have its offspring registered with the SV (should they be born in Germany). In addition to the credentials my sires arrive with, I get cardiac certifications from a licensed veterinarian here in the U.S. and run a DNA test to prove they are Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) safe.

My dams are born in the U.S. and are the product of the highest quality lines. They have certified hips and elbows, a cardiac certification and are DM tested. The hip and elbow certifications are received from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) who reviews their x-rays and grades them (excellent, good or fair). Their cardiac certifications, like my sires, are done by a licensed veterinarian. The DM certifications are done by DNA test thru a canine lab.

¹ Please see my “101 German Shepherd Dogs” page for more on the history of the SV and the characteristics of German-line German Shepherd Dogs.

REGISTRATION

In the U.S., we have only the American Kennel Club (AKC) for canine registration.  The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (World Canine Organization) states that dogs may only be registered in their country of origin. This means that a U.S. born German Shepherd Dogs can only be registered with the AKC. My dogs are AKC registered and my puppies are registered when they go to their forever homes.

BREEDER CERTIFICATIONS

Tannhauser is certified by Good Dog and is inspected by the AKC.