Our Story
Our Mission: To train and breed superior German Shepherds by preserving and improving the breed within true German lines. By strictly adhering to proper breeding and training techniques we will be able to offer top quality working class dogs fit for any job or family role.
One of our goals is to donate at least one puppy or dog for service once a year. One of the puppies from our first litter in the summer of 2016 will become a service dog for Epilepsy. All of our females that will be retired from breeding after 4-5 litters will be trained for CGC (Canine Good Citizen). The dogs that qualify will be donated to men and women that protect us every day; Military, EMT, Firefighters and Police Officers as personal therapy companion dogs. As of 2019, we have 4 service dogs and 1 in training and started working with the non profit ConnorsK9-BB who trains service dogs for Vets and 1st responders.
About us: In the 1990âs I was a dog breeder of wonderful Cocker Spaniels and Alaskan Malamutes and a professional groomer. One day I was working on a grooming appointment for an employee of a large cable communications company and was offered a job. After several years working a corporate job I realized how much I miss working with dogs and realized the growing need for quality dogs for the home and work place alike.
My husband and I both loved the idea of working with dogs and because my husband grew up with a very well trained and amazing German Shepard and I have seen what amazing family and working dogs they are we decided to start a kennel to breed top German Shepherds true to German lines.
On names: We knew we had to come up with a great name for the kennel and the great dogs we will breed. For us and everyone who has the chance to know these dogs will surely know as we do that these dogs are heroes in their own right and deserve recognition; there for only the names and prestige of the heroes we all know and love will do. This is why the kennel is named âShieldâ which many may remember as a peace keeping organization and also symbolizes a protective and bonding element that each of our dogs can bring to their home and work families.
We will use an alphabetical naming system for each litter. Most names will be that of comic book heroes but there may be a âjokerâ now and again. We now have a Joker a long hair boy from Czech that is a 2nd gen Kirschental born on April 1st, 2019.
In the beginning: We spent more than four years researching German Shepherds and breeders before deciding on our first breeding male. We decided to name our male âFuryâ after âDirector Nick Furyâ. In December of 2013, a litter from one of our favorite breeders of West German Show Lines was bred with all the qualities we wanted. The father has great structure, temperament and beautiful deep red in his coat and was ranked 44th in the world. He studded an equally amazing female so we decided this is a great start for our kennel. When the litter was born there were four female puppies and no males. All four were great puppies which made it very difficult to choose but we picked what we thought and what was considered the best of the litter and instead of starting with the male we planned on, âStormâ came home to Shield in April 2014.
Obedience and socialization training started immediately which at five months old included a three week trip to Alaska where we all rode the eight hour Denali bus to Mt Denali and back. She received many compliments from fellow passengers and the bus driver who really enjoyed having such a well behaved dog on the bus.
In November of 2014, one of the top breeders we have known for some time had some adolescent male dogs that were thought to be a good potential matches for Storm.
We were impressed with the overall quality of every male there but one stood out. He was 4.5 months old, born on the 4th of July and already socialized and obedience trained in German. This little guy warmed right up to my husband and we knew this one was the one. The breeder had also chosen this male to keep for their breeding program but in the true spirit of cooperation, staying true to breed and quality blood lines allowed us to bring him home to breed with Shield. This handsome German and patriotic male came home to Shield in November 2014.
June of 2016, we purchased a kennel property outside of Town of Elbert and north of Peyton. A wonderful 15 acre property that will be a great place to board, train, sell supplies and breed our dogs. Shieldkennels.com
We have also brought Puppy Culture to our puppies to help them get an excellent start to life. This program really helps puppies in all aspects in growing up.
