OUR GOALS FOR BREEDING

• Balanced Temperament
• Socialized
• Healthy German Shepherds
• Bred to follow German Shepherd Standards in conformation and temperament.

**Breeding only takes places once the selected dogs are physically sound in body and mind and are cleared for breeding by a licensed veterinarian. All of our breeding bitches/dogs will have been x-rayed (pre-limbed at the least) and OFA’ed for their hips and elbows to ensure that there is no hip/elbow dysplasia present. Breeding dogs are also tested for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) and other genetic panels.

**WE WILL ONLY BREED IF there is a demand for puppies or expanding our breeding program**

Shipping Available across Canada and the United States

All of our puppies are temperament tested using VOLHARD’S PUPPY APTITUDE TESTING

The Puppy Questionnaire must be filled out to be considered for placement.

EXCEPTIONAL quality pups are worth the wait!

2ND MALE/FEMALE – BACK

3RD MALE – BAILEY

4TH MALE – QUILTY

2ND FEMALE – JEFFERY

“EE” PEDIGREE

 IMPORTANT LINKS

To find a reputable breeder, always ask questions and check off the following list to ensure they have your best interests in mind when choosing a German Shepherd for your family. Click on the below link for questions to ask before making a decision on your puppy.

Finding a Good Breeder

If you have never owned a German Shepherd, please take a minute to read over the link:

Is a German Shepherd a suitable companion for you?

PUPPY INFORMATION

Elhart German Shepherd puppies are raised in a family environment with adults, kids, cats, and dogs. This gives our puppies unlimited levels of social stimulation and interaction for development! By 7 weeks of age, we also introduce crate, leash, and manners training, car rides, noises, bathing (this one often earlier and more than one!!), strange objects, etc. We feel that these puppies deserve the best care and training that we can provide them in their first 8 weeks so they can easily fit in with their new families. Their potty routine during week 7 onward (weather permitting) are as we do for our adults.  Out in the morning rain or shine or snow and same with bedtime after dark.

All of our puppies are temperament tested using the Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Testing. This testing provides us with insight on how puppy thinks, interacts, plays, and reacts to noises, objects, strangers, etc. Once we have puppy questionnaires filled out by the families, then we can determine the best puppy for your needs, energy level, etc.

We reserve puppies for families but we do wait until puppies are 7 weeks of age or older before deciding which family is best suited for each puppy!

We welcome families to come by for a visit after puppies have reached six weeks of age by appointment only.
For the safety of our pups, we do ask that you do not visit our kennel after visiting another kennel as many illnesses/diseases can be transferred.  With COVID19 and the increase of parvo and kennel cough, our kennel is currently closed to the public to insure the safety of our dogs and family.

Our puppies stay at Elhart until they are at least 8 weeks of age. I have been known to hold back puppies for longer for evaluating if I am wanting to keep back a future puppy for breeding.  Sometimes I will have older puppies available that are house trained and started with basic manners after evaluating the litter.  Feel free to contact me if interested in this option to bypass the housebreaking/teething stages.

If you are interested in one of our litters, please take a moment to fill out a Puppy Questionnaire so we can determine which puppy would be best suited for you! PLEASE NOTE **Questionnaires must be filled out to be considered for one of our puppies/dogs.**

HOW MUCH DOES A PUPPY COST?

Due to importing from Europe the last several years in order to add new pedigrees to my kennel, prices are based on operating costs to import,  train, along with vet care & food.  It has been extremely difficult with COVID19, and vet costs as well as food and import fees that have risen significantly. With limited litters whelped each year, we do not produce a large number of puppies to cover our operating costs, however, we are trying to keep our prices fair.

$2,700 – $3,000 for limited registration puppies (spay/neuter required)

$400.00 non-refundable deposit to reserve your puppy. (Goes towards purchase price of puppy).

$3,500+  for unlimited registration to CKC or AKC registered breeders only upon approval.

Health Guarantee (Bill of Sale)

WHAT PUPPY COMES WITH:

• Socialized with humans, cats and dogs
• Raised in house with over 20 years of experience in the breed and rearing puppies.
• Crate trained from 7 weeks onward, litter trained starting at 4 weeks of age.
• 6 weeks free pet insurance
• Microchipped
• Vet checked by a licensed veterinarian with first shots and wormings completed.  Take home vaccine booklet provided.
• CKC registered
• Royal Canin Puppy Pack
• Training pouch with clicker and bowl

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR A PUPPY?

Please take time to fill out the Puppy Questionnaire if you are interested in purchasing a puppy from Elhart.

• Applications are reviewed and I may need to make a call to you if I have any questions regarding the application.  Sometimes I will also email.
• If the application is approved, I will advise and then request that the client let me know what litter they are interested in. Once the litters are born, it is first come first serve for approved applicants and I can accept deposits for the puppies whelped.  There will not be any holds or reservations without a deposit. Elhart will be posting and updating weekly in regards to the litters and puppies available.
• DEPOSITS  are $400.00 and are non-refundable if there is a puppy available and you are no longer interested when it comes time to take puppy home.
•  Once puppies are ready to go, the final payment must be provided before puppy leaves Elhart.  This includes pick up of puppies or flying puppy to their new home.  Final payment can be made via: e transfer, certified cheque or cash.

ITEMS TO MAKE READY BEFORE PUPPY COMES HOME.–

KENNEL – large enough to eventually accommodate puppy when full-grown.

BLANKET – **Do not use braided or woven rugs as puppy might chew and swallow threads. This causes intestinal blockage and sometimes cause death. ** Old towels are the best choice by experience as they are easy to wash. (Down filled comforters and plush dog beds are not recommended! They will chew them up!)

DISHES – water and food – stainless is best to prevent chewing

PUPPY FOOD – starter food comes with puppy and you can slowly blend if your brand is different. **We recommend a high quality food for at least the first year of life to give puppy the proper nutrients for development.**

SLICKER BRUSH/NAIL CLIPPERS/EAR WIPES/POOP BAGS

LEASH/COLLAR – Adjustable because he/she is going to grow quickly!

PET SAFE TOYS – Insure you have a few chewing toys and play toys to help with the teething! Plush toys are generally not a safe choice for this breed!

BABY GATE – If there are areas in your home that are not safe for puppy

HOME INSPECTION – Take a few minutes to check for cords, valuables, etc. that might be a potential hazard or make you very upset if puppy decides to explore! Check fences for weak boards and small gaps where puppy could get out. Inspect latches on gates so they close properly, etc.

BREEDER SUPPORT

Once your puppy leaves Elhart and joins your family, I am always here for questions whether it be training or daily care throughout the lifetime of your dog. Questions are always welcome and not to feel embarrassed if you need help or can’t figure out a training technique.  Often times when caught early, it is a simple fix in which I am always here to help! I never want to see a family struggle to care for or train their puppy because they feel they don’t want to bother me!  I also encourage feedback, whether positive or negative as to how your dog is doing as this is the only way a breeder can strive to maintain the best quality of dogs.  Health is imperative and while I typically hold back puppies from most of my breedings that I can evaluate, I really need to hear how puppies are growing up in their homes for health and temperament. This allows me to constantly learn and evolve better and better breedings over time.

Facebook is a platform that I use to keep in touch with my families and often post helpful training tips via video. There are also albums noted by alphabet (each litter has it’s own letter as noted in the breeding announcements above)  in which I provide weekly updates for each litter I am rearing.  Often puppies are purchased from out of province families that are not able to visit prior to pick up and with COVID19 and our kennel closed for viewing, I am hoping to keep families in the loop in regards to the day to day training and activities here at Elhart.  As the puppies grow and move to their new homes, these albums are frequently updated so families can watch the litter grow together.

You tube is also available with countless videos from puppies that I have reared here, added to my breeding program, or have trained for clients. If a family is struggling with a certain training exercise and I have a littermate here, I will often put together a video and share so the family can watch and then apply to their puppy. I have seen huge success with this method as the families have a better understanding what the expectations should be for the age their puppy is at and gives them the confidence to train their puppy to do the same! Sometimes it has been over 10 years since families have had a new pup in the house so we can get a little rusty!

Instagram is a fun page that I often post photos of my own dogs here at Elhart but will often share family photos of Elhart litters!