Shield Kennels

Welcome to Shield Kennels, a reputable breeding facility dedicated to producing superior German Shepherds that excel in various roles, be it a family companion or a service dog. Our mission is to breed high-quality dogs by preserving and improving the breed within true German lines. We achieve this by adhering to stringent breeding, health testing, and training techniques.

One of our primary goals is to donate at least one puppy or dog per year to deserving individuals or organizations. We have had the privilege of collaborating with Connor's Canine Behavior Academy, Bodhi Battalion, and currently Connor's K9 Academy to help many heroic families. We have also donated several puppies to be trained as service dogs for military personnel. Furthermore, we do private donations to military personnel, EMTs, firefighters, and police officers who risk their lives daily to protect us. Please visit our Honoring Our Heroes page to learn more about our donation stories.

Health Testing

At Shield Kennels, health testing is a top priority in our breeding program. All dogs are tested before being bred and are over two years old. Our females must be physically and mentally mature enough to handle a litter of puppies, and they may be three or closer to four years old before their first litter. We use OFA, SV, and/or Pennhip testing for hip and elbow dysplasia and PawPrints for genetic testing.

For our puppies, we use the Puppy Culture protocols and Avidog puppy aptitude testing techniques. Early neurological stimulation (ENS) enables a pup to be slowly desensitized with small doses to certain stimuli, resulting in a resilient dog that can bounce back from fearful situations, be more easygoing, and be easier to train.

In The Beginning

In the 1990s, our founder was a dog breeder of wonderful Cocker Spaniels and Alaskan Malamutes and a professional groomer. One day, she was offered a job by an employee of a large cable communications company while working on a grooming appointment. After several years working in a corporate job, she realized how much she missed working with dogs and recognized the growing need for quality dogs for the home and workplace.

Our founder and her husband both loved the idea of working with dogs and, because her husband grew up with a well-trained and amazing German Shepherd, they decided to start a kennel to breed top German Shepherds true to German lines. They spent more than four years researching German Shepherds and breeders before deciding on their first breeding male, whom they named "Fury" after "Director Nick Fury."

When Fury's litter was born, there were four female puppies and no males. Our founder picked what was considered the best of the litter, Storm, and started obedience and socialization training immediately, which included a three-week trip to Alaska where they rode the eight-hour Denali bus to the end of the road.