At Celhaus a dog must have all of these qualities to be considered worthy to be bred. I have West German lines, some show but mostly working lines. My females must conform to the breed standard and have no disqualifying characteristics. They must be vibrantly healthy, easy keepers, pleasant to live with, and calm under all circumstances. Absolutely no dog aggression is accepted. They are extensively screened for health problems. They must pass the following health screenings: OFA hips, OFA elbows, OFA heart, OFA thyroid, CERF (eyes), and be Von Willebrand's free (bleeding disorder). When they have passed these, they must also be easy breeders, easy whelpers, and good mothers, and their pups must be vigorous and outgoing, with ears up early and good sound minds and structure, or they are not bred a second time. I look for the same qualities and screenings, plus working titles, in choosing a male to breed to.

I've been breeding German Shepherds since 1976. I have 2 acres in the shadow of the Big Horn Mountains which I have worked hard to turn from rocky pastureland into the Garden of Eden. My place is most definitely a Dog Heaven, divided into two huge areas plus a smaller yard and large puppy pen complete with obstacle course. One of the large areas includes a large training area where I set up obedience jumps and agility obstacles. During the winter I am part of a small group who rents a building twice weekly to train our dogs in. I also use two ranches close by for tracking. The dogs and I hike in the mountains weekly during the summer. Winter finds us hiking on local ranches or around town, depending upon the amount of snow and ice. 

My dogs are highly intelligent, willing, and outgoing. They have a very special joy of life and meet people and new experiences with fervor. They are just plain fun to live with and to train. They are members of the family, living with me constantly and going everywhere with me. They are constantly evaluated as they grow up and are exposed to all kinds of situations. They help me work with the 4H dog project. They are registered Therapy Dogs (with Therapy Dogs Incorporated). They are trained in tracking and obedience.  I am a member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America and a signer of their Breeder's Code. I also participate in local breed rescue efforts.

I only have 1 or 2 litters a year so as to give each puppy all kinds of attention and socialization. The puppies are born in the house and handled frequently. Each pup is marked with a ric-rac collar at birth and individual characteristics are monitored as they develop. Close friends of all ages visit them from the time they are 1 day old. My other dogs and my cat who thinks he is a German Shepherd help raise them. Kids from the 4H Dog Project come to individually work with each pup, beginning leash breaking and recalls and encouraging each pup's personality development. They also help me take the litter to each local nursing home as part of their socialization and temperament testing. Puppies also go to visit shut-in's and to friends' homes. As they grow, they are taken to a different part of my two acres each day and encouraged to explore, climb, negotiate obstacles, etc. They are temperament tested at 7 weeks, and that result is added to my observations from the previous 7 weeks to determine the best placing for each puppy.

I prefer placing puppies with people I have had a chance to get to know, through interaction over their answers to the questionnaire and from personal contact. I will ship puppies by air, but reluctantly, due to my location. I must drive the puppies at least 150 miles to get to an airport, which makes it a pretty hard trip for them. I prefer to have buyers come here, get to know me and all my dogs, see the cleanliness and variety of mental and environmental experiences the pups have been gifted with, and let me see how they interact with my dogs and puppies. I also like to have them close enough that I can inspect the pups occasionally and be sure that they are growing up to be good representatives of the breed and are offering no problems to the owners.

I usually have a waiting list. After a person has returned the completed questionnaire and we have determined to both our satisfactions that they can find what they want in a CELHAUS puppy, I place them on the waiting list and keep them informed of breeding plans, puppies whelped, and their development. I ask for a $200 deposit once the puppies are safely and healthily on the ground. Puppies are videotaped and photographed weekly so that the parents-to-be may be a part of their whole life and also see their personalities developing. After the temperament test at 7 weeks, a decision is made by both of us that their puppy is ready to join their lives. Once the puppy goes to them, a friendship for life begins, with all kinds of support from me, help for any problems and answers for any questions, encouragement, and a $50 refund for each working title attained. 

Given with each puppy:

10# of dry food

A copy of the contract with health guarantee

AKC registration certificate

5 generation Pedigree 

copies of OFA certificates and photos of the parents

videotape and photos of puppies until they leave home

Veterinary health and vaccination records

Puppy packet with all kinds of information on feeding, health, and training.  

Periodic mailings, every 3 months until puppy is a year old; every 6 months until it turns 2 years, to encourage puppy buyers and help them form their pup into an excellent canine citizen and pleasure to live with

Support for the dog's entire life

References, reading/video suggestions to help you learn as much about this magnificent breed as you desire

Full support, eager answers to questions, continued support with any problems, for the life of the pup