VON STOTT HAUS Formerly Shadow Land Shepherds EST 1991

We feel it important to us as breeders to be honest on our thoughts to our potential buyers/new family members

We often have a question as to when we will be breeding again. We are not a huge kennel, nor want to be (since 1991) We do not like to breed just to breed, so not a puppy mill or a backyard breeder. We want to produce good quality German Shepherds, so will not breed just to sell cheap o

r place in a pet shop for quick sale at the breeds expense. We care about the breed and our dogs, so we will not breed back to back when a female has a large litter, nor if we still have more than 3 pups left. We do keep back picks for later training and selling for more to those looking for a started dog, so 3 isn't so bad and we do want to have time to work with and flooding the market with more puppies isn't good for the breed at all or us as good, responsible breeders. Some people think when buying a male or female and telling us they just want for a pet will get them Full registration, NO! We do sell to those that want for breeding, but for more and come with a warranty for that purpose. We figure what we are doing and have done since 1991, has taken time and thought and we do not want someone buying with the intention of getting rich off selling pups and not paying for the rights for breeding. This serves on 2 counts:

(1) to try and limit backyard or puppy mill breeding

(2) for the betterment of the breed (making people realize this isn't a get rich quick on puppy sales) Doing it right you will most likely lose money or at the very most break even. Just my opinion (Sonja's) but I feel we ruin our own breed when we sell to anyone and everyone with Full Registration for cheap. People will breed even without full registration, but are less likely to do so if they want to make bigger money. Being honest with the breeder to your intentions helps all involved, not just about the money, but about breeding smart. Doing it right has taken time and money and a lot of work (which we enjoy them so we do it) There is so much that goes into breeding and it isn't just looking at a pedigree and figuring you will get what you are expecting, but actually knowing the dogs and do they compliment each other, in Intelligence, health, beauty, temperament, stability, courage. A well bred GSD with the right training is a bigger key than just looking at that pedigree. Pedigree is a start, but not the end all to perfect pups. No such thing, but we strive to perfect each breeding as best as we can with the means we have to afford it. We have taken years of work to get the dogs we have now and do not want to ruin what we have by selling to just anyone for just anything they want to do with the dog. We may sound harsh in saying this, but too many that breed do not care where the dog goes, as long as they get money. Ours is not just about money, but we really do care about placing pups or adult dogs in the right family, not just getting rid of them (although we have our days...LOL!)
So when asking how much a puppy is, please think of what goes into breeding the right German Shepherd or other breed and put yourself in our spot. We also had to buy good quality to get where we are and have suffered losses along the way. You do get what you pay for most times! We have bought many imports to get the breeding we have today and taken the cautions of breeding only those that have the right temperament, look, health (meaning hips/elbows and over all health) not just titled dogs, as we cannot work them all (a shame, but not enough time or money to pay for this each time) The breeding is there and with the correct imprinting (which we work towards) many dogs can do a multiple of jobs. Most important is that of protecting its family. So we pray that those considering buying a puppy from anyone, remember to protect your puppy/dog as he will protect you with his life. That is just the way this breed is. Anyone looking to buy a puppy should want to know more than just the price, ask more of the breeder before buying from anyone. We appreciate questions and prefer buyers that do ask questions. We figure they are more serious if they ask. We have wonderful owners due to our efforts to place in the right homes. We love to work with like minded breeders who also care about their pups and where they go. We do not look at you as competition and are flattered each time one wants to purchase one for breeding. We do however, back off from those that belittle us wanting for less than what we have listed. This has the opposite effect on our thoughts of selling to such a person. It makes us step back and look closer at the reasons they are breeding. We all like to make money, but not at the expense of selling an animal to someone that isn't going to continue with the same ethics and value what they have just purchased. You have to really love the breed to pay the price many of us have paid to get what we want. I have always figured I get what I pay for. If it is something out of my reach, then I have to walk away it wasn't meant that I have that particular dog for my breeding program. I haven't been disappointed in those dogs I have paid good money for either. Those I bought early on in my breeding, well I actually lost more than I paid. That was why I sought out a good, reputable importer/breeder. It is costly, but worth every penny to get the breeding stock we have today. NO fancy names to throw around, but good quality German Shepherds and many happy families and repeat buyers. UPDATE JAN 2013

As you can see we have made a few changes. Even though Chris & I are divorced we both love the breed and have continued to have a select few German Shepherds. We (Sonja & Mark) have just started back into the breeding and re-opened this site, as well as a face book site listed as "Von Stott Haus" We look forward to our new adventure together and continue what I started back in 1991. We are a small kennel in south central Michigan. We're about an hour and a half from Detroit, MI. 25 miles from the Michigan, Indiana border. We are set up for breeding & training(meaning obedience & agility and compete in the sport of Schutzhund). Contact us today for your training needs, we can help and are reasonably priced with techniques that do work. If wanting to compete in the sport we recommend getting involved with a schutzhund club for this, as we do not have the time to work more than our own dogs at this time. We do offer boarding to a select few customers. We have been raising German Shepherds since 1991. This is not a passing hobby, but one that we take serious. We work to produce the dogs that will work as family pets, on the schutzhund field, SAR and in police work. It is very important to us to produce the correct temperament and correct conformation that the German Shepherd Dog was meant to be. We breed to the standard German size, not for just color and how large, but all around character, stability & health is our most desired goals in each breeding. All our breeding stock is x-rayed, OFA/OFEL or come with an "A" stamp from Germany.

***(not meant to be oversized, but happens occasionally we have had a bit oversized on a rare occasion)

We have shipped throughout the USA. All puppies/dogs are sold with a warranty. Check out our Warranty Page and also our Pricing Page prior to calling or emailing. This will help you know what and how we price our dogs for sale. In emails please let us know what your purpose for wanting a German Shepherd is also, this helps us figure out if we have anything suitable for your needs at the time you write. Our Contact page will also give you shipping guidelines if this is a service you will need. Our"Puppies & Dogs Available" page is where you will find what is available for what prices. Thank you for visiting our website and if we can be of assistance just call, email or leave us a comment with your contact information and questions. Sonja K Youdes & Mark W Stott

http://www.gsdzonesls.myeweb.net

Phone: 517-688-4636 Jerome, Michigan USA


How we started....

We started out with one female in 1989, a black & silver American bred with many police dogs in her pedigree. We had no idea we would love these dogs so much and grow to what we have today. Chris had always been into golf & hunting dogs( blue ticks, red bones & walkers ). He wasn't thrilled with Sonja's first puppy. Because of her love of her first female, Solieta, she started investigating and learning more about what direction to take this(if she was going to continue). We had placed an ad in a pet store in Jackson in which a man called about our pups. He happened to be a trainer of drug dogs, bomb detection dogs & did personal protection dogs. We ended up training a couple of our males from two different litters. We sold both of them as personal protection dogs. From here this man lead us to Gerald Azzi, in Ashley, OH. with whom we purchase all of our Imports from then and now. Chris still not thrilled with my love for these dogs, had to be convinced a little more. After purchasing my first Import male,2 yr old Brix in 1994, then on to Uta, a Czech female with some W. German show lines things began to look a bit more interesting to Chris. Chris learned these dogs really had more that good looks! They had a purpose! He found himself being drawn to work them, train and compete in the sport of Schutzhund. Once this happened, well, things were much more fun and I had my wishes......more dogs. We then bought a Czech male blk sable ZVV1, Orm out of the famous border patrol Pohranicni Straze Din & Greif. Orm was a very interesting dog that every child that came wanted to take home, instead of a puppy. He was so sweet, cuddly and large! The next big purchase was our Sissi Vom Grafental a solid black large female, littermate to the famous Sven. Although we bought Sissi at 18 months and she was never one that Chris took and worked. She would play ball all day, but was exceptional if I took her to work with me. She looked like a big black bear and most thought she was a he. People loved seeing her, as well as many other dogs I took with me, and would ask where my dogs were if I came without one of them. Seems they were a real hit. This is what I love about them all. I can take them and trust them around anyone. This is why we love the Imports and never regret the road we took. Although very costly, worth every penny for the joy they have brought to our lives. We have been very fortunate to own several wonderful dogs. Now, along with buying more when the right one comes along or we just feel we need to expand on what we already have, we keep back a select few for future training and breeding. We used to worry about that last puppy selling, now we look forward to a few being left here and there to train & enjoy until the right family comes along. That always happens and God is so good to us in letting us continue to do what we so enjoy and for sending the right people into our lives and that of our precious babies lives too. We could go on and on, but what it all comes down to is that we are doing what we love and sharing this with those that buy our babies or adopt one of our retired females. We have met so many people of like minds that we treasure. We thank all of you that have helped us along the way and still do. We have a great support team of other like minded breeders and trainers in which we feel we can all help to make this breed the best it can be by working together with the same goal. We are in this for our love for the breed and the love they give to us and all that have the pleasure of owning one. Thank you for stopping by and we look forward your visit, even if just to stop in and say "Hello". We also encourage our puppy clients to post their pictures and videos on this page as well as updates as to how all is going. We welcome questions here as well!