Gusto German Shepherds

09/05/2024

So proud of Samantha Fett, Fett for House, and our GUSTO German Shepherds!

08/05/2024

Today is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. At GUSTO, we care about the safety of you and your pet, so we want to share some resources with you.

Disaster Preparedness For Your Pet The Safest Place For Your Pet Is With You! NEVER leave your pet behind and stranded in a hazardous situation! Microchip your pet and keep your pet records current with AKC Reunite. Make sure your pet’s collar tag is securely fastened.

18/04/2024

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas from GUSTO German Shepherds!

23/11/2023

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/thanksgiving-foods-to-share-with-your-dog-or-avoid/

What Thanksgiving foods can dogs eat? Learn which foods are safe and even healthy to share, and what should be avoided.

15/11/2023

⭐️DROP-IN CONFORMATION CLASS TOMORROW⭐️
November 15th @ 7:00 PM at the Long Dog LLC aka Masheshed building in Berwick (3766 NE 58th Ave, Berwick IA).
Classes will be $10/person. Let me know what you guys want to work on! 🐾

05/11/2023

Walter met his match! We are so excited to see the great things he and his new owner will accomplish together! Special thanks to the Dog Training Elite team for continuing his training.
Good boy, Walter!!’ We are so proud of you!!!

29/10/2023

Walter was the perfect demo dog for the GSDCA juniors grooming seminar.

29/10/2023

We are honored that our co-owned female sable, Envie, placed 2nd in the open class at the GSDCA National dog show!

18/09/2023

Meet Walter! He is a 9 month old long coated male GUSTO German Shepherd. He is a started service dog with basic obedience. His favorite things are being with people and playing with his toys. Prelim hips and elbows are good and passing. If you are interested in a service dog, and knowing more about Walter, please message me.

04/07/2023

Happy 4th of July from the Gusto pack!!!

09/05/2023

We are overjoyed to get this FABULOUS NEWS today that BOTH a bred by GUSTO dog AND a co-owned dog received their OFA certified EXCELLENT hips and normal elbows. Special thanks to RiverRock Kennels, Catchfly Kennels, and Donsta’s Kennels for partnering with us!

20/04/2023

Well said

IF… you ever get lucky enough to have an old dog, count your blessings.

Old dogs love you in a way that others can’t. They have years of practice. They are loyal, sincere, kind and bring a sense of peace to your life that you’ve never felt before. Old dogs know your secrets, they’ve shared your path… they become a deep part of you. They are connected to your soul.

Everyday I look at this face I give thanks to God for one more day. For I know one day he’ll be gone, and that day will completely destroy me. But for now I have that grey muzzle and those deep eyes to love. I cherish each moment. I look at him and just stare through him. I touch him and connect with him and I tell him a million times a day how special he is, was and will always be!

God bless our old dogs!

18/03/2023

We have one little long coated girl still looking for her new family. Message us if interested. Serious inquiries only.

18/03/2023

GUSTO is keeping this little girl in the family! Congratulations, son, on your new GUSTO German Shepherd, Ryka.

18/03/2023

At GUSTO, we look at selling a puppy to an owner as the start of a new friendship. However, we are happy to say that we have already been friends with these new GUSTO owners for almost twenty years now! This little guy is so happy to get to spend time with his great uncle!

16/03/2023

Please be an informed buyer. Support reputable breeders. Demand proof of testing, and trust but verify information by looking up results on websites like OFA.org.

So it’s official: The French Bulldog took #1 AKC breed. You might think: That’s awesome!
No, no it is not.

It’s never good to be ‘most popular’ in any aspect. And I will explain why this news didn’t bring joy or excitement.

In the last 10 years AKC registrations for French Bulldog have increased by over 1000%.

1000%

The majority of those registrations come from backyard breeders, puppy mills or people thinking they can make a quick buck which results in many many dogs being bred who really shouldn’t be bred at all due to health concerns and/or lack of breeding quality.

The breed is experiencing a welfare crisis. BOAS and spinal abnormalities/IVDD being of major concern. Plus heart disease creeping in and Hip Dysplasia on the rise!

A good breeder will properly health test their dogs including hips and spine. I can count on 2 hands how many breeders in North America are doing that.

Social media is full of Frenchies experiencing various health concerns, many of which are major diagnosis.

The Frenchie market is over saturated with poorly bred puppies and studs who have nothing behind their name but colour dna…

I suspect once the majority of people experience health issues with their Frenchie they will not get another and hopefully the numbers will decline again and the demand lower.

But until then: if you are looking to get a Frenchie or hear a friend go on about how cute they are PLEASE only support REPUTABLE breeders.

People always say ‘I thought my breeder was good until…’

NEVER get a Frenchie from a breeder who doesn’t have OFA/PennHip reports to show. You want to see hips, spine, heart, patella, eyes and trachea. A DNA panel is NOT enough.

This breed needs a push into the right direction (in this case health and functionality) ITS THE BUYERS WHO ENABLE GOOD OR BAD BREEDING.

Say no to puppies from backyard breeders, puppy mills or people who are breeding their pets without having a clue about anything.

If nobody was to buy those puppies and ergo support them, these places wouldn’t exist.

DEMAND DRIVES SUPPLY.

Let that demand be for HEALTHY dogs 🐾

27/02/2023

Puppy fear periods a normal part of puppy development. Our current litter is on the end of a fear period. So glad we are experienced at navigating them through this before they go home to their new owners.

Have a new puppy? Are they suddenly afraid? There's a lot to get used to and prepare for, but one thing that often gets overlooked is puppy fear periods.

09/02/2023

Please support our efforts to bring an AKC Reunite disaster trailer to Iowa for use during disasters to reunite owners and pets. Thanks!

I am Kristina DeLisi of GUSTO German Shepherds. In partnership with AKC REUNITE, t… KRISTINA DELISI needs your support for STATE IF IOWA AKC DISASTER TRAILER

07/02/2023

Go, Dogs, Go! May God bless your search for survivors!

Quake-prone Mexico has expert teams of humans and canines specialised in searching through rubble.

04/02/2023

We can’t stress this enough! Leash your dogs in public.

If you have a dog-reactive dog, THIS RIGHT HERE can turn a walk in the park or a relaxing hike in the woods into an absolute nightmare.

To me, it's very simple, dogs should be on leashes in public spaces. You don't know what they are going to encounter, and not everyone likes dogs, regardless of how friendly they are.

Leashing your dog in public is (1) showing basic respect for others; (2) your duty to keep your dog safe; and (3) in most places (even hiking trails), it's the law.

Thanks to Heal the Dog for the PSA!

02/02/2023

These little ones are growing up!

10/01/2023

Our little ones are growing! Eyes and ears open!

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

25/12/2022

Santa was good to us!!!

06/12/2022

Puppies Make Children Better
Many of you have asked about children and the benefits that puppies and dogs have on their lives. Here are some answers based on research findings. Pass them on to parents and to those who love children..

Finding # 1. Children who lived with a pup during their first year of life had better immune systems than those who did not.

Finding # 2. Playing and petting a puppy decreases cortisol and increases Oxytocin, a body chemical that promotes happiness, calms the mind and increases mood.

Finding # 4. Allowing a 3-year-old to put the food and water bowl down helps them develop self-esteem.

Finding # 5. Teachers who studied children and pet ownership reported that dogs and puppies are an invaluable aid to developing a childs empathy and self-esteem for others.

Finding # 6. Autism. One in 45 children in the US are diagnosed with autism (ASD), which is nearly 2% of the entire population of children ages 2-17. Dog and puppies were found to offer the following benefits:

Provided them a sense of security
Decreased meltdowns
Decreased anxiety and acts of aggression
Increased a willingness to try new things
Increased the ability to face fearful situations
Increased social interactions and shifted the focus away from the child’s disability
Encouraged verbal communication

Authored by
Dr. Carmen Battaglia
Breeding Better Dogs