Dog Breeding

Background

Myself and my Husband Joe have owned German Shepherds for the last 18 years. Our very first German Shepherd was called Regan, Grinsdales Crusader at Moorsvale. He was a Pedigree Dog looking for a new Forever Home. He came to us purely by accident and stayed with us until he died in 2001. We contacted his original owner and arranged to use him for a mating 2 years after we got him at the age of 5 years old. We didn’t take a puppy from the mating; we asked to have his Kennel Club Registration papers instead.

He was the one who stole my heart and from that day on, German Shepherd’s became my passion. German Shepherd's are one of the most faithful and loyal breed of dogs. They love you unconditionally and would give their life for you.

We then got in touch with the original breeder and informed her that we had Regan.

She just happened to have a litter of pups at the time so we went through to meet her and see the puppies. We came home with the most beautiful Sable bitch, Elsa Grinsdales Maggie May. That was it from there on our life of German Shepherds began.

We went to a dog show and were introduced to Fred Conway another very reputable Breeder and went to see a litter he had. We ended up coming home with the most beautiful pup number two, that was Raven, Conson’s Invincible Prince.

And so the fun began. Our days were filled with mischievous puppy antics from two tiny pups that grew full size by 6 months old. The three of them had so much fun, but Regan was always top dog and looked the other way when they sometimes where up to no good.

When Elsa had turned 2 years old, and all the health tests were done we decided to mate her with Regan. After the Mating, Regan became ill and we had to take him to the vets. He was diagnosed with twisted gut, which left untreated can kill. Luckily he was fine and after a few days at the vets he came home. Elsa was taken for a scan at 5 weeks but sadly was not in pup. The next time she came into season we had her and Regan checked out with our Vet, Ian Hunter, but sadly his sperm had dried up, so we never got a puppy off Regan. We did go on to use Raven with Elsa and our first litter was eventually born, 13 she had, what an amazing experience. By 6 days old all the puppies were sold. We let them go after 8 weeks.

This was the start of our lines Sharejo German Shepherds.

The next chapter of our life included two girls which we bred ourselves. Kia and Gabbi.

We bought a new stud dog at 8 weeks old and called him Maddox, semi longhaired but beautiful. This was Kia and Gabbi’s mate.

From these two we have Koda and Lola; sadly we lost Lilly, Lola’s litter sister earlier this year.

We also have Sacha who is bred from my lines but not bred by me. Her owner couldn't look after her anymore so we took her in.

We also have Maverick who we bought in from Leicester over a year ago; he is stunning and a proper baby. Our newest addition is Ivy; she is actually from German lines as the English lines are now dying out so we have to start building up for the future.

We have a total of 7 German Shepherds ageing from 10 weeks to 9 years old at present.

We also have 3 Border Terriers, Jack Nell and Coco. Jack was bought in from a Reputable Breeder just past Carlisle in 2009 and Nell and Coco are litter sisters bought in from another very good breeder in our area, also in 2009.

We had our first litter of Border Terriers at the end of 2011, 3 dog pups. One is with a lovely Family and is local, one went to a family with a Hotel in Ambleside and the other went to a lovely family in Scotland.

We also gave a home to Bramble, a Lab cross who was a Rescue dog from Solway Dog Rescue, owned by June Lambie,  a very long time ago. Sadly Bramble died on the 28th of September this year. He was 17 and a half years old and had been with us since he was 3 years old. He originally lived with Lucy, a German Shepherd, chocolate lab cross and they were eventually the best of mates. Unfortunately Lucy died quite a few years ago due to a Tumour on her brain. As an old man Bramble still liked to go for his walks, he was deaf and sometimes when we were out we had to run after him to put his lead on to turn him round to come home. To one family he was unwanted, but to us he has as been a pleasure to have in our lives and we all miss him greatly.

Our Dogs

• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
•  

Our Rules

• Before we Breed form our dogs we do the following;
• Make sure we have at least 5 or 6 people waiting for a puppy.
• Hip score both parents, well in advance of the mating.
• We never breed from any dog with a total hip score of 19 or more.
• We test the boys for Haemophilia.
• We never breed from a bitch under 2 years old.
• We never breed from a dog younger than 18 months old.
• We never have more than 3 litters from each bitch.
• We always leave 12/18 months gap between mating the same pair.
• We never would breed from a bitch over 8 years old.
• We only breed from dogs that are healthy.
  
  

---

After the Mating

• We monitor the Mother at all times and increase her feed as needed.
• We scan the Mother after 5 weeks to confirm she is in pup.
• We have an area set up well in advance with a whelping box and heating.
• Move the Mother into the whelping area a week or two a head of the birth.
• Stay with the Mother the whole time she is whelping.
• Call the vet in to check her once her litter is born or during the birth if necessary.
• We always accept responsibility for a puppy which we have bred, and make ourselves available to give advice, help and information to new Owners.
• We always breed for temperament and soundness.
• We plan ahead of each mating so as to ensure that each puppy produced will be bred in the best possible environment.
• We would never put any of our dogs at risk.
• We always make sure the Mother is coping and step in to help if she is not.
• We always put the Mother’s welfare first.
• We wean the puppies on a very good diet from the age of 2/3 weeks old.
• We wean the puppies off their Mother by the time they are 6 weeks old.
• We always let the Mother have contact with her pups right up until they leave.
• We always make sure they have at least 2weeks weaned off from the Mother before we let them go to their new homes
• We always try to socialise them as much as possible, with household noises, children and our other dogs.
  
  

---

Leaving for their new Homes

We always vet new Owners before deciding to sell them a puppy.

We always give the Kennel Club Registrations and 5 Generation Pedigrees to take as the Puppies leave for their new Forever homes.

Our Kennel Club Registrations are endorsed with the following rules:

• Not to be bred from.
• Not to be exported.
• The puppies are all Vet checked, fully wormed and First vaccination given.
• Your puppy will be Micro chipped.
• We always give written follow up vaccination instructions and a worming programme.
• We give full advice on a feeding programme together with a list of feeds the puppy has been given.
• We offer advice and details of a Reputable Dog Trainer.
• We also give them a puppy Welcome pack which includes;
• Food, Dish, Collar and Lead, Brush, Toy, Dentastix.
• We also take full responsibility for any puppies that we have bred and make ourselves available for a LIFETIME of advice, help and information to the puppies and their new Owners.
• We ask that if circumstances change and they are no longer able to keep their dog that they return it to us, together with any paper work, vaccination certificates and micro chipping details, not take them to any one else.
• Our Dogs are our Life and Passion; we treat them with respect and love. They are all individual and are all Our Family. They stay with us for LIFE, no matter what.