Colorado Breeders

[MicheleMarie]

I am new! I am going to read through the helpful topics about what to look for in a good and responsible breeder, but I wanted to post a few kennels here in Colorado that I've been keeping my eye on for awhile. I'll list them from first choice and so on. I didn't know if maybe anyone had experience with these specific kennels or heard anything about them.
thanks!


#1: Crystal Creek GSD: Colorado German Shepherds Crystal Creek Shepherds Denver Colorado German Shepherd Breeder, puppies, Canidae Pet Food. and Pet Products and Supplements

#2 Rocky Mountain GSD: German Shepherd breeder in Colorado

#3: Littleton GSD: Littleton German Shepherds of Colorado Home

If anyone has experience about buying GSDs in Colorado would love to hear it! I have a GSD mix right now that I adopted from a rescue 5 years ago. I've been wanting a full blooded one for over a year now and finally have the time!
thanks for all the input you can give me

[KZoppa]

hey! welcome! i'm originally from C. Springs. i'm no expert but to me those breeders look like showlines. As i said i'm no expert and can hope someone with more knowledge chimes in. I cant read a pedigree to save my life and i've only recently begun learning what to look for in terms of what i want in my next pup. What do you want to do with your GSD? that would better help us to help you.

[szariksdad]

What type of GSD are you thinking of getting Show or Work? I just recently bought last June a pup and can help point you in the right direction. I went and checked out the first 2 kennels in your list and can give you some feedback if you want. The third I think is a recent addition to the area or has a new website and did not know of them when I was looking.

[MicheleMarie]

thanks so much for the quick responses!

definitely not show. I would like to do fun things on the side like agility training or avalanche rescue training just as a hobby..but they'd be working dogs.
It's wonderful you've been to these places szariksdad! that would be such a great help that you know the area and can give me tips.

don't worry KZoppa, i can't read a pedigree to save my life either!

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by MicheleMarie

thanks so much for the quick responses!

definitely not show. I would like to do fun things on the side like agility training or avalanche rescue training just as a hobby..but they'd be working dogs.
It's wonderful you've been to these places szariksdad! that would be such a great help that you know the area and can give me tips.

don't worry KZoppa, i can't read a pedigree to save my life either!

if thats what you're interested in doing, i would suggest you look into working lines instead of showlines. Working lines tend to have more desire to please therefore making those activities easier and more enjoyable. Sadly, i'm also not a fan of showlines personally but i've not had good experiences with showlines so i guess i'm biased. lol. there are several breeders on this site that can give you some pretty darn good advice. Most everyone on this site has a working line preference or a showline preference but the majority have working line GSDs. I would suggest starting a thread on your desires in the dog and what you would like to participae in (possibly) and see whats recommended based on your desires for a future dog. an example is for me i want a pup who shows an early desire to please and focus on me as the handler early on.

[Dr. Teeth]

As with so many of these posts they quickly polarize between the show line and the working line. Are you familiar with the differences between show and work?

The word "show" seems to turn some people off, as if these dogs are all soft, do nothing, can't complete tasks, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. A German Shepherd is a working breed, and an SL dog will work, and work, and work. I am familiar with two of the kennels on your list, one of which has top Seiger import SL dogs and the kennel does a lot of Schutzhund work -tracking, obedience and protection. These dogs perform. An SL can do any of the things you mentioned well. The other kennel with WL dogs I'm less familiar with, but have seen their dogs at my schutzhund club. If you would like to know of some other good kennels in the area send me a PM. You really have to visit a few breeders before you get a feel for who is really doing things the right way and who is getting by.

[KZoppa]

i keep hoping those with more knowledge will chime in. The breeders on the board can help you out immensely. A very well bred showline can do what you're interested in but as i said, i've had unpleasant experiences with showlines and i much prefer the look and solidity of working lines. My working lines have been more fun than my showlines. lol.

[Dr. Teeth]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

i keep hoping those with more knowledge will chime in. The breeders on the board can help you out immensely. A very well bred showline can do what you're interested in but as i said, i've had unpleasant experiences with showlines and i much prefer the look and solidity of working lines. My working lines have been more fun than my showlines. lol.

What were your unpleasant experiences? What does more fun mean?

WL does not automatically mean a dog is solid. It might be, or it might not. One of the breeders' dogs in question, look like over angled American show dogs with weak color, or maybe a WL/American SL cross. Certainly no WL type dog I've seen. Point being select good parents, select the right puppy and it will perform. I've worked SL, WL, Mals, and Dutch they all do very well. Subtle differences acknowledged. I too like the look of a dark face WL thats well muscled and well proportioned, what's not to like.

I think a lot of SL owners in general, won't train as much as WL owners, sometimes its a different demographic. Therefore you could meet an top line SL on the street that's hyper or lacks courage or obedience, but it's probably lacking parts of it's development because the owner doesn't care. Whereas the WL owner in general bought the pup knowing it was going to be well trained for a specific task or tasks. Way too easy to generalize that poor finish is because it has SL looks. I've proven it over and over in top black and red German show line dogs. They will do whatever you train them to.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by Dr. Teeth

What were your unpleasant experiences? What does more fun mean?

WL does not automatically mean a dog is solid. It might be, or it might not. One of the breeders' dogs in question, look like over angled American show dogs with weak color, or maybe a WL/American SL cross. Certainly no WL type dog I've seen. Point being select good parents, select the right puppy and it will perform. I've worked SL, WL, Mals, and Dutch they all do very well. Subtle differences acknowledged. I too like the look of a dark face WL thats well muscled and well proportioned, what's not to like.

I think a lot of SL owners in general, won't train as much as WL owners, sometimes its a different demographic. Therefore you could meet an top line SL on the street that's hyper or lacks courage or obedience, but it's probably lacking parts of it's development because the owner doesn't care. Whereas the WL owner in general bought the pup knowing it was going to be well trained for a specific task or tasks. Way too easy to generalize that poor finish is because it has SL looks. I've proven it over and over in top black and red German show line dogs. They will do whatever you train them to.

my unpleasant experiences include a dog who would run and hide when the doorbell rang. My experiences with showlines have been those badly bred, poor nerved, chicken dogs who were basically a disgrace to GSDs and have completely turned me off of showlines. Showlines for me personally are too jittery. Least the ones i've been around. I prefer the more solid build of the working lines, their general attitude. I like the fact working lines actually want to work for me. I also prefer their coloring over showlines. I'm not a huge fan of that black and tan saddle. I'll stick with my sables and solids thanks. Dont get me wrong, the patterned dogs are beautiful but not my cup of tea. You've had good experiences, yay you. I havent. I'll stick with my preferences and you stick with yours. i've also stated that i personally dont care for showlines, regardless of whether they can do the job or not. Working lines for me actually are solid enough to handle whatever i can throw at them while to me show lines are fragile. again, personal opinions and experiences. speaking from what i've learned, GERMAN showlines can often perform as requested of them but not always. American showlines.... no thank you at all. Working lines all the way for me.

[szariksdad]

If you are wanting to work more with the dog. Out of the 3 you can think about Rocky Mountain GSD, she at one time did work her dogs in Sch. but no more the last time I talked to her. Some of her dogs are beautiful and do have the potential but they are more of West German Show line. If you want to get a true working dog line send me a pm and I can point you to the names of a couple of kennels in the area that focus on more the working line including old ddr line dogs.