German Shepherds Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Considering Royalair?

19K views 40 replies 30 participants last post by  dawnmarini841  
#1 ·
I have some breeders in mind

And I'm considering getting a dog from them but I would like to hear other people's experience with getting a puppy from them and information on this breeder.

http://www.royalair.org/

I personally wouldn't mind having a x-large german shepherd but I'm curious to know that will it still be a good guard dog despite their more mellow medium energy level
 
#2 ·
My German Shepherd Vegas was from Royalair. They are an amazing breeder. I have visited there home and facility and all her dogs are treated as raised as part of the family. As breeders go for German Shepherd's she is one of the best. She has an extensive contract and an excellent health guarantee. She truly cares about bettering the breed.

Vegas passed away last year at the age of 11 and she was one of the best dogs I have ever had. She also was on the small side for Royalair. She was only 70 - 75 lbs.

Attached is a link to a blog post I did about Vegas when she was diagnosed with cancer. It has several pictures of her and a video as well if you want to see what she looked like.

Hemangiosarcoma Diagnosis | German Shepherd Dogs

I hope this helps.
 
#6 ·
This.

I don't have any personal experience with Royalair dogs. They may make great pets. But I don't think I would ever buy one myself because of this.

You could contact the breeder herself to ask about her dogs' suitability as guard dogs.
 
Save
#5 ·
My Samson's sire and dam were both Royalair,though from a different kennel.He is somewhat OS at 29" and 98lbs at one year old.He is pretty mellow indoors but loves to run and play outside.He has been easy to train and is an excellent non aggressive guardian.He's good with other dogs and neutral with strangers as long as they don't try to touch him,then he'll growl and back away.Now he wears a vest with a Do Not Pet patch when we're out in public places which is working out well.He's calm and well behaved wherever we go and will sit quietly if I stop for a conversation.

Lots of folks on this forum disagree with Royalair's breeding program because of the out of standard size and colors.What was most important to me was health and temperament,size and color were secondary.Best of luck to you!
 
Save
#9 ·
I have some breeders in mind

And I'm considering getting a dog from them but I would like to hear other people's experience with getting a puppy from them and information on this breeder.

Breeding Oversized, Large German Shepherds. big dogs in the mid-west family.

I personally wouldn't mind having a x-large german shepherd but I'm curious to know that will it still be a good guard dog despite their more mellow medium energy level
Careful there Randy. There's a possibility of German Shepherd ownership having a negative effect on the personality of their owners. I think it was statistically proven somewhere. I can only imagine the combination of a big, over sized one on certain people.
 
#11 ·
I also saw the statistics somewhere, I can't find the source though. I think it was something like 3 poorly understood circumstances equaled all GSDs being jerks.
 
Save
#16 ·
We're hilarious, thank you very much.
 
Save
#18 ·
A good friend of mine has a 130lbs Royalair dog who is now 9 years old. Very friendly and mellow dog but he has been plagued with health issues since the age of 6 months. He has had a couple surgeries and is on a special diet for many allergies. God forbid this dog eats a cracker that one of the children drops on the floor.
 
#19 ·
Royalair would be on the top of my list for a big gsd. I am impressed with her breeding program and health standards. I love the big ones. I understand they are from an older line of gsds. I have one, but not from her. Sting just happened to be twice as big as his littermates :) I did find out that though he is friendly, folks are intimated by his size. As one guy an owner of 2 dobes who is not easily put off, told me "when I saw him coming toward me, I thought I was done for!"
 
Save
#23 ·
I have some breeders in mind

And I'm considering getting a dog from them but I would like to hear other people's experience with getting a puppy from them and information on this breeder.

Breeding Oversized, Large German Shepherds. big dogs in the mid-west family.

I personally wouldn't mind having a x-large german shepherd but I'm curious to know that will it still be a good guard dog despite their more mellow medium energy level
The best compliment that my Sting (30" tall, 126 lbs.) received that someone thought he was a Royalair gsd. He was not but was simply twice the size of the others in the litter. Royalair is the breeder that I would purchase from if I wanted a x-large gsd.

For your question about guard dog, their size alone with the big bark is a deterrent. My Sting had a low energy level. He liked people but would not allow someone in the house without me there.I will share 4 stories:
1. The city was doing an upgrade to the electric meters. I requested prior notice because they would shut the power off for a couple of minutes and I was concerned about the sudden shutdown while working on my computer. The city man said "why, do you have a killer dog?", I replied "no, but a 126 lbs. gsd". He replied "Would 1/2 hour be sufficient notice?"
2. My neighbor would step no closer than 2 ft. from my fence when we had our fence chats. I wondered why. He said one day when he was close to the fence, Sting came out charging and leaped against the 6 ft. chain link fence. Sting's head came over the top of the fence which scared him.
3. A man was exercising his dobes out at a local park. He had been watching Sting and when we talked, he told me when he saw Sting running and he turned in his direction, he thought he was done for.
4. I was having some work done inside the house. The carpenters met Sting and he was friendly. One day they came early. The backdoor was unlocked. Inside Sting started to bark and growl. I opened the door and there were the 2 carpenters waiting outside the door. They had tried to come in but thought better of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MOJO9913
Save
#24 ·
Because this thread comes up on a google search I will say this. I have always said that if a person was **** bent on an oversized GSD, I would recommend Royalair. They have been in business for years, were ahead of the pack on health testing, and had multiple generations to look back at. She had a stellar reputation as far as supporting and backing her buyers and pups and I had never found a buyer that was displeased with her puppies. She was honest and upfront on what her dogs were and were not.
That seems to have changed. I have found several buyers who were sold sick pups, the breeding practices seem to be slipping (breeding dogs on prelims and far to young) and I have heard a couple of horror stories about getting responses when pups have issues.
To be fair, everyone has problems and a dissatisfied customer will always complain, but satisfied ones seldom voice an opinion.
But I would caution perspective buyers to carefully research what they are getting. And as with any breeder ask for references and documentation. No bitch should be bred under two, and an oops is almost forgiveable but not if it happens more then once. I would hate to think that Royalair has lost their way, but I suppose it can happen to anyone. That doesn't mean they should be allowed to keep the reputation if they no longer deserve it.
 
#25 · (Edited by Moderator)
This is good information to hear, as I was hoping to get an "oversized" GSD within the next year.


Royalair and **** are the only 2 Midwest kennels that I have found that "specialize" in this. I was leaning towards **** and asked questions about them on this site a couple months ago. Then, the **** response of "threatening to sue this website" due to a couple bad reviews and open conversation about their kennel in that post really turned me off. I was then considering Royalair but now this info about them is being brought to light..... perhaps its not meant to be.


Any other suggestions????
 
#26 ·
This is good information to hear, as I was hoping to get an "oversized" GSD within the next year.


Royalair and *** are the only 2 Midwest kennels that I have found that "specialize" in this. I was leaning towards *** and asked questions about them on this site a couple months ago. Then, the *** response of "threatening to sue this website" due to a couple bad reviews and open conversation about their kennel in that post really turned me off. I was then considering Royalair but now this info about them is being brought to light..... perhaps its not meant to be.


Any other suggestions????
Find a reputable breeder that breeds to the GSD standard (depending on what you are looking for in a dog specifically this board can help) OR see if another (larger) breed will fit in with your lifestyle.

I personally have not seen a breeder of GSDs who specifically bred for an out-of-standard size who would be considered reputable by the general consensus of what makes a good breeder.
 
#30 ·
Sorry. I didn't mean to use (the one who shall not be named) in that post in a negative way, only a reference point. That wont happen again...my apologies.
I've heard very good things about both and then a little negative about both, but it seems the negative is what's coming through the strongest. Not wanting to breed, show or work other than regular obedience. Temperament and health are the main criteria, as it should be and size is a distant second BUT I hear they do exist. :)
I appreciate the feedback, thank you
 
#31 ·
My GSD is at the top of the standard (around 90 lb) and is longer bodied. That means I can't pick him up. In an emergency, I would probably have to drag him if I didn't have someone to take charge of one end. He's plenty big and people always think he's much bigger.

One thing to consider is when a breeder concentrates on a particular thing (size, color, etc.) that they are limiting an already limited gene pool even farther. Some things may or will suffer, including health and temperament.
 
#32 ·
My two now are a 67# female and an 88lb male.

My boy also is like a mile long. I don't think I could carry him just because of how long he is. I probably could carry a 90lb dog a short distance if it was a short bodied dog that I could get my arms around but not him.

If we ever get around to hiking the natl forest with him I will have one of those emergency stretchers that fold up in my pack.

Once when my girl was young she was swimming in a river at a conservation area and sliced her paw pad on something under the water. It was a very bad gash, I forget how many stitches now. I carried her as far as I could, then I stayed with her while my husband drove in the access road as far as we could get then he carried her the rest of the way out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.