|
About Zwinger |
Von der burg Austerlitz is a collaboration between the husband and wife team of Susanne Shelton and Larry Pinkston. We, along with our daughter Becca (the SUPREME puppy socializer) began breeding German Shepherd Dogs in 1994. We began this endeavor after years of dedicated study of the breed, and a lifetime of involvement in the dog world. It was then, and is now, our desire to preserve (and hopefully, enhance) the breed that has brought us so much joy.
We began with a strong desire to produce the type of dog we enjoyed training and working with: a beautiful, healthy, intelligent, willing and courageous worker and companion. In our thinking, these are the traits that make the German Shepherd Dog the most versatile dog in existance.
At Austerlitz German Shepherd Dogs we breed only from German stock, and we breed to the standard set forth by the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhund (SV) of Germany. We are actively involved in schutzhund training, and we also enjoy participating in AKC agility, AKC obedience and herding (when time permits). We are active members of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) (Larry since 1985 and Susanne since 1991), and more recently, of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America - Working Dog Association (GSDCA-WDA).
It is very important to us that all of our dogs, including those placed in working/show homes, are valued and loved members of their families. Because of this desire, temperment is paramount in our breeding program. High drives and willingness to work are close "runner-ups". We want you to be able to enjoy a variety of activities with your companion, and at the same time, to be able to live comfortably with your dog. Accordingly, we try to avoid breeding for traits that tend to make home life difficult (i.e. an excessively high energy level, or excessive aggression). We believe that by achieving a balance between these traits, we can produce an ideal companion and working dog. Dogs from our breeding program are presently working successfully in schutzhund, obedience, agility, tracking and herding.
We want you to be able to enjoy a long and healthy life with your German Shepherd Dog. We screen our breeding stock for a variety of hereditary health problems. Hips are certified through OFA or the SV, and elbows through OFA. Other screenings may include thyroid function, spinal x-rays, blood clotting time for hemophilia and von Willibrands disease. We do not breed from, or breed to a dog who displays a hereditary health problem. Longevity of life within our motherlines is an area of pride for us, as our motherlines all contain very healthly, long-lived individuals. We try to emphasize females and males who lived long, healthly, productive lives well into their teens in our breeding program.
Our committment to our breeding program is high and extends to every puppy we breed, for its entire lifetime. As we are hobby breeders, and do not make our living through breeding, selling and training dogs, we have the luxury of making sure that each and every dog goes to a home that is perfect for it, and that the dog is perfect for its new family. We are always available to provide advice on training, nutrition or in any other area that we can be of help in, to ensure that you and your companion have the opportunity to experience a loving and joyful life together.
[Home]
[Puppies]
[Young Dogs]
[Females]
[ Males]
[ About Us]
[FAQ ]
[Rescue ]
[Contact Us]
[Links]