About Us |
Central Valley German Shepherds is a small family-owned kennel founded in Merced, California. We founded our kennel out of our lifelong passion for German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs). Our kennel started with our six dogs, Salem, Jekyll, Hyde, Devon, Elvira, and Morticia, all of whom are AKC-registered purebred German Shepherd Dogs with excellent genes. We are dedicated to breeding only high-quality dogs with an emphasis on intelligence and temperament. All our dogs are highly intelligent with a stable, mild temperament and strong drives. We do not breed show dogs. All our dogs are intended to be either companion animals or working dogs. Several of our adult dogs are former working dogs, two of whom are Schutzhund IPO 3 titled. We sell German Shepherd puppies and adult German dogs. We also offer German Shepherd stud services, dog boarding, and basic dog obedience training. We provide puppies, adult dogs, and related services throughout California and the western United States. Central Valley German Shepherds is proud to be an active, respected member of the canine community and an AKC Breeder of Merit, with several AKC and non- AKC memberships and affiliations. Here are just some of the organizations with whom we are affiliated. |
Our Dogs |
Meet our puppy parents |
Here, you can see and learn about our adult dogs, which we're currently breeding. All of our dogs are purebred AKC-registered German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) with excellent bloodlines. We breed German Shepherd Dogs with an emphasis on intelligence and temperament. We do not breed show dogs or designer breeds. We also do not breed GSDs with slopped backs, as you often see in show dogs. The extreme slopped backs seen in most show dogs often leads to hip problems in those dogs. Our dogs are amazing family pets, protectors, companions, and service animals. |
Our Puppies |
Health Guarantee All our puppies are sold up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormed at least 4 times, and examined by a licensed veterinarian (per request with additional fee) before going to their new homes. We offer a written 2-Year Health Guarantee on every pup we sell. Our health guarantee covers any congenital or genetic conditions and defects which would adversely affect the puppy. We will take back any puppy found to have any of these defects and offer a replacement puppy from a future litter at no cost. No monetary refunds or vet reimbursements will be made unless otherwise specified in writing. German Shepherd Coat Patterns & Colors When German Shepherd puppies are born, they are all, almost entirely black in color, this is normal and does not mean the dog will be all black as an adult. As the puppies age, the amount of black on their bodies slowly recedes and the pups take on their adult color patterns. About 3-4 weeks of age, the pups’ feet, legs and chest start to get lighter in color, by 8 weeks, the majority of the pups’ legs, belly and chest are now either tan, grey, or red while the head, back and tail remain black. By the time the pup is 6 months old, it will have its adult color patter which it will have the rest of its life. It is impossible to predict with certainty, how much of a particular color the dog will have as an adult, but typically the color pattern of the puppy is similar to the color pattern of the parent the pup most closely resembles. The length of the puppy’s fur will also change from when they were born unto their adult coat later in light. When the puppies are born, they all have short black hair that resembles goose down more than hair. As the puppies age, those puppies who will have long coats as an adult will start developing longer, wavy hair, while those who will have short coats will have shorter straight hair. The puppies who will have long coats as an adult will have fine, wavy hair when they are about 6-8 weeks old. The waviness of the puppy’s hair will change later into long, straight adult hair. Please keep this in mind when reserving a puppy early. A puppy at 2 weeks old may appear to have a short coat, then that same puppy may have a long coat by the time they are 6-8 weeks old. Likewise, a solid black puppy at 2 weeks old may be black and tan by the time it’s 8 weeks old. For these reasons we update the descriptions and photos of our available puppies throughout their development. If you have any questions about coat length, color, adult coats, etc. please don’t hesitate to ask. If you would like to reserve a puppy with a specific coat you may also request a particular puppy or any puppy with a particular coat. Below you will see an exmple of the difference in coat length in an 8 week old puppy. At birth and for the first few weeks these puppies had identical coats, however starting around 6 weeks of age the coats differentiated. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes six (6) unique coat patterns and colors for purebred German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs). The image below shows the six main GSD coat colors and patterns. All of our puppies will be one of these patterns. This information is solely information purposes only, and to help new puppy owners understand GSD colors patterns. Reserving a Puppy To reserve a puppy, there is a non-refundable $250 deposit. The deposit goes towards the final purchase price of the puppy. Reserving a puppy ensures that you get the puppy of your choice before anyone else purchases it. Deposits can be kept up to one year should buyers opt out of puppy purchase and wish to transfer the deposit towards another litter. To reserve a puppy that is currently available, simply click on the ‘Reserve Me’ button under the picture of the puppy you would like to reserve. When you click on the Reserve Me button, you will be redirected to a payment processing page to make your $250 deposit. Once the deposit has been received and processed, you will receive a confirmation email receipt, and the puppy you chose will be marked as RESERVED under your name. Once the puppy is ready to go home (at 8 weeks old), you can stop by and pick up your puppy, at which time the remaining balance is due, or you can contact us and schedule delivery of the puppy. Here at Central Valley German Shepherds, we use a credit card processing company called Stripe to process all of our credit, debit, and banking transactions. If you choose to reserve a puppy online by clicking the ‘Reserve Me’ button below the puppy profile, a new browser tab will open where you can reserve your puppy and pay through Stripe. We do not charge extra for purchases made by credit or debit card. |
News |
Aug. 4th 2024 |
Zoey's litter is here!
Our beautiful black and red dame Zoey gave birth to a litter of 4 pups (2 girls and 2 boys) today. The sire for this litter was EB White, our black and tan German Shepherd with gorgeous amber-colored eyes. All of the pups from this litter will be either black and tan, or black and tan/red. The puppies will be ready to go to their new homes on September 29th, when they're 8 weeks old. Photos of the new puppies will be online in a couple of days when the pups are a week old.
|
Frequently Asked Questions
|
How much do puppies cost? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The prices of our puppies vary depending on several factors, such as gender, coat pattern, age, level of training, special characteristics, current demand, etc. Typically, our puppies range in price from $1,500 - $2,500. Puppies with rare coat colors/patterns, training, or from parents of special pedigree may cost more.
The sale price includes the following:
If you have any questions about what is including in the sales price, please don't hesitate to ask. PLEASE NOTE: All sales are final. In the unfortunate event that you are unable to keep a puppy that you have purchased from us for any reason, we will gladly accept the puppy back within 30-days of the date you purchased the puppy, however no monetary refunds will be issued. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
If I can’t pay the full amount for a puppy now, do you accept payments? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes, we can typically accept payment arrangements for the puppies we sell. Our typical payment arrangement is $100/week until the full amount has been paid at which point you can take the puppy home. If you’d like to make larger or smaller weekly payments, we may be able to accommodate that. For more information email us at info@cvgsd.com |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
What types of payment do you accept? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
We accept most types of payment including: Cash, Credit/Debit card, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH payments, and Venmo. We use the third-party payment processing service Stripe to handle all online transactions. We also accept in-person cash or Venmo payments.
If you would like to pay using Venmo, Our Venmo account username is: @CVGSD |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
What breeds of puppies do you sell? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currently, we breed only German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs).
We selectively breed puppies based on intelligence, demeanor, and drive. We do not breed show dogs, designer breeds, or puppies purely for appearance. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
What supplies should I have ready for my new puppy when I bring it home? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are a few things you should have ready before you bring your puppy home, some of these things are optional, but they might make the new puppy experience better for you and the puppy. We recommend having the following supplies ready.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are the puppies you sell trained? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
All of our puppies are litterbox-trained from birth. For each litter and for our nursing adult females, we provide a large litter pan with compressed paper pellets. The pups instinctively use the litterbox when they need to relieve themselves. When it comes time to house train the pups, we use the same litterbox indoors and then move it outdoors after a couple days. Each time the puppies eat or drink, we put them near the litterbox within 10-15 minutes and the pups use the litterbox. After doing this for several days, the pups instinctively eat and then go to the litterbox. We’ve found this method of house training works very well.
Socialization is very important with any pup, so we make an effort to socialize the pups as much as possible before they go to their new homes. Since we’re a family kennel and we have small children, cats, and other dogs in our home, the pups are socialized with larger dogs, small dogs, toddlers, cats, and other people. Additionally, we expose the pups to loud noises frequently to get them use to sounds they will encounter in their lifetime, such as vacuums, TV & radio, doorbells, loud children, etc. This exposure from a young age helps the pups be more confident, calm, and far less likely to startle. For those pups we have past 12 weeks of age, we also get the pups use to walking on a leash, and teach basic obedience commands such as ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘leave it’, and ‘heel’. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do you ship/deliver puppies? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes! We offer worldwide shipping of our puppies at cost. That is, we will ship a puppy anywhere in the United States or around the world for whatever the shipping cost is, without tacking on any fees or charges. Puppies are shipped as live animal cargo and must be flown into major airports. Not every airport accepts live animal cargo, so keep that in mind if you plan on shipping a puppy. The closest airport to our area, which accepts and ships live animal cargo, is San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
As an alternative to shipping a puppy via live animal cargo, we also contract with pet delivery services, which provide escorts to pick up and deliver puppies via ground travel, with an escort. If you choose to use an escort service, an escort will pick up the puppy from us and drive the puppy to you, remaining with the puppy the entire time. The cost of pet escort services varies depending on the distance, the date the puppy needs to be delivered, and other factors. We also offer free local delivery within 50 miles of our location. If you live or work within 50 miles of our Merced location, we will deliver the puppy to your home or work at no cost. Usually, home delivery is available Thursday – Sunday each week with a 2-3 day lead time. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are the puppies vaccinated? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes! Our puppies are vaccinated at least twice before going to their new home. We vaccinate all puppies with Durvet Canine Spectra 5 / 6 / 10, a 5-in-1 & 10-in-1 vaccination, which provides protection against Canine Distemper, infections Canine Hepatitis, Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2), Canine Coronavirus, Canine Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Type 2b, Leptospira canicola, Leptospira grippotyphosa, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae and Leptospira Pomona. We also vaccinate our dogs at 12 weeks and again annually with Spectra KC 3 which helps protect against kennel cough.
The puppies receive their vaccinations at 4 weeks of age with Durvet Canine Spectra 5 / 6, then again at 8, 12 & 16 weeks of age with Durvet Canine Spectra 10. The vaccines are designed to offer maximum protection only after the 4th dose, so we recommend limiting your puppy’s outside activity and exposure to other animals until they have received at least the first 3 doses of the vaccine. It's recommended that all dogs receive annual booster vaccinations to help ensure continued protection against serious health issues. As with human vaccinations, a canine vaccination DOES NOT guarantee that your puppy will not get sick. The purpose of the vaccine is to mitigate the health risks to the puppy in the event that the puppy is exposed. Vaccinated puppies are far less likely to suffer severe health complications, including death, associated with viral and bacterial threats than non-vaccinated pups. Regardless of your puppy’s vaccination status, puppy owners are recommended to limit the puppy’s exposure to potentially dangerous viruses and bacteria, by keeping their puppy indoors, away from other animals, and avoiding places such as dog parks, and other areas where dogs are known to group together, until the puppy is fully vaccinated and at least 6 months old. In order to license your puppy, or to legally own a dog in most jurisdictions, you are required to have your puppy vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine can only come from a licensed veterinarian, so you will need to take your pup into a vet for their rabies vaccine once they are at least 12 weeks old. The puppy's initial rabies vaccine is good for 1 year, after the first year, the puppy can then receive the rabies vaccine every 3 years. All of our puppies are also dewormed every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, at 2, 4, 6, & 8 weeks of age with Durvet Liquid Wormer 2x, which helps protect them from Roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) and Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala). Here is the Canine Spectra ® vaccination schedule we follow for all of our dogs
Canine Spectra is a registered trademark of Durvet. Central Valley German Shepherds is not compensated in any way for using or recommending the use of Canine Spectra or any other Durvet products.
Please consult your veterinarian for recommended vaccine schedules and/or any medical questions you may have. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can I reserve a puppy? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes!, You can reserve a puppy before it's ready to go home, in fact, we recommend reserving a pup if you're serious about purchasing a puppy, since they often sell out well before they're old enough to go to their new homes. Our puppies typically all sell by the time they're 4-6 weeks old. Deposits can be kept up to one year should buyers opt out of puppy purchase and wish to transfer the deposit towards another litter. If you'd like to reserve a puppy, the deposit is $250, with the remaining balance due when you pick up the puppy. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
When will my German Shepherd puppy’s ears stand up? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Many new dog owners ask this question, so it’s something we hear a lot. The answer is it varies slightly from pup to pup. Typically, a German Shepherd puppy’s ears are fully erect and remain that way when the puppy is 4 – 7 months old. Sometimes a puppy’s ears will perk up earlier, only to flop over again for a few months, but eventually all German Shepherds should have fully erect ears by the time they are 1 year old, if not much sooner. If a German Shepherd does not have fully erect ears by the time, it’s 1 year of age, the dog may have an underlying health or genetic problem and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. When the puppies are born, their ears are closed and close to their head. By the time the puppies are 2 – 2 ½ weeks old, their ears open, and Pinna (the outside of the ear) starts to stiffen. The puppy’s ears stiffen from the base upward, which is why there are varying degrees of erect ears at different stages of development. Some evidence suggests, that while puppies are teething, they use their jaw muscles excessively, which can cause muscle fatigue in the jaw and auricular muscles (the muscles that control their ear movement). This muscle fatigue is very common in teething puppies and will go away once the puppy is done teething, usually around 5 – 6 months old. Once the puppy is no longer teething, you will notice that its ears are again fully erect and will remain that way. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are your puppies AKC registered? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes!, all of our dogs & puppies are purebred, AKC registered German Shepherd Dogs. Every puppy we sell comes with an AKC registration application to allow the Reg Owner to register the puppy in their name, track the puppy's pedigree, and more. AKC registration is optional. It is up to the Reg Owner whether or not they wish to register their new puppy with the AKC. Registration requires a nominal fee of between $35 - $85 for a lifetime registration. There are MANY advantages to registering your new puppy with the AKC, including complimentary pet health insurance through the AKC. All newly registered puppies will receive 30 days of complimentary pet health insurance, which can be used for your puppy’s initial vet visit, additional vaccinations, and more. For more information on the benefits of registering your puppy with the AKC, click here |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
When should I spay/neuter my puppy? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to a 2016 retrospective study evaluating the long-term effects of spay-neuter surgeries in German Shepherd Dogs, published in the journal Veterinary Medicine and Science, The study reported a significant increase in cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears, or ruptures, in male and female German Shepherd Dogs neutered before 1 year of age, and it also noted a significantly higher incidence of urinary incontinence in female German Shepherd Dogs spayed before 1 year of age. Thus, it is recommended that dog owners wait until the pup is at least 1 year old before spaying/neutering. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
What should I feed my puppy? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
While they are with us, we feed all of our puppies 4Health Large Breed Puppy Formula, dry dog food. We also offer our dogs lean meats such as chicken and beef and provide dietary supplements to help promote strong bones and muscles. If you are considering feeding your puppy an all-natural diet, many people choose to feed their pups homemade, natural, human-grade food. There are many great websites you can find that offer recipes, information, and advice on starting your puppy or adult dog on an all-natural, homemade diet. Here is a link to a great article on Benefits of German Shepherd Homemade Dog Food. Just as important to know, is what NOT to feed your puppy. The image below shows some of the human foods that are SAFE and those which are TOXIC to German Shepherds. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
How much should I feed my puppy? |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are several factors that you need to take into consideration when determining how much and how often to feed your puppy. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not eating so much that they carry extra fat. First, consider the age of the puppy. Younger puppies will need smaller, more frequent feedings, which become less frequent with age. Second, consider the caloric needs of the puppy; the more active the puppy, the higher its caloric needs will be, and the puppy will need to consume a higher amount of calories than other less active pups. Third, note that caloric values can vary greatly between brands of dog food, so if you choose a brand of dog food that is much fewer calories than other brands, you may need to feed your pup more food or more often to keep up with their caloric demands. The table below is a general reference to give you some idea of how much and how often to feed your pup.
|
The best way to reach us with questions is either via email or phone/text at the number below. If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message or text us, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Please note that we are a small family-owned kennel, and like everyone else, we have regular, full-time jobs, so we may not be able to respond to requests or take phone calls immediately. However, we will respond to requests for information as soon as possible.
Sunday | Appointments Only | |
Monday | 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Tuesday | 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Wednesday | 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Thursday | 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Friday | 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
Saturday | Appointments Only | |
Available by appointment ONLY |
Samantha Sherrow
1 Review, 1 Photo |
|
2 months ago | |
Everyone is super friendly and answers any questions or concerns we have as fast as they can. We have a healthy happy puppy that we have bought from them. We were allowed to see the parents and see that they are healthy as well. It’s clear that they care about the animals they breed. Gave us extra food for her to transition to whatever brand we want or keep her on the same brand! | |
David Osorno
1 Review, 1 Photo |
|
9 months ago | |
Great! My dog is really awesome! | |
Nicole Garcia
2 Review, 2 Photos |
|
18 months ago | |
Beyond happy in our experience with Central Valley German Shepherds! They are super professional and extremely friendly. They were always so informative and super quick at responding to any questions or concerns we had. We love how they made us feel so comfortable and trusting. Our pup was the best addition to our family, and we owe it to Central Valley German Shepherds for making it happen 💜 Definitely can't wait to add another pup to our family from their litter in the future! | |
Kristin Lemas
1 Review |
|
This month | |
Great experience all around. Responsive, easy to work with. Great puppy! |
Kaylee Ives
2 Review, 2 Photos |
|
12 months ago | |
Amazing there dogs are so beautiful and well behaved. There dogs are so nice I love my dog that I got from the she is so well trained and beautiful. | |
|
Brooklin M.
2 Review |
|
1 month ago | |
I highly recommend! I got a dog from them and she is the sweetest baby! They are very professional and always have great customer service! They respond very fast and always make sure all questions are asked! I highly recommend buying from them if you're looking for a pup! |
GoldenRecorder
2 Reviews |
|
This month | |