A: Take a look around our website and ask as many questions as come to mind. Set up an appointment for a visit (distance permitting) and see our dogs in person. If you are new to the breed, wisit a couple of conformation shows and working trials to see what these dogs are all about. We will ask you some questions too and may also ask you to fill in our puppy questionnaire. We will need to know about your plans and hopes for your puppy, your experience with dogs, and what kind of living situation your new puppy will have. When all is well, and you are determined to get a puppy, we ask you to place a deposit. We maintain a waiting list for our puppies from the most litters.

The deposit is $500. Puppies are selected by the customer in the order the deposits are received. Deposits are not refundable, but can be moved to a future litter BEFORE the reserved puppy is 6 weeks of age (two times maximum). After the puppies are 6 weeks old, deposits cannot be moved and will be forfeited in case the customer decides not to get a puppy from the litter that they reserved. We accept checks, cash, wire transfers, and PayPal payments.

A: The total price for a puppy is $3,000 - $5,000 for a show quality puppy. The price depends on the ratings and achievements of the parents and whether or not we had to fly to Germany with the female for a breeding. Sometimes we have pet quality puppies available, and they are $2,500 - $3,500. The most common reason for a puppy to be considered "pet quality" is when a male puppy has testicle(s) that did not descend by the age of 9 weeks. A show quality puppy is a healthy puppy with outgoing temperament and no visible faults for his/her age.

A: It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks up to 6 months.

A: When we can, we will offer you a choice of puppies from the litter, but sometimes it's not possible. From my experience, often people are overwhelmed when looking at puppies, and it's not easy for them to make the best choice. I spend so much time with puppies that I usually can make a very good recommendation on which puppy is the best for you.

A: If the puppy is of show quality, we are more than happy to still place her in a home where her main job is to be a companion and where she will be loved and spent a lot of time with. However, it doesn't change the quality of the puppy, and the price remains the same.

A: Usually our puppies leave our kennel when they are 8 - 10 weeks old, after they’ve been tattooed in their right ear, wormed, and have received all necessary vaccinations according to their age.

A: Puppies are very susceptible to disease and if a virus is introduced, an entire litter may be lost. Visitors may have been visiting animal shelters, or other kennels prior to coming to Kennels von Lotta, and could transmit viruses quite easily. Also, the mother of the pups is usually very protective at this point, and will get nervous knowing that there are strangers near her puppies. In addition, it is very difficult to evaluate puppies at this age, so the best time to come, look at the puppies, and pick up your puppy is after they are at least 7 weeks old. At this age they have received their initial vaccinations and their personalities and structure can be evaluated much easier.

A: If a customer lives too far away, we can ship the puppy. We will take care of all necessary paperwork and arrangements with the airline. This will include a health check by the vet prior to shipment. Shipment cost for an 8-10 week old German Shepherd puppy is $600 anywhere in the US. This includes the crate that the puppy will be shipped in, which is yours to keep, and the cost of the Health Certificate. The cost of shipment of an older puppy may be higher due to increased weight or if a larger crate is needed.

A: We will confirm shipping arrangements with you 1-3 days before shipment and will inform you of the airline, flight number, confirmation number, and arrival time. You will need to go to your airport's cargo facility where you will be picking up the puppy. We will stay in touch throughout the shipping process.

A: No. The paperwork necessary for obtaining an AKC registration certificate and a pedigree will arrive separately. We forward AKC paperwork to our customers as soon as we receive it, but it usually arrives when puppies are older than 8 weeks.

A: There are two main things that will help your puppy develop well: socialization and diet. Please do not take them lightly! While your puppy is growing, you need to make a special effort to take her different places where she can meet people of different ages, other dogs, see traffic, hear different noises, etc – almost every day! Look at this as an additional responsibility that comes with owning a puppy. Making such an effort for a short period of time (just a few months) will dramatically impact the entire future life of your dog. As far as the diet goes, I have an article on this website on how to feed your puppy – please read it.

A: To safeguard our puppies and kennel name, we have a special policy when it comes to breeding dogs from Kennels von Lotta.