Schneiden Fels German Shepherds is a small breeding and training kennel, located on five acres in Woodburn, Kentucky.
Only 10 minutes south of Bowling Green, Kentucky and 45 minutes north of Nashville, Tennessee.
We have made some changes in our kennel and training facility over the years. In December of 2021 we opened up our new outdoor puppy playpen and exercise runs. Here are pictures of our new outdoor facilities.
http://www.schneidenfels.com/outdoor-puppy-pen-and-exercise-runs/
In 2017 we became a NADD dock diving facility and added our competition dock diving pool. Here are some pictures of our training complex.
http://www.schneidenfels.com/facility-pictures/
We have been breeding and training German Shepherds for over 30 years. We use only the best German bloodlines and strive to breed our dogs to the German (SV) standard. We offer quality puppies and young adults, bred for temperament, correct structure and working ability. We believe in the total package. The German Shepherd Dog was conceived and has been breed for well over 100 years with the understanding that it is to be a dog of versatility, a true “Jack-of- all” trades. And we echo this philosophy in our breeding program.
I have titled more than 60 dogs in Schutzhund/IGP. I have earned both a USCA Master Gold Sports Metal and a Gold Sports Medal and I am a member of the USCA Schutzhund 3 Club. In addition I have competed in Dock Diving and have titled 14 dogs with North American Diving Dogs, an AKC recognized organization.
I am a GSDCA SVP Perfomance Judge and have been judging working dog trials for over 12 years, a AKC CGC Evaluator for 22 years and I am also a NADD Dock Diving Judge. I am also the NADD facility owner for Woodburn Canine Training Center.
I have participated in Regional and National Working Championships and in 2009 my Luger von Schneiden Fels and I won the GSDCA-WDA Great Lakes Regional Working Championship. Luger is breeder, owner, handler, trained and titled.
In addition we have participated in Sieger Shows in the United States and Canada since 1997 and during that time have presented three dogs in the Sieger Show that have earned the VA, or excellent select, rating.
In 1999 we had the privilege to own and campaign Guido vom Beltenkamp to his VA (excellent select) rating in the Sieger Show in Toronto, Canada. Jacob Meyer is the original breeder and trainer of Guido and his progeny is fundamental in the establishment of our bloodline, with his outstanding structural type and his excellent work ethic and temperament.
In 2010 I had the privilege to campaign Jaro von Avenir to his VA rating in the USCA Sieger Show in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This is where Jaro also earned a Protection Award for his outstanding protection work at the Sieger Show. Robert Wortmann is the breeder of Jaro, Howard and Diane Deshong are the owners and Jaro was traained and titled, here in the United States. Jaro was the Vice-Sieger and we used in our breeding program as he has brought not only excellent structure and temperament but outstanding working ability, drive and intensity, while still being clear-headed and very social.
In 2010 and again in 2011, I had the privilege of campaigning our own, breeder, handler, owner, trained and titled female, Teela von Schneiden Fels to her VA rating, twice. First at the 2010 USCA Sieger Show in Lake Geneva Wisconsin and again in 2011 at the USCA Sieger Show in Dallas, Texas, where Teela also earned a Protection Award for her outstanding protection work at the Sieger Show. In addition to Teela being breeder, handler, owner, trained and titled, both her father Zam von Schneiden Fels and her mother Xandra von Schneiden Fels were as well. Making Teela the first, multi-generational, American bred, breeder, handler, owner, trained and titled dog, male or female, to earn the VA rating in the United States. Teela is a direct descendent of VA Guido von Beltenkamp.
In addition, we have bred and presented several more dogs from our breeding progran at the Sieger Show in the working class. Xandra von Schneiden Fels was shown twice at the Sieger Show in the working female’s class, earning V10 and was the 2007 and 2008 USCA Mid-Eastern Regional Conformation Championship and a Regional Working Championship in the United States.
Over the many Sieger Shows we have competed in we have 3 times won the Highest American Bred Dog Award, in 2005 at the North American Sieger Show with Zoie von Schneiden Fels in the 12-18 month females class. In 2010 with Hammer von Schneiden Fels in the 18-24 month males class and in 2011 with VA Teela von Schneiden Fels in the working females class.
We have also presented a Kennel Group at the Sieger Show 4 times since 2007 and have placed third twice. For us, being able to present a Kennel Group at the Sieger Show is our highest and most difficult achievement.
I have been a member of several Schutzhund clubs over the years I am co-founding member of the Woodburn Canine Training Center, a GSDCA SV Programs affiliated club. Our club was formed and affiliated in 1999, (at that time known as O.G. Kentucky), with USCA.
I am a member of the GSDCA and have served in several different capacities on the GSDCA SVP Committee, including National Training Director and Director of Rules and Regulations
Why should we look at getting a puppy or young dog from parents bred to the German or SV standard?
The German standard is truly the Gold standard for breeding. It is the original standard for the German Shepherd dog and considers the structural, temperament and working attributes and puts them into a balance and harmony. This process does not let any dog “just be breed”. No, the dog needs to prove its breed worthiness. Each and every generation, each litter, each puppy/dog must go through the process and be determined to be suitable for breeding against the breed standard. Then it must prove that what it is producing is worthy to be breed. Not all the puppies/dogs are able to make the grade. Sometimes there are physical reasons, sometimes they lack the drive, have a misplaced work ethic or are not suitable in other ways. This selective breeding, allows us to keep the important characteristics that we want and need in order to have a versatile working dog that can move and work all day, be our valued friend and companion and protect us when necessary. All in the same dog!
The German (SV) breed Standard calls for all the dogs to be titled in Schutzhund, shown in the conformation ring and then breed surveyed before breeding. Below is a brief description of what this embodies.
What is Schutzhund?
Schutzhund is a series of exercises designed to evaluate the dog’s temperament and breed suitability. Over the last 25 years or so, Schutzhund has also developed into a competitive sport. Schutzhund is very similar to martial arts, only for working dogs. It tests the dogs’ physical and mental capacities in varying levels of difficulty in a predetermined and choreographed evaluation. Schutzhund is one of several very valuable tools used to select breeding partners.
Schutzhund has three separate parts or phases. They are Tracking, Obedience and Protection. A dog must successfully complete all three phases at the same trial examination to earn a Schutzhund title. There are 3 Schutzhund titles that may be earned, Schutzhund 1, 2 and 3, Schutzhund 3 being the highest. In Schutzhund, regardless of the phase, the dog is always under control of the handler and works for and responds to, the handlers’ commands.
What is a Show rating?
A Show rating is given when a dog is entered into the conformation show ring. Dogs are conditioned and trained specifically for this so the presiding judge can make a determination of the dog in comparison to the SV standard in both standing and movement. A judge will give a verbal, (occasionally written) critique of the dog as shown and presented that day, and a show rating will be presented. It must be remembered that the German Shepherd Dog is a trotting (gaiting) dog and the movement of the dog is critical to the dog’s physical ability to perform its designated roles.
Examples of show ratings:
Puppy classes
VP = Very Promising
P = Promising
Youth/Young dog Classes
SG = Very Good
G = Good
Working Class
V = Excellent
SG = Very Good
G = Good
Only at Sieger Shows in the Working Class can the title of “VA” or Excellent Select be given.
What is a Show Placement?
Dogs are placed in the conformation show ring based on how close they come to the SV standard and in competition with the other dogs presented in that class on that day. Placements vary from show to show and judge to judge as these are opinions of the presiding judge and the performance of the dog, dog handler and double-handler team that day. To see an overall picture of the dog in comparison to the standard and the other dogs they compete against. You must look at the opinions of several different judges, show placements, critiques and the level of competition. It is important to show your dog under several different judges to better understand and learn from your experiences. Especially if you are considering breeding in the future.
What is a breed survey?
In Germany and other countries, a breed survey is required in order to breed a dog and receive papers allowing full recognition of breeding rights for the off spring.
The breed survey itself is in three parts, a temperament test under stress, presentation in a group in the ring and evaluation of temperament and the individual written critique and recommendations for the dog being presented. All dogs are weighed and measured and the critique is written in a form comparative to the SV standard.
To receive a breed survey all dogs must be certified to be free of Hip and Elbow dysplasia.
In addition, the dogs must have earned at least a Schutzhund 1 title or and HGH, herding title.
Females must be at least 20 months old and males must be at least 24 months old.
All dogs must have earned an AD, unless the dog presented is 6 years old or older.
There are two breed survey classes:
KKL1 = Highly recommended for breeding
KKL2 = Recommended for breeding
What is an AD?
An AD is and endurance test for the dog. The dog must gait or trot for a distance of 20 kilometers (12.5 miles), in a predetermined time. German Shepherds are herding dogs by origin and even today many are still used for herding. The dog must be able to cover long distances while herding and this is a test designed to simulate that working experience for non-herding dogs
What is a BH?
A BH is an obedience and temperament evaluation and is required before the dog is allowed to go onto their Schutzhund titles. There are two parts, first the dog must be able to work on and off lead in an advanced obedience routine. If the dog successfully completes the obedience portion then the dog will move onto the second part. The temperament and impartially evaluation. Here the dog will have to complete a series of exercises that will test the dog in normal social settings. Exposing them to many different sights and sounds and they will have to do this with other dogs as well. There are general guidelines for this portion of the evaluation but each judge can and will use different exercises to judge the dogs temperament.
In the United States today, only about 5% of the dogs that enter Schutzhund are successfully titled. Even an experienced handler/trainer can invest 600 hours or more of training time to title one dog in Schutzhund. To truly “Finish” a dog to the German (SV) Standard, that is to Schutzhund title, earn a show rating and a breed survey, is a significant accomplishment for the dog and one needs to consider how fortunate it is to have an opportunity to own a puppy or dog from Finished parents. The parents have undergone a great transformation and proved themselves to be truly breed worthy!
The puppies from dogs that are bred to the standard are more likely to be well adjusted, balanced dogs, that will willingly accept commands from their owners and handlers and always be there to protect us.