Schneiden Fels German Shepherds is a small breeding and training kennel, on 5 acres in Woodburn, Kentucky.   

Only 10 minutes south of Bowling Green, Kentucky and 45 minutes north of Nashville, Tennessee.  

We have been breeding and training German Shepherds for over 18 years.  We use only the best German bloodlines and strive to breed our dogs to the German (SV) standard.  All our dogs are titled, have a show rating and are breed surveyed.  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.

Between us over the years, we have titled more then two dozen dogs in Schutzhund, competing in both regional and national events.  I hold a United Schutzhund Clubs of America Gold Sports Medal.   In addition we have shown dogs in Sieger Shows in the United States and Canada since 1997 and have twice entered our kennel group in competitions at the North American Sieger Show in 2007 and the USA Sieger Show in 2009. With a second place finish at the 2009 USA Sieger Show.

Our Xandra von Schneiden Fels is the 2007 and 2008 USA Mid-Eastern Regional Siegeran (Female Working Class Champion).  Her son Luger von Schneiden Fels is the 2008 USA Mid-Eastern Regional Sieger (Male Working Class Champion) and our Zam von Schneiden Fels is the Vice-Sieger at the 2008 USA Mid-Eastern Regional (Males Working Class Vise-Champion) and was 3rd at the 2007 USA Mid-Eastern Regional Championship (Male Working Class).  Xandra has twice been presented and shown at the Sieger Shows in the United Sates earning "V" ratings both times.   Zam and Luger have both been presented and shown at Sieger Shows in the United States earning "V" ratings.  These dogs were breed, handled, owned, trained and titled by us and have thus earned the HOT designation, under the guidelines from both the United Schutzhund Clubs of America and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America-Working Dog Association.

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.  Our primary female bloodline comes through Guido vom Beltenkamp as he has set an outstanding structural type, with an excellent work ethic and temperament in our bloodlines. 

We have both been members of several Schutzhund clubs over the years and are both co-founders of the Cedar Hill Working Dog Club.  A USA affiliated club since 1999, (at that time known as O.G. Kentucky).  Where Pat is the club Sectary/treasurer and I am the Council Executive and Training Director.

We are members of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA), the Schaferhunde Verein of Germany (SV) and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America-Working Dog Association (GSDCA-WDA).

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.