About Big Sky Shepherds
Big Sky Shepherds is situated in the Bitterroot Mountain Range of western Montana.
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Big Sky is a small hobby breeding and training kennel for my own dogs. What this means to you is, I do not rely on breeding dogs as my source of income, rather the money earned from the sale of puppies goes back into the feeding, care, and training of the dogs that reside here. This is in part how I am able to keep from charging inflated prices. The drawback to my breeding program is the limited amount of breedings a year, usually only one litter is bred annually. As the rearing of quality pups begins with genetics but continues with the environment the puppies are raised. From day one their socialization begins helping to insure a social stable dog.
Big Sky Shepherds began in 1990 after the purchase of two German Shepherds in prior years that fell way below my dreams and expectations. Temperment and health problems abounded in these two animals. I felt a desire to do a better job at improving the breed that I had held a lifelong infatuation with.
I purchased a three and a half year old bitch that was closely bred on some of Covy Tucker Hills greats. Angelique, Rosemary, Mazarati, Oregano, and Finnegan were some of the names she boasted in her back ground. Dog's known for their outgoing nature's and longetivity. I next took Emmanuel's Mazarati Showtime OFA to the best male I could find in my area at the time. Hasso of Lololand SchH 3, CD, OFA (Ruger). Ruger lived to be the ripe old age of 14 years and is still on a high pedestal in my mind, being as close to perfection as the breed standard calls for in temperment and soundness of the German Shepherd Dog.
From this breeding I kept Schutzengel v Big Sky BH, CD, TT, OFA (Anke). I then repeated this breeding and kept Anja v Big Sky CD, TT, OFA. Thus truly began Big Sky Shepherds. Anke was incrediblly intelligent, loving, loyal and a joy to live with and be owned by. Most every breeding I have done has a line that goes to her. Anja was a bit larger female than Anke but also a very willing, easy dog to train.Unfortunately Anja got mastitis after her first and only breeding. She was spayed so she would not have to go through that again, but she lived out her life here at Big Sky.
The dogs I try to produce here at Big Sky are of the older style in looks. The dogs of the 1960's, with level backs and moderate angulation. They are bred within the breed standard for size, most attaining the top end. I also try to produce a social dog though naturally protective, with a calmer medium soft temperment as most pups go into pet homes. This makes them easier to train with willing to please personalities. Because most of my dogs become family companions and are not bought for work or showing I cannot boast of lots of progeny with titles. But I can honestly say that the ones who have been asked to work have, which can be seen in my Boys & Girls Page and Testimonials sections.
Since Big Sky Shepherds began it has been my goal to breed German Shepherd Dogs with honesty and integrity and to try to produce the best dog you will ever own! There are NO perfect dogs but it should be every breeders intention to strive for this perfection! It is my promise to you to try and do this. I will stand behind each and every puppy sold from Big Sky Shepherds!!
