What is a King Shepherd Dog?

A King Shepherd resembles a large German Shepherd Dog.  The breed was originally developed on the East Coast using American bred German Shepherds, crossed to flock guardians, which were then crossed with European bred German Shepherd dogs.  The intent was to develop a superior family companion and protector that was capable of performing a wide variety of working duties ranging from police service, to guide dogs, to search and rescue dogs.  The original breeders also wanted to produce a dog which was free of the many health and temperament problems, which has been affecting German Shepherd Dogs. The King Shepherd is a breed in development.

How big do they get?

What are their colors?

How Long Do They Live?                    12-14 years

How is their temperament?

King Shepherds display a stable, sound, temperament.  They are not hyper or overly aggressive.  While very loving with their families and friends, they are generally aloof with strangers.  Kings are extremely intelligent and are very trainable, in both obedience and as personal protection dogs.

How much exercise do they need?

A moderate amount, usually two walks per day are sufficient.  You will need to gauge the amount of exercise based upon the needs of your individual dog. 

How much do they eat?

An adult usually requires about 3-4 cups of dry dog food per day.  We strongly recommend that you use a premium brand of dog food, one that is meat based (chicken, poultry or lamb) without soybeans or artificial preservatives.  Along with the dry food, wet food should be added, in the form of a meat stew, soup or a can of premium wet food.  Vitamins C and E should also be added to the dog’s daily rations.

Are they prone to any genetic health problem, more so than other breeds?

Generally not.  While there are infrequent cases of hip dysplasia, which is a problem with most large breeds of dogs, most breeders have been able to greatly reduce the incidence by having their dog’s hips x-rays analyzed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the University of Pennsylvania’s PENNHIP program. 

What about grooming?

King Shepherds come in two distinct varieties, smooth coated and long coated.  The smooth coated Kings look much like large German Shepherd dogs.  The long coated Kings have a coat that closely resembles that of a Belgian Tervuren.  Both varieties shed and require a moderate amount of grooming.  A good five-minute brushing twice a week is more than adequate.

How much do they cost?

Depending on the quality and breeding rights, a King Shepherd can range in price from $1,250.00 for pet quality, to over $2,000.00 for a show quality/breeding dog.

Are King Shepherds Recognized By Any Clubs?

King Shepherds are recognized by The Rarities Inc. & North American Kennel CLub and the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA).  Please go to our favorite links page to visit their websites.

KING SHEPHERD RESCUE

The King Shepherd is a much loved and treasured breed.  Their owners are very dedicated to them.  We "rarely" need to rescue a dog.  We are responsible for each and every dog we produce for their lifetime.  As an ethical breeder we take this very seriously.  When necessary, we will re-home a dog that is returned to us and our sales contracts clearly state that the dog must be returned to us in the event the owner cannot keep the dog.

Are their any guarantees for a puppy?

All Starfire King Shepherd puppies come with a health guarantee.  We DO NOT expect you to return your puppy to obtain a refund or a replacement.  We consider our dogs family members and understand that you do as well.  Our puppies have sound temperaments when they leave us and are evaluated for both temperament and conformation at approximately 6 weeks of age.  We are unable to enforce socialization once puppies reach their forever homes.  Ultimately, this is the responsibility of the new owner.  Leaving a puppy in a crate for extended periods of time will contribute to behavioral issues.

Do you require dog training?

If you acquire a Starfire King Shepherd puppy you will agree as part of our sales contract to have your puppy & you trained.  We require that they attend Puppy Kindergarten and at least a good basic obedience class and encourage additional obedience training and other canine activities.  We will award $50.00 cash to any Starfire puppy buyer who obtains a Canine Good Citizen certificate.  We will require a copy of the certificate to obtain the reward.

Will you ship a puppy to me?

We do not typically ship puppies and prefer that our puppies be picked up by their new owners.  This gives us an opportunity to meet you and for you to meet us and our dogs and see first hand the environment in which our puppies are raised.  We put our hearts and soul into raising each puppy and picking them up is an ideal way to show your commitment to your new family member.  We will consider shipping a puppy only through humane methods which treat the puppy as a passenger and not cargo.  These arrangements will be made on an individual basis with the buyer.  The buyer will be responsible for shipping costs.