LOVING FAMILY MEMBER. NATURAL PROTECTOR.
25 Frequently asked
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
*** THE ULTIMATE QUESTION IS QUESTION #25 ON THE BOTTOM!
1. Are your dogs imported?
Our dogs are imported from top European kennels known for preserving the true German Shepherd standard. We select breeding dogs based on health, temperament, and working ability. Our dogs, that have not been imported are King Of Zion dogs bred by us, from imported parents.
2. Are your dogs health tested?
Absolutely. We follow German heath testing standard, plus more. Every breeding dog is tested for hips, elbows, and genetic health. We only breed dogs, who meet our strict health standards to help ensure strong, healthy puppies. Puppies come with a health guarantee, and we stand behind our program 100%.
3. How do I reserve a puppy?
To reserve a puppy, there is a pre-approval process that starts with phone conversation, where we get to know each other a little, application that includes 2 references as well is to follow. Next step is a reservation free $1,000, which secures your place on our waitlist. Puppies are matched with families in order of reservation fees received, considering both temperament and family needs. We do the matching and start on top of the waiting list. Pick #1 has often multiple options. We know each puppy’s personality, drive, and temperament, and pair them with the family that best fits their lifestyle and goals. This ensures both puppy and owner are set up for success. First pick is +$500.
4. When can I take my puppy home?
Our puppies are ready to join their new families at 8 weeks of age.
5. What vaccinations and deworming will my puppy have?
Puppies leave with age-appropriate vaccinations, multiple rounds of deworm and de-parasite procedure, and a thorough veterinary exam.
6. What is your health guarantee?
We offer a lifetime genetic guarantee against severe hip/elbow dysplasia and inherited genetic conditions. If a confirmed genetic issue is found, we will replace the puppy with one of equal value. See more about our Lifetime Warranty: here
7. Do you ship puppies? How does transportation work?
We do not ship puppies cargo.
We love and prefer in-person pick-ups, when we meet our King Of Zion Family face-to face, but we can help arrange safe ground transport or in-cabin flight nanny services at the buyer’s expense. We work with trusted, reliable transportation professionals, who can safely deliver your puppy anywhere within the United States.
8. What do you feed your puppies?
We feed Royal Canin Puppy Starter and by the time puppy goes to new home, Royal Cannin Large Breed Puppy and recommend continuing this for a smooth transition. We also recommend to add vitamins to your puppy diet between 10-12 weeks of age. Especially plain gelatin & NuVet Plus and NuJoint Plus from proper development. Read more: here
9. Do you own the parents?
The majority of our puppies are from parents we own, train, and care for ourselves. This allows us to know them inside and out — their temperament, health, working ability, and quirks — so we can confidently match their puppies with the right families. In some cases, we may also use an outside stud dog from another trusted, world-class program to bring in special bloodlines or qualities that complement our females. In every case, both parents are health tested and evaluated to meet our breeding standards. We share photos, videos, pedigrees, and health results. All of our own dogs have individual webpage on this website as well.
10. Will you help with training and care advice?
Absolutely. We are here for ongoing support and guidance. We want your puppy to succeed in your home and will gladly provide tips and resources for training, nutrition, and care.
11. Do you offer limited or full AKC registration?
Most of our puppies are placed with limited AKC registration, which means they are sold as companions and are not eligible for breeding. This helps to protect the integrity of the breed and our bloodlines. Full AKC registration is available only to experienced and proved programs, that share our commitment to German Shepherd breed at large and alignment with our breeding ethics.
12. How do you match puppies to families?
Puppies are matched with families in order of reservation fees received. We assist with the matching and start on top of the waiting list. We evaluate each puppy’s temperament, drive, and personality, then match them to families based on lifestyle, goals, and experience. This ensures the best fit for both puppy and owner they are both set up for success. Pick #1 has often multiple options. * Note: Most of our puppies are very similar: 5 out of 7 puppies will be nearly the same.
13. Will my puppy be socialized before going home?
Yes. Our puppies are exposed to multiple elements appropriate to age. People, other dogs, household sounds, outdoor, play, etc. We want them confident and ready for their new homes.
14. What ongoing costs should I expect?
Beyond the initial purchase, plan for quality food, regular vet visits, flea/tick & heartworm prevention, training, and hopefully - minor - unexpected expenses. German Shepherds thrive best with proper investment in their health and training.
15. Do you take back dogs if the owner can’t keep them?
Yes. None of our dogs will end up in shelter! Our contract requires, that if you cannot keep your dog for any reason, they are returned to us. This ensures every dog from our program has a safe and loving home for life.
16. Do you allow visits to your property?
We love sharing our dogs and our program, and hope to make you feel like you already know us, from the imeense of information we share here on this website and social media. To protect the health, safety, and especially calm environment for our mammas - as we often have new born puppies, that are born in our home — and to maintain a healthy work–life balance for Alonzo and Lucie (day has only 24 hours) — we do not offer casual, drop-in visits. For breeders, this is a unique situation - place of business is our home, there are the dogs to take into consideration along with the value of both our privacy and the peaceful environment we’ve created here.
Heath and Biosecurity: Even thou we have great procedures in place, to shed light on this topic - viruses and illnesses can easily be carried on shoes, clothing, or even hands — without the person knowing — and can be dangerous, even fatal to young puppies with developing immune systems.
That said, Puppy Pick-Up Days are some of our favorite days of the year — because we finally get to meet face-to-face with the families our puppies are joining. It’s always a joyful, memorable moment.
We also understand that in today’s world of online scams, people want reassurance. Therefore - if in doubt, we will always make time to schedule FaceTime or live video calls, so you can see us, our dogs, and our puppies in real time. We want you to feel comfortable and confident.
We also encourage all potential clients to do their own research — there is plenty online about us through social media, our website and public databases, where our dogs and accomplishments can be verified.
This way, you can get to know us and our program while keeping our dogs safe, our home private, and our environment peaceful.
In-person visits are reserved for serious, pre-approved applicants and require:
• Completed puppy application
• Copy of valid driver’s license
• Pre-approval confirmation
• $1,000 reservation fee applied toward your puppy purchase
Thank you for understanding.
17. Do I have to show my dog?
No. While our puppies have pedigree and quality to succeed in the show ring, showing is not required. Most of our puppies go to loving companion homes, service work, or sport homes.
18. What does IGP mean?
IGP (Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung) is an international working dog sport that tests a dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection skills. It is a respected measure of temperament, trainability, and working ability in German Shepherds. In Germany, dog has to have minimum of IGP1 title or ZAP which is similar, to be approved into breeding.
19. What does Breed Survey mean?
A breed survey (Körung) is an official evaluation conducted by licensed judges to determine if a dog meets the German Shepherd breed standard for structure, temperament, and working ability. Only dogs that pass may be officially recommended for breeding in Germany.
Breed Survey requirements:
- They must have successfully completed an endurance test / AD (running 12 miles with minimum speed of 7 miles per hour)
- They must have successfully completed a temperament test BH/BH-VT
- Received a rating of at least “ G / good ” in a breed show
- They must have obtained at least a performance title of IGP 1 for SV breed survey or SchH 1, IPO 1 or IGP 2 for USCA breed survey
- They must have certified hips and elbows.
- WB is required for SV Breed Survey for dogs born after 7/1/2019
More about Breed Standard and Terms: here
20. Why is there a different price for a puppy from parents without a breed survey and with a breed survey?
Our pricing schedule is determined by pedigree and accomplishments of the parents. A breed survey (Körung) is an official evaluation by licensed judges in Germany or under German rules (SV). It confirms that a dog meets the highest standards for structure, temperament, working ability, and health — and is officially recommended for breeding. Completing a breed survey is a significant investment of time, training, travel, and trial preparation. Dogs must earn working titles, show ratings, and pass advanced health checks before they can even be surveyed. Puppies from breed-surveyed parents come from proven, evaluated dogs with top-level accomplishments, their price reflects the added value, and the breeder’s investment in producing them.
21. Do you train your dogs?
Yes. Every single one of them, is either trained and titled by us or at some point of their career, was trained and prepared by us for show event, breed survey with bite-work performance and/or IGP trial. We are one of the very few kennels in USA, with this practice. This is very difficult and very rare in USA.
Most breeders in USA "only breed", some hire trainers to train and show their dogs, many purchase fake titles and some of those train the dogs part of IGP and breed survey routine to look like the dogs have undergone the process.
In our kennel - all we have is real and we work with our dogs.
22. Are your dogs’ titles real?
Yes — all titles are earned under licensed judges in recognized SV organizations, and can be verified in official databases and videos we share. We take pride in the accomplishments of our dogs and the transparency of our program.
23. What does it mean when titles are fake?
The German Shepherd breed is unlike most other breeds, when it comes to proving breeding quality. Under the SV standard in Germany — the original and most respected standard for the breed — a dog must prove itself in multiple areas, before it can even be allowed for breeding. This includes obedience, courage, tracking, and protection work, and much more along with strict health and structure evaluations.
Very few breeds in the world have such a demanding and well-rounded set of requirements. These titles are not just “show ribbons” — they are proof the dog can work, think, and perform exactly as the breed was intended. Because this process is expensive, time-consuming, and requires years of dedication, some breeders take shortcuts. This might mean buying a dog with unverified credentials, inflating accomplishments, or simply creating an attractive poster/ presentation that lists titles the dog never truly earned. Sadly, even breeders who seem reputable sometimes present titles and health testing, that can’t be confirmed or is fake.
At King of Zion, we take pride in doing things the right way. It is not the easy way, but we believe in integrity and in serving the breed. All of our dogs’ titles are earned under licensed SV judges in recognized organizations and can be verified in official public databases. We believe honesty, proof, and respect for the SV standard are essential to preserving the integrity of the German Shepherd.
24. What is the breed standard?
German Standard listed below. Full page: https://www.germanshepherddog.com/about/german-shepherd-dogs/breed-standards/
25. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION Why should I buy a King of Zion German Shepherd puppy?
Because our puppies are the result of careful selection, proven bloodlines, and a lifetime commitment to the German Shepherd breed. Every dog in our program is health-tested, evaluated for temperament and structure, and either titled with Breed survey or partially titled - which means they are proven in their working ability and soundness. We are also one of the very few breeders in German Shepherd world of USA, that work with our dogs and tittle them on working field and in show ring. We know our dogs well and what they are made out of.
We raise our puppies in a hands-on environment giving them proper age socialization, exposure to daily life, and the best start possible.
Our program is transparent and true — you can see our dogs, videos, working videos, their pedigrees, and their accomplishments in public databases, and follow their lives on our active social media.
Our dedication to quality has set a standard of excellence that is unique and set us apart with the experience, care, and proven results we’ve built over years.
When you choose a King of Zion puppy, you’re not just buying a dog — you’re joining a community, gaining lifelong breeder support, and investing in a German Shepherd you can be proud of for years to come.