Complaint Review: Von Der Sauk Kennels - Columbia South Carolina

My 2 year old von der sauk GSD is energetic, intelligent, and easily trained.  I had a very positive experience purchasing him from Shannon Huffman.  She provided excellent information before I picked my puppy up - nutrition, training, etc.  Shannon was very responsive and answered all of my questions.

I don't have any evidence that Shannon Huffman is not a responsible breeder.  The pedigree of my dog shows no irregularities.  It's difficult to understand how the complaint can be valid.

This complaint sounds very spiteful.  Almost personal.  I hate the idea that someone would post something so inflammatory for personal reasons. Hopefully this is not the case.  If you really do have a dog that is exhibiting this behavior I have to think he/she has missed out on some very important socialization. 

 
  I don't know you or your situation and am not trying to point blame.  As I read your posting I see your various complaints but they seem very general. 

 For example.

"She is known to have bred either weak dogs (poor nerves) or very aggressive dogs (bad nerves)."
-If so who, when, and where.  Can you provide some more detail to support this claim?

"No wonder she never let me see the parents."
-Did you ask? If you did ask, and were denied what was the reason cited?

Both of these are general claims of dissatisfaction. They can't carry any creedence without supporting information. 
It's this manner of communication that leads, at least me, to believe that the nature of you complaint is personal.

Just my thoughts, take them or leave them.

As for my Von Der Sauk experience...

  I live in N. Virginia.  When I decided to buy a pup from Shannon she informed me (as is also explained on the website) that she can deliver, charging a delivery fee if I so choose.  However, Shannon explained that she was already set to deliver a dog in   Lynchburg, VA and that if I decided to buy the puppy and meet in Lynchburg I would be charged no delivery fee.

  If making a buck were the goal she could have easily set the condition that I pay delivery....it was never even brought up.  Telling of her true motives.

  My little girl Siren and I are training to be part of a wilderness SAR team.  Upon her initial evaluation my Von Der Sauk pup was declared a natural for SAR work by the teams training coordinator (11yrs operational SAR handler).  His evaluation was of her willingness to approach and play with strangers, key for SAR work. 

  At 4 months old my Von Der Sauk puppy has shown incredible obedience aptitude.  House training was easy.  But it takes an incredible amount of time to get there.  As Shannon will tell you.

  Shannon and I trade emails for weeks before and after I brought Siren home and continue to correspond.

  Just this weekend it snowed over two feet in the DC area.  I'm a cop and had to work Fri/Sat/Sun.  I knew when I left I would likely be stuck out for days...I was.  No problem, I took Siren with me. 

  Between spending the night at our helicopter hanger, working our IT help desk for 12 hours, staying a night in a crowded hotel, spending the day at my station while I worked the street (cared for all day by stranger after stranger).  Siren was exposed to 4 unknown locations, numerous strangers, extended periods away from me.  I got nothing but compliments on her good behavior and eager personality.

  She never displayed a moment of anxiety about being separated from me or being left in strange surroundings with people she never met.  A very confident, steady dog.

  One officer upon seeing how attentive to me she was and undistracted by all the hub bub of a police station in snow emergency mode commented on how focused and well behaved she was.

I really appears to me that Von Der Sauk is putting the time, dedication and love to bread quality dogs.  I'll recommend this kennel and its people to anyone.  In fact, I already have.

Matt

I am the proud owner of a Vondersauk GSD, now four months old.  She is absolutely beautiful and has been easy to work with since we acquired her.  Her color and confirmation are perfect and her personality is intelligent and eager to please.  I researched a number of breeders in my area in Virginia and other states, and was very thankful to have found Shannon and Vondersauk.  I have had many questions since Vondersauk so kindly drove to Virginia to deliver our puppy.  Shannon has responded to each inquiry quickly and thoroughly.  I have and will continue to recommend this Breeder to others.  Unfortunately, I was unable to meet our puppy's parents due to the distance, but have been given many photos and will soon be provided with both parents history and certifications.  I am shocked at this report.

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I find WM's complaint regarding Shannon Huffman and her kennel to lack credibility.  If he truly believed these allegations he should have contacted her directly.  The fact that he has not contacted her leads me to believe there is no such issue (there may not even be a real dog involved) and this is an unfounded attack.

I own a von der sauk German Shepherd (purchased in 2009) and find her to be an exceptional dog (in temperment, intelligence and beauty.)  Prior to selecting the von der sauk kennel I had done considerable research on regional breeders who focussed on schutzhund bloodlines. I got a first-person referrals from a family who own a 3 year old dog who is a half-sister to my dog and they only had good things to say about their interactions with Shannon and the wonderful dog their animal is.

My von der sauk GSD is quite wonderful and I am already thinking about getting a second dog from Shannon in a few years.

I recently purchased a very well-bred puppy from von der Sauk who lived up to Shannon's description of her in every possible way.  The puppy has an extremely stable temperament and was already started on housebreaking...not  a "kennel dog".  I think that speaks volumes for how much Shannon cares about what she produces.

Shannon has even gone so far as to tell me when she is going to be out of town, so that I am not concerned if she doesn't immediately respond to an email.  I have never had a problem in any correspondence with her...quite the opposite, she has been extremely helpful, interested and available. 

I do not see anything in the original report other than allegations, no facts substantiating the complaints.  So I would suggest three things...1) attempt to contact Shannon again, her contact information is easy to find on her website. 2) have the dog checked by a vet to make sure there is not a physical problem/injury that is causing the reported aggression and 3) consider enlisting the aid of a professional trainer, as sometimes a fresh set of eyes and training techniques can resolve problems that are thought to be temperament issues.

I can only speak from my own personal experience with Shannon and David that they are professional in every way.  I purchased a female from them over a year ago.  Prior to contacting Shannon, I THOROUGHLY researched countless breeders around the country.  I live in Virginia and due to my specifications of what I was looking for there were few that met my needs.  At the time, I was looking for a female sable pup from working lines.  That started the basis of my research.  Most importantly I was researching breeders that had sound dogs with good temperments.  I came across the kennel Von Der Sauk that had more than what I was looking for.  Within a few hours of emailing Shannon, I had a response to an inquiring email for a pup she had.  From that email on, I knew she was the breeder for me.  From day one, she has kept both a professional and personal relationship with myself.  I have never been "just another buyer" to her.  As a breeder, I trust her completely.  Because of extensive research I had done, I trusted her enough to select a pup for me without even having met the parents.  However, my having not met the parents was MY OWN personal decision.  Her door is always open for those to meet her dogs.  Because I live in Virginia, and the kennel was in South Carolina, I found it difficult to travel the distance.  However, Shannon made arrangements to deliver my pup!  Because of who she is and the quality of dogs she owns and breeds, this was a sound decicion on my part.  She had gone out of her way countless times to make sure that I received the right pup to meet my needs.  Believe me, my expectations were clearly surpassed!  I could not have asked for a better dog.  She finished top in her class for obedience and is unbelievable with children.  Not to mention, she is absolutely gorgeous.  By no means, would I consider her to be an aggressive dog in any way!  I plan on purchasing my next shepherd from this breeder and would HIGHLY recommend this kennel to anyone wanting to purchase a QUALITY pup. 

To the author of this complaint-I would highly recommend contacting Shannon about such a matter.  German shepherds are not your average breed of dog.  They require intense socialization from an early age.  Without it, an owner and not the dog is clearly at fault.

I don't personally know any of the circumstances leading to the complaint made against this breeder but I stand to rebut the opinion given and to offer an extremely positive experience in my personal dealings with this kennel.  I am the proud owner of a von der Sauk German Shepherd and quite frankly, it is one of the finest dogs I've ever owned.

My von der Sauk Shepherd has plenty of folks from my local German Shepherd dog club constantly complimenting me on what a superb representation of the breed I have purchased.  I don't have any complaints about my dog who is very even tempered, confident, alert, ready to protect and always ready to love and be loved.

Furthermore, I was able to see the dam of my litter and one look at the pedigrees Shannon has on her dogs and you'll know the line is solid.  I'd purchase from her again and have already recommended the kennel to others.

Charleston, SC

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In 2008 I began researching German Shepherd breeders in the southeast. Of all the breeders that I contacted, Shannon Huffman was the only one that responded to my questions in a timely manner and she also gave me great advice.

I was not looking for just any dog. I was looking for a dog to become a service dog because I am a medically retired disabled Marine.

She told me that she had several litters planned but she thought that one particular litter would be best suited for me. I waited several months for the puppy to be born and then to become of age to come home with me.

I could not be happier! The puppy that I got is now a handsome one year old that does anything that I ask of him. I rarely have to correct him on anything. He never shows aggression to anyone, not even cats or squirrels. He will however get a toy and bring it to anyone that comes into the house wanting to play with them. He never gets tired of playing fetch, tug of war with a rope, frisbee, treasure hunt, obedience training, heeling while on leash, etc.

Since he is a service dog, I do take him into businesses, churches, on vacation, or anywhere else I go. I have never had a problem with him at any place I have taken him.

My service dog literally saves my life on a daily basis. Part of my disability that I have is that I faint without warning. At the tend age of 4 months old I started noticing that he would bark at me just before I fainted. Now anytime that he barks at me or stops walking while we are doing our daily walks, I know to sit down. I no longer have to be afraid of being by myself, exercising, climbing stairs, cooking, carrying knives in the kitchen, or anything else like that because I trust in him.

I am so happy with Shannon and the dog that I got from her that in December of 2009, I decided to get another dog from her. He was around 3 months old when I got him. He has been excellent with obedience training, crate training, house breaking, and fetch games so far. He is not as excited with training as my service dog but he does enjoy training very much. He will most likely be more of an affectionate companion for me instead of a worker which is what I wanted anyway.

I highly recommend Von Der Sauk breeding program. Every single day, I literally put my life in the paws of the dog that she picked out for me. He gave me back much of the independent life that I use to have before my service connected disabilites. You can not get any better than that. He is my best friend.

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I am responding to the ridiculous allegations against Von der Sauk Kennels.  I currently own a GSD purchased from them and he has been everything we hoped for and more. He has an absolutely solid temperament, great hips and a great personality!

I personally own 2 working line GSDs from Von der Sauk/Shannon Huffman and have been very pleased, not only with the dogs but with Shannon.  She has always been responsive to my questions, concerns, requests for information, etc.  Additionally, I could not have asked for 2 GSDs with better personalities and intelligence.

While I'm not privy to your particular situation I can tell you my dealings with Shannon.

I purchased not just one dog from Shannon but two, both working line German Shepherds.  Both dogs are absolutely fantastic and I never want to be without them.  I recieve nothing but positive comments about them with regards to their looks, demeanor and training.  Yes they are working line dogs which means they have a high drive but Shannon made me very much aware of this prior to any commitments.

As for Shannon as a person/business.  I have nothing but praise for her.  From the beginning Shannon has stated "call, email, text, if you have any questions".  I have had numerous questions and Shannon has ALWAYS responded in a timely fashion not only with answers to my questions but recommendations for other avenues I can explore i.e. get other opinions/comments.

Not sure where you get the justification to backup the statements you made i.e. she is known to have bred weak, agressive, bad nerves etc or what your qualifications are to make those statements but I have personally seen numerous dogs that came from Shannon's breedings and none of them fit your description.

While I understand you can't please everyone all the time but in my opinion Shannon takes the extra step to ensure anyone that does business with her walks away as happy and content as possible.  To be honest once you purchase a Von Der Sauk dog you have an automatic membership into an elite group, but it's up to you to make the most of it.

I HIGHLY recommend Shannon aka Von Der Sauk Kennels.

Dear Sir or Madame;

I have dealt with Shannon on several occasions and have had quite the opposite experience.  She has contacts that have been in the sport a very long time.  She herself has taught me many things that have helped me in the sport.  Never, have I sent her an email that I didn't get a response.  It is very obvious that she cares about placing the right dog in the right home.  She has rescued many animals and has sold them.  The money she has made off of these animals and many of her own can only barely cover the cost of providing a loving home for them.

In regards to her dogs, most of her dogs are titled and those that aren't are either in the process or come from very prominent bloodlines.  As with any purchase, it is always important to research and gather as much information as possible about the animal, product, and seller.

With this breed it is very important that the buyer, new home, socialize the animal almost excessively to allow the pup plenty of exposure to sources of stress.  This enables the handler to see any areas of concern.  I am curious as to the sire and dam of your pup.  Would you please disclose this information?

As I have stated, I have had numerous dealings with Shannon and David.  I have seen them let dogs go for next to nothing because the buyer is providing a loving home- anyone that knows them knows it is not about the money.  Have you contacted them about your concern?  If you are still unhappy, I am sure they would rather refund you the money and allow them to make it right than be concerned about your safety, the safety of the dog, and the safety of those around both of you. 

On a final note, I have NEVER purchased a dog from anyone, except an import, in which I did not see the parents.  That is a no-go for me.  I know that in some instances, Shannon has used outside studs, in that case, she can't produce (on site) what she doesn't have there.  Nevertheless, you can still search the pedigree.  Dogs whose pedigree are heavily laden with SchH 1's, 2's, and 3's are very unlikely to be weak or aggressive.  Aggression, especially in a young dog, is usually fear-based, it is always the handlers responsibility to socialize.  This is something a Trainer spoke about at a Schutzhund Seminar at her place this last weekend, which she made available for anyone who has purchased a dog from her.  She provided it at a steal of a price, most seminars like this are at least several thousand dollars.

Bottom line- Please contact Shannon and get this taken care of as soon as possible.  There is no other option for a responsible pet owner.  You have searched out this avenue, I am sure you are reasonable and won't let this go unattended.

Best Regards

In Response to the outrageous claims made by a "Mr William Morrison" we have to report:
a) We have no record, that we can find, of any sale of a puppy by a breeding of ours to anyone by that name in that area.
b) We always have at LEAST one parent of a puppy of our breeding available to see by visitors. We make many deliveries because we reside out of state but at no time do we deny our clients the ability to visit our home.
c) We have received no communication directly from the gentleman filing this complaint so we are unable to comment about the specifics of that or any particular breeding we have carried out.
d) We have received no other reports from clients of aggressive dogs coming from our kennel's breedings, and so question the leap in logic that we breed inappropriately, resulting in puppies with poor temperaments.
e) Finally we invite the unahppy gentleman, whomever he might be, to contact us at our CORRECT address, and/or phone number or to by EMAIL our preferred mode of contact and we will do whatever we can to resolve any real issues he may have.
f) When our pups go to forever homes it is made clear that should the owner no longer want it, or have any problems they should contact us by EMAIL as that is the most reliable way to reach us day or night we will be happy to help or take a dog back or evaluate it.