My primary goal, as a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeder (and I almost hate using that word these days:  please
see Breeder or Anti-Breeder) is to preserve the type, temperament and working ability that IS a Greater Swiss
Mountain Dog, as defined by its breed standard.  I do not breed often and much research and thought goes into my decisions. 
I always strive to improve upon type, structure, health and temperament, with each generation. 

I do not keep more dogs than I can care for and love IN MY HOME.  So if you are looking for a breeder with a kennel full of dogs,
keep on looking.  Because I live with my Swissies, in my home, and they often accompany to me work, I am with them all the time. 
They are tremendously well socialized and I can tell you exactly what they are like in a wide variety of situations and locations,
how they will respond to various situations, stimuli, etc.  The same is true of my Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppies,
who live in my home until they are ready to go to their new homes.  By that time they will have been exposed to a wide
range of noises, environments, people of all shapes and sizes, strange dogs, etc.

I adhere to the GSMDCA Breeder Guidelines.  Sadly, these are totally "optional" and not enforced by the GSMDCA
(read them and ask questions, do research and decide if a breeder's practices meet your own standards).  I will tell you all I can
about my dogs and their pedigrees.  I do not expect you to take my word for anything, and I will show you how to
verify their Hip, Elbow and Eye clearances online.  And I WILL NOT breed dogs without clearances -- in other words
it's not enough to say I test for Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, etc.  If my dogs do not receive passing grades (OFA numbers),
they will not be bred.  The more digging you do into my practices and my dogs' backgrounds,
the more impressed (NOT insulted) I will be.  I will tell you whatever I know about any other health issues their bloodlines have produced. 
All lines have produced health problems of some kind, there is no way to guarantee against most of them. 
But we can do everything possible to lower the risks, by breeding only healthy dogs who have all their health clearances. 

I breed primarily for myself, never to fill a growing demand for Swissy puppies.  That said, I will only keep a puppy
that is an improvement upon its parents, and only those best puppies will be sold as "show potential" puppies. 
So yes, there will always be Swissy puppies looking for loving, dedicated companion homes.  In my opinion,
there is no need to "breed for pets" because even when breeding the best dogs to each other, not every puppy will be "the best." 
Also, I choose not to work with breeders who make a living by breeding and selling Swissy puppies, because I care deeply
about where the descendants of my dogs will wind up (sadly, we have seen Swissies even from prominent kennels
wind up in pet stores and puppy mills). 

Even though you may just want a Swissy as a companion/pet, please adopt your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy
from someone who shows their dogs, participates with them in a wide variety of activities, does ALL the requisite health clearances
and is open and honest about ALL health concerns and risks...particularly when it comes to epilepsy, bloat/torsion,
and the myriad of orthopedic issues that can affect a Swissy.

Whether you are in the market for a Swissy puppy right now or down the road, from me or someone else,
PLEASE do as much research as possible and meet as many Swissies and their owners, IN PERSON, as you can. 
The Greater Swissy Mountain Dog is not a breed for everyone, and you definitely want to make an informed decision
before committing the next 10-12 years to one.

 ARE YOU REALLY READY TO ADOPT A SWISSY?  

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BRINGING A SWISSY INTO YOUR FAMILY, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND
READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES, WHICH WILL GIVE YOU AN HONEST PERSPECTIVE ON THIS WONDERFUL BREED:

"Is A Greater Swiss Mountain Dog  Right for You?" &  "Regarding Temperament"
 (both written by Karen Conant )

 "Twenty One Ways to Love Your Swissy"
 - by Dori Likevich

"Top Five Reasons Rescue is Called"
 - by GSMDCA Rescue Chairs

These articles were written by dedicated, long time Swissy owners.  They are not just more hype promoting
the GSMD as the "ideal family dog" but an honest description of the reality that is Swissy ownership. 

  The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a very wonderful and special breed but it is not for everyone!
Swissies vary in size, energy level and temperament and can be challenging for the first time dog owner
and even experienced dog owners who have never lived with a true working breed. Many breeder
websites gloss over the challenges of Swissy ownership because they are only interested in selling
puppies and looking out for their pocketbook, not your best interests or those of their puppies.

In addition to reading and researching as much as you can, you should absolutely meet as many Swissies
as possible before you commit to this breed.  You can't possibly know if you are well suited for Swissy
ownership if you have never met a GSMD!  Information from books, television or the internet should never
substitute for meeting the dogs and talking with experienced owners and breeders in person.  

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHERE YOUR SWISSY PUPPY IS COMING FROM?

There are all kinds of dog "breeders" out there -- from puppy mills to small hobby breeders, and everything in between.
It can feel like a minefield, trying to navigate and figure out who is who, what is what.  How do you really know?
For starters, I'd avoid online sites such as puppyfind.com and nextdaypets.com as these sites are typically used by brokers,
puppy mills and backyard breeders.  Reputable breeders do not need online classified sites to place their puppies.  
Start with the GSMDCA Breeder Directory, and go from there.  Visit dog shows in your area to meet breeders who at least show
their dogs and should have a vested interest in protecting the breed (their breeding practices will shed more light on that)
Some of the backyard breeders and brokers online have become very sophisticated about the claims they're making
(such as "home raised" and "champion bloodlines") because they see and study what reputable breeders are emphasizing on their sites. 
This is why it is so important to visit any breeder from whom you are considering getting a puppy so you can see for yourself
how that breeder's dogs live and how their puppies are raised.
 
There can be a lot of misleading information on some Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeder websites.  A breeder claiming 
to have "puppies occasionally" may very well be a large volume breeder whose dogs spend most of their time in a kennel.  
As their definition of "occasionally" may be different from yours, ask pointed questions and require specific answers.
A true hobby breeder typically has only a handful of dogs and they usually live as family members in the breeder's home.  
The hobby breeder will usually breed only a couple of litters a year but is active in conformation showing and
other breed related activities.  In short, they support their dogs -- the dogs are not supporting them.

Be sure to ask about and VERIFY important information on the sire and dam of any litter you are considering,
particularly the health clearances of the sire and dam (hips, elbows and eyes at a minimum, and shoulders are important as well).  
The GSMDCA Breeder Guidelines recommend that breeders do not breed dogs under two years of age. 
The GSMDCA also recommends that stud dogs be limited to a maximum of three litters per year for their first
two years of breeding (by the way, that means no more than three times in a 12 month period). The reason for this is that
such limitations allow for any genetic issues or predispositions to come to light before the dog has too many litters.

  JUST BECAUSE A BREEDER IS A GSMDCA MEMBER, AND/OR LISTED IN THE GSMDCA
"BREEDER CLASSIFIEDS" DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THEY ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES.
THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT OF THESE GUIDELINES.
LET ME BE CLEAR -- I AM A GSMDCA MEMBER BREEDER.  I ONLY ASK THAT THIS NOT IMPRESS YOU TO
THE POINT THAT YOU DON'T RESEARCH MY PRACTICES, MY DOGS' HEALTH CLEARANCES, ETC. OR THOSE OF OTHER BREEDERS.

CURRENT or UPCOMING LITTERS

Moxie & Bowie
5 Girls & 3 Boys
Born May 29, 2009

We are no longer accepting applications for this litter.  These puppies are spoken for.
My next anticipated litter will be in late 2010, at the earliest.
If you are interested in adding a GSMD puppy to your family in the near future,
please check out the upcoming litters listed below.

Ushi x Boo

"Ushi" (Ch. Cold Spring's Blush) has been bred to "Boo" (Ch. Jotunheim Santa Baby).  Puppies would be
expected in early August.  Pregnancy will be confirmed by ultrasound.
I have been given the honor of being the co-breeder of this exciting litter.  Ushi is the mother of SHEA (from her
2nd litter), as well as Anke, Mojo and Sully (from her 1st litter), whom I had the pleasure of handling in 2008.
 This litter will be whelped and placed by Ushi's owner, Holly Witzgall in New Hampshire (Breezy Ridge GSMD).  
To be considered for an Ushi x Boo puppy, please contact Holly.

Dam	Sire
"USHI" Ch. Cold Spring's Blush, ROM Ushi's Health Clearances	"BOO" Ch. Jotunheim Santa Baby Boo's Health Clearances

Planned Breeding for Summer 2009

Please contact Lori Price for more information on this planned litter or to be considered for a puppy from this breeding.

Dam	Sire
"OoLA" Ch. Jotunheim With Bells On OoLa's Health Clearances	BOWIE Ch. Alpenglow Remember The Riot Bowie's Health Clearances

If you are interested in speaking to me further about the breed or possibly being considered for a puppy,
please don't hesitate to contact me or fill out an Aegis GSMD Puppy Application. 

  PREVIOUS LITTERS

June 1, 2008   -   Ch. Derby Kall Me Kramer's Moxie  x Ch. Alpenglow's Jasper Skipper