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This is our story......
Braehead was established in 1986 with the purchase of our first white
shepherd, KC. Over the next several years, we acquired Queenie, Logan,
Sugar, Dancer and Cerie. It wasn’t until 1991, that we would find the
pup that grew and developed into an adult that met our criteria, and
would be considered our foundation female. Her name was Sabre.
Sabre would live to almost 15 years of age, bringing much sought-after
longevity to our line. She had great health, temperament and structure,
and never showed signs of slowing down even during her senior years. Two
weeks after she celebrated her 11th birthday, she earned her 3rd
qualifying score in advanced obedience, and earned her UD (Utility Dog
title). The photo appears on her web page.
Choosing a mate for Sabre was an enjoyable journey. Health and
temperament were the two most important considerations for a breeding
partner. With those factors in the forefront, we decided on a Canadian
male, Lyndons Angus. He had never produced a litter, but shared many of
Sabre’s best qualities.
The first mating of Sabre and Angus produced
Alexis and Annamee. We were so pleased with their quality that we
repeated the breeding, resulting in Boo-Boo Bear and Bailey. These dogs
had tremendous consistency of type, structure and temperament. They
became the backbone of the Braehead program and helped us create the
dogs that are easily identifiable as Braehead White Shepherds.
Braehead has striven to develop a uniform line of White Shepherds that
excel in sound structure, sound movement, superior health and
outstanding temperament, all in keeping with the breed standard. These
characteristics are our primary considerations when planning every
breeding.
Braehead has paid particular attention to minimizing the health issues
that can occur in the German Shepherd Dog. Hip Dysplasia (H.D.) is a
disease that can have a profound impact on the quality of life for a
dog. To do our best to minimize the risk of H.D., we insist that our
breeding pairs have proper hip clearances. We also research closely
related dogs to ascertain that this highly desirable quality is present
throughout the family. Our dogs' hip ratings are a matter of public
record, and I encourage everyone to visit the Orthopedic
Foundation For Animals' web site for verification.
Because of our commitment to these breeding objectives, we are founding
members of, and participants in the White German Shepherd Genetics
Project. The WSGP website contains a database
for reporting genetic traits and health clearances which helps
conscientious breeders make informed decisions in their breeding
program. This database will help improve the health of our white
shepherds in future generations.
What is really special about Braehead White Shepherds is their sterling
temperament. Our puppies have the mental characteristics to be the
perfect family companion. As adults, they have the stable, sensible
personalities that allow them to participate in a multitude of
activities. Braehead dogs compete in obedience, agility, rally,
conformation, flyball, and herding. They are trackers, baby sitters, and
therapy dogs. They are always ready to go, or content to be peaceful
foot-warmers at the end of the day.
We consider all owners of Braehead White Shepherds to be part of our
extended family. We are thrilled and proud of the joy that our dogs
bring to their lives.
Our breeding program takes the best of the dogs of the past to create
even better dogs for the future. We take care that appearance,
personality and performance are combined in a total package that is a
Braehead White Shepherd.
Braehead continues to follow a simply stated goal: “Aiming for
Excellence”
We invite you to explore the website and enjoy the photos that
illustrate our objectives and achievements.
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