FAQ’s on All Things German Shepherd

Yes, we welcome visitors to Canine Extreme by appointment! Our 33-acre facility in Morriston, Florida, is home to our world-class German Shepherd kennel, where you can meet our dogs, tour the grounds, and get a firsthand look at how our puppies and trained adults are raised and cared for.

Whether you’re interested in purchasing a German Shepherd puppy, selecting a trained adult German Shepherd, or simply learning more about our training programs, an in-person visit offers valuable insight into our process and philosophy.

To ensure the safety and well-being of our dogs, all visits are by appointment only. This allows us to provide a personalized experience and plenty of time to answer your questions.

If you’d like to schedule a visit to Canine Extreme, contact us and we’ll be happy to coordinate a time that works for you.

At Canine Extreme, the price of our German Shepherds for sale varies based on age, training level, and pedigree. Whether you’re looking for a puppy, young dog, or fully trained adult, we offer top-quality dogs with proven health, temperament, and performance.

Current pricing estimates:

• German Shepherd Puppies (8 weeks to 6 months):
  $4,500 – $5,500
  (Ideal for families or individuals looking to raise and train their own companion.)

• Young German Shepherds (6 to 12 months):
  $5,500 and up
  (Pricing depends on the level of training and socialization.)

• Trained Adult German Shepherds (12 months and older):
  $10,000 – $35,000+
  (Based on training level, workability, and whether the dog is for protection, sport, or companionship.)

• Personal Protection Dogs or Executive Dogs:
  $35,000 – $95,000+
  (These dogs are customized in their training to the specific needs of the family or home)

Every dog sold by Canine Extreme includes:

• A comprehensive veterinary health check

• A written Health Guarantee

• Full AKC registration

• For imported dogs: European FCI/SV Pink Papers

Our pricing reflects the high-quality breeding, expert training, and individualized care that each dog receives. If you’re interested in a trained adult German Shepherd for protection or service work, or a well-bred puppy with strong genetics, we’re here to help match you with the right dog.

💬 Have questions about availability or upcoming litters? Contact us for current pricing and personalized recommendations.

At Canine Extreme, we go far beyond basic training or breeding—we specialize in producing elite German Shepherds that excel in protection, obedience, and family integration. What sets us apart is our hands-on, personalized approach, decades of experience in law enforcement K9 training, and access to world-class European bloodlines.

From puppy development to fully trained protection dogs, every canine is raised with a focus on clear temperament, environmental confidence, and real-world functionality. We don’t just train dogs—we build relationships that last a lifetime, offering ongoing support to ensure each dog thrives in its new home.

Excellence in breeding. Precision in training. Commitment to your safety. That’s the Canine Extreme difference.

And when that’s not enough… every dog featured on our website—every photo, every video—has trained at or lived at Canine Extreme. We don’t use stock footage or third-party images to represent our dogs. The only exception is in pedigree profiles, where images may show notable German Shepherds from the dog’s lineage.

This level of transparency reflects our commitment to authenticity, quality, and the real results our program delivers.

Yes, we do recommend dog health insurance. Having insurance can help protect you from unexpected veterinary costs due to accidents, illnesses, or emergencies—many of which can be financially significant. A good policy can mean the difference between being able to move forward with life-saving care or having to make tough decisions based on cost.

We specifically recommend Healthy Paws and Spot Health Insurance for the following reasons:

• Healthy Paws is known for its comprehensive coverage, fast claims processing, and excellent customer service. They offer unlimited lifetime benefits with no caps on claims, which can provide peace of mind in serious medical situations. Their negative, the rates can increase significantly with the dogs age, you have to balance the value with the expense for every home budget.

• Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable plans, including options for both accident-only and accident + illness coverage, as well as wellness add-ons such as behavioral training reimbursement. They are flexible and budget-friendly, making them a great choice for owners who want tailored coverage. The negative, you have to meet your annual premium before tapping into any benefits, however, should an unfortunte incident occur you will be greatful for the coverage.

Ultimately, health insurance allows you to focus on your dog’s well-being instead of worrying about unexpected costs—and for any dog owner, that peace of mind is worth it.

Yes, there is a distinction—especially among working-line German Shepherd breeders—but the lines have become more blended over the years, particularly in show-line breeding.

• East German (DDR) Bloodlines are predominantly working-line German Shepherds, originally developed under strict government breeding programs for military and police use. These dogs are known for their strong structure, darker pigment, high drive, and intense work ethic. Even today, many top-tier working dogs carry DDR lineage due to their reliability and performance in demanding environments.

• West German Bloodlines include both working and show lines. While West working lines share many traits with DDR dogs, West German show lines have been selectively bred for structure, movement, and temperament that aligns with conformation standards. Over time, many show-line pedigrees have incorporated both East and West genetics to enhance type, color, and stability.

At Canine Extreme, we carefully evaluate each dog for temperament, structure, and trainability, regardless of their political lineage. Whether from East or West lines, our goal is the same: to produce clear-headed, confident German Shepherds capable of excelling in protection, sport, and family life.

Yes, all German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears. As your puppy grows, the cartilage in the ears gradually strengthens, and the ears will begin to stand naturally. This process often starts around 6 weeks of age but may take several months to fully develop. It’s common to see one ear stand before the other or for both ears to rise and fall during growth spurts or periods of fatigue.

Many owners notice that their German Shepherd puppy’s ears are upright in the morning and begin to droop later in the day—this is a normal part of development.

To help encourage proper ear development:

• Avoid rough handling or frequent backward petting of the ears

• Limit unnecessary contact to allow natural cartilage strength to form

• Provide regular exercise and play (like fetch), which stimulates alertness and ear engagement

⚠️ Disclaimer: While most German Shepherds will develop upright ears, especially those from strong genetic lines, Canine Extreme cannot guarantee that a puppy’s ears will stand. Ear development is influenced by genetics, health, and environmental factors outside of our control.

If you have concerns or questions about your puppy’s ears, feel free to contact us. With decades of experience, we’re happy to offer insight and guidance as your puppy grows.

At Canine Extreme, we offer several flexible options to help you safely receive your German Shepherd puppy, no matter where you’re located.

If you’re unable to travel, we can arrange for professional puppy delivery through ground transportation or by air, depending on your location and the needs of the puppy. We work with trusted, experienced handlers to ensure your puppy arrives safely and comfortably.

Prefer to pick up your German Shepherd puppy in person? Absolutely! We welcome and encourage new owners to visit our facility in Morriston, Florida, where we can schedule a personalized pickup appointment for you to meet your puppy and go over final details in person.

Whether you’re looking for nationwide puppy delivery or planning to make the trip yourself, Canine Extreme is here to make the process smooth, safe, and stress-free.

At Canine Extreme, the price of a trained adult German Shepherd typically ranges from $35,000 to $95,000+, depending on the dog’s pedigree, training level, age, and specialized skills.

What sets us apart is our commitment to customized training — every dog’s program is tailored to meet the unique needs and lifestyle of the family they’re going to. Whether you need a confident protector for travel, a kid-safe home guardian, or a balanced family companion, our training adapts to deliver the right match.

Our fully trained German Shepherds are ideal for both personal protection and home security, and every placement includes:

• A health guarantee

• In-home transition support

• Lifetime access to our training team

Whether you’re searching for a dependable, obedience-trained family companion or an elite executive-level protection dog, your investment reflects a lifelong partnership built on quality, trust, and peace of mind.

💬 Have questions about availability or want to schedule a consult? Contact us

Yes. Our protection dogs are specifically selected and trained to be safe, social, and reliable with children. Each dog undergoes extensive exposure and testing with kids during their training.

Raul Hernandez, owner and head trainer at Canine Extreme, is a retired law enforcement officer with a highly successful career alongside his K9 partner, Boye. Many nights, Boye would go from apprehending suspects in the field to playing on the living room floor with Raul’s three children—a true testament to the balance between work and family life.

The key to a successful protection dog is starting with a clear-headed, stable dog and building a strong foundation through positive reinforcement training. This approach allows the dog to think, assess, and respond with a calm, focused mind. This specialized method is what truly sets the Canine Extreme family apart. Our dogs are trained not only to protect but to seamlessly integrate into family life as loyal, reliable companions.

While guard dogs are typically trained to patrol property and deter intruders through presence and intimidation, protection dogs are highly trained canines that live with your family, offering a deeper level of personal and home security. Unlike basic guard dogs, protection dogs undergo extensive training in obedience, threat detection, controlled response, and family integration.

At Canine Extreme, our protection dogs are hand-selected for stable temperaments and trained to distinguish between real threats and everyday situations. Their advanced training ensures they are safe, social, and dependable companions, capable of protecting loved ones while remaining gentle and trustworthy within the home.

Whether you’re seeking peace of mind, executive-level security, or a family protector, a trained protection dog offers unmatched loyalty and performance far beyond that of a traditional guard dog.

Not necessarily. While Schutzhund (IPO/IGP) is a respected dog sport that showcases a dog’s obedience, tracking, and bite work skills, it does not guarantee that the dog is trained for real-life protection or home defense. Dogs trained solely for sport are often conditioned to perform in controlled environments, following predictable patterns and responding to rehearsed scenarios—not the unpredictable nature of real-world threats.

At Canine Extreme, we go beyond sport titles. Our protection dogs are trained in true functional protection—capable of assessing and responding to real-world situations while remaining calm, social, and fully integrated with family life. A title in IGP is a great foundation, but for true personal and family protection, specialized training is essential.

Both male and female dogs can make exceptional protection companions when properly bred and professionally trained. Male protection dogs are often larger and offer a strong visual deterrent, which can be ideal for clients seeking a commanding physical presence. On the other hand, female protection dogs tend to be more agile, intuitive, and task-focused, making them excellent choices for individuals or families seeking precision and responsiveness.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific goals, environment, and lifestyle. At Canine Extreme, we evaluate your needs to match you with a protection dog—male or female—that is best suited to your home, daily routine, and long-term expectations for safety and companionship.

Yes, Canine Extreme offers professional German Shepherd stud services in the form of live cover, fresh semen, or frozen semen, depending on the stud dog selected. We provide flexible options to meet the needs of breeders both locally and internationally.

The average cost for our German Shepherd stud service ranges from $1,500 to $2,200, though premium studs with top bloodlines and titles may be priced higher.

Please note that stud services are only available to approved females who meet our health and registration standards. All females must have:

• AKC full registration

• Hip and elbow certification through either OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or SV (Germany)

This policy ensures responsible breeding practices and preserves the quality and health of the German Shepherd breed.

If you’re interested in using one of our German Shepherd studs for breeding, or would like help selecting the right match for your female, please contact us for availability and consultation.