Testimonials

Scroll down to view many of our Testimonials from German Shepherd owners who own Mittelwest German Shepherds

I was just writing you to update on Bailey AKA Kalli vom mittlewest! She is such an amazing dog! We decided to just do weekly obedience classes with a few privates every week. We use treats, a clicker and praise to reinforce good behavior.  She is such a good listener! I am also impressed at the bond she is forming with our children, she is already becoming protective of them! She stays inside with us most of the time but I do let her stay outside and play on the pretty days when its not too hot, but when she wants to come in she will just paw the door to let us know shes ready. She also has become great at going into her crate at night, we will just say time for bed bailey go to bed and she will go inside her crate and lay down. She is a whopping 30lbs now at 21  weeks, she has a vet appt today and the vet couldn’t stop saying how beautiful she was! By the way, we did decide to change vets and we are so glad we did! But Bailey is the kind of dog everyone dreams of having, she is so loving and so obedient! She just loves to be worked as far as the training goes, shes always watching us to see what she needs to do next! We are so glad we chose to get a GSD from you and look forward to coming to you in the near future for our next GSD. Unfortunately, we have had some problems with our older GSD, who was a rescue dog…. she has gotten where she growls and lunges at the kids! Even with the trainer working with her, they think she just shouldn’t be in a home with kids or another dog. So she will be going back to the german shepherd rescue for a better fitting family..I think Bailey may become lonely after that so I think we will be looking for another one sooner than originally planned. Not sure if we want another female or male though! Please keep me in mind as the other litters are arriving… I want one that is as dark as Kalli or darker and that has a great personality! Take care and thank you again for our amazing GSD!

 

 

Sincerely,

The Bethea Family

 

 

 

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Hi Julie,
Here’s a picture of Blade with some of his “loot” from a few weeks ago . He won “High In Trial” at both trials on Saturday…the large ribbons attached to the gifts!!  He finished his “United Rally Obedience Championship”!! He is now:U.R.O.C. U.R.O. 3. U.R.O. 2. U.R.O. 1  U.U.D.  U.C.D.X.  U.C.D. Falke’s Blade vom Mittelwest U.D.  C.D.X.  C.D.  R.E.  R.A.  R.N.  F.F.X.O.P.  H.I.C.  T.C.  A.A.T.  T.D.I.  H.A.M.  C.G.C.  CHIC#67469

Blade is, for the 2nd year in a row, in the “For the Love of German Shepherds”  Calendar.  He’s  the March photo in the 2013 calendar and the photo for the extra 6 months (18 month calendar) in the 2014 calendar!

We are also an active “assisted animal therapy” dog team at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington .  Blade is a FANTASTIC partner!!!  Look for more updates as we continue our exceptional journey!!!

Blade was also awarded the German Shepherd Dog Club of America “Health Award of Merit” for passing all of his health screenings.  He has also been assigned a CHIC number for meeting the GSDCA health and temperament requirements:-).

He also passed his Herding Instinct Test with a perfect instinctual response to herding sheep . He continually makes me very proud!!  I could not ask for a better canine partner!!  He has such enthusiasm for anything and everything I ask him to do!!!  I cannot tell you how many people have come up to me at dog events and asked if he is a “Mittelwest” dog I can assure you he is a wonderful ambassador for your kennel, and we will continue to try and make you proud.

Thank you again for breeding such a great dog!!!!

~ Bev Mills

 

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Hi Julie!
First, I just want to tell you how awesome a dog Izzy is. We bought her from you last May and she is doing great. We get so many compliments and questions as to where we got her so hopefully some of those referrals have come your way!  I’m pretty proud of her too!!!  And she is very smart.  We enrolled her in basics class and an agility class last year and we are taking her to a different place to do some more advanced basics in 2 weeks.
Hope all is well with you and the business. We are definitely buying another dog from you in the future!!
Regards,
Tina & Tom Broidrick

Antioch, IL

  

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Letter from the Doyle family when they first arrived home after picking up their lovely VA Addie/Idol daughter, “Mercedes” from the airport:

We are home and happy. She’s so smart and social. Loves water.  She went in our pond!!  I’m in LOVE!

I will send plenty of photos. I cant actually get that many photos because she’s stuck on my side already. Thats why I love this breed! The pond is actually off limits to dogs. But I’ll let her slide today. I loved her boldness. She will have many chances to swim in the sound when it gets warmer!  We are so happy with her. You are right. She is perfect!

Silvia Doyle

Photographer

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Hi Julie,
Thought you might like to see a picture of Falen, she turned 11 on
Saturday and is still going strong!  She is truly my best friend, she
goes EVERYWHERE with me, she has a bed in the car, my office and at home
so she’s always comfy. I work very long hours and she keeps me company
through every one. She likes the snow so for her B-day she and I went to
Northern Wisconsin for some snow.I hope you’re well.Mike Dorfman
Trick Percussion Products, Inc.
17 E University Dr. Arlington Heights, IL. 60004

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Hi Julie! Just wanted to tell you a quick story. We were training in a park with our Hana tonite (Titan/Ola pup) and a man approached us with 2 stunning long-haired GSDs. He asked us if Hana was from Mittelwest – we were stunned! He said his one male was from Mittelwest (albert grandson) and he recognized the red and black as characteristic of Mittelwest. We had quite a long talk about what a good breeder you folks are. Just wanted to share how your reputation gets around! Love our Hana who is almost 14 months!

 

~ Sharon Becker Murray

Owner of Hana vom Mittelwest

 

 

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Julie — I wanted to share some pictures of Vhogan vom Mittelwest “Hogan” (VA Tito x Lenna) and thank you for a wonderful dog. Hogan has been an absolute dream of a dog. We purchased him from you back in 2002, when we were a newly married, childless couple. He’s gone from being the only child to being the oldest of five. He is amazing with our four children and the crazy, hectic house that comes with four kids. His character is rock solid and is a true ambassador of the breed.

I’ve had four GSDs before Hogan and I can’t say enough about his drive, loving family temperament and physical attributes. We are planning on getting a puppy in the near future and will DEFINITELY be calling you soon. Here are some pics of Hogan…at 10 months, 8 years and almost 11. Thanks again. 

Take care,

Mike Harrington

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“Hi!

I just wanted to give you a little update on Brewsky!

So far she is doing really well! She LOVES my twin boys who are 16 months old today. She will sit very calm and still while they climb over her and sit on her back and bounce like she is a horsey. She is so gentle and kind but when she goes out to work she is a DEMON DOG!! I noticed she is very good at focus training so I have been teaching her to guard items and control herself and stay with the item. I will be on vacation later this summer and will be sending her to Joel Monroe for boarding and training. I am hoping his expertise will help Brewsky and I make a better working team.

 

I have attached a picture of her with my boys. She is such a joy! Thank you so much for having the perfect family/working dog. Brewsky is AMAZING!!”

 

~Corina Andariese

                       

Pushkin, male offspring of Ginger vom Mittelwest, is our second German Shepherd; our first Shepherd was from a different breeder and we had a difficult time with this shepherd with strangers and other dogs.

 Torry and Tonya vom Mittelwest in commercial

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say this but I feel your not charging enough for your dogs. I have had two people now ask me Didi’s price tag and I said, “guess”, and both of their guesses were well over 5k,  they said “you probably paid more, I would have”. Well LOL I didn’t have the heart to belittle Didi so i said to them “do you think she was worth it?”  ”OH YEAH” they said and the one guy even asked if I’d be willing to sell her. That’s when I said “no way !”  Well that’s the update hope everything is well for you and your family. Again THANK-YOU for Didi or as everybody knows her as “D-girl ” she truly truly is awesome I can’t wait until you meet her again and see what I have done with her. 

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Everyday Hero

A true story of how a German Shepherd Dog named Nike* helped save my life.

 By Jill Haunold

It was the perfect morning to go for a short cross-country ski.  My husband was at a ski race for the day.  I dropped the two boys and their friends at the down-hill area and parking at the end of the area lot, skied off with Nike the German Shepherd Dog and Moxie Java the Parson Russell Terrier puppy… 

Click here for the rest of the story

* “Nike” SG, Int CH, BH, AD, RN, CGC, OFA good H/E
Nike is a daughter of V Jezzi v. Mittelwest ~ Nike is a full sister to our 3x VA Olly v. Mittelwest
Nike is owned by Jill Haunold

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the finest German bloodlines, and great bone structure. Julie  has sold me a great puppy named Caesar who is show quality and willing to please his master. When I take him to the field to work, other breeders approach me and tell me how great he looks. They always ask me what breeder did you get him from and I say proudly Mittelwest. I will buy all my GSD dogs from Mittelwest because they do honest business.

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I just wanted to touch base with you. Almost 10 years ago, I purchased Urico vom Mittelwest from you. He was my first German line dog and I could not have been happier with him. I have owned many American line shepherds, but never had one with this type of wonderful temperament, upbeat attitude, easy to work with, train, etc. (but I am sure you know, you bred him )

He has constantly surprised me with his great temperament. My elderly parents had to move in with me 2 years ago and I was very apprehensive because they had a cat, which Rico had not been exposed to before. He is great with the cat and with the kitten they just got last year. 

To me, Rico is a older dog who has no clue he is getting up there in years, except for some stiffness and arthritis, which I give him glucosamine / msm for. When he first got a little stiff and limped a bit, I took him to an orthopedic vet, just to make sure and catch any problems early and get him on joint treatments. He was 9 at the time, and they did x-rays. You could have knocked the vet over when the hip x-rays showed that even at that age, the vet bet he would have still OFA’d Good at that age. 

He constantly makes me laugh with his goofy ways of pleasing me, my best friend, never lets me too far out of his sight. Unfortunately, due to health issues, which only recently improved, I was unable to really do Schutzhund with him, but I did have him tested by a club when he was young, and they LOVED him, thought he would be great. I did obedience train him, and he was one of those dogs that loved it, and had great eye contact (still does). I had a police department that wanted to buy him for their K9 program, NOT taking my boy from me. He adapted to a move to Georgia 5 years ago without a hitch.

I have contacted you a few times over the years to update you, but wanted to just again tell you how happy I am with him. Sorry for the rambling, but I can’t help but brag about him.

I worry, of course, because he will be 10 in June, but hope he will stay with me a few more years. Anyway, I constantly have kept track of your breeding, more so now as he is older, and want you to know that I will definitely be looking to you when I am ready for another puppy (okay, I am ready now, ha ha, but will wait a bit). I just wanted to get with you in advance and hopefully you would be willing to work with me in the future to find another wonderfully temperament, and gorgeous puppy.

Lynette Loeffler
Urico vom Mittelwest

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Hi Julie,

Just wanted to share a quick photo of Haddie with my daughter, Riley. They have become best friends and she couldn’t be a better dog with her. Haddie is just under a year old in the photo and is taking a short break in the photo to chew on her wishbone. Overall she is very active and could play all day.  One of the smartest dogs I have known and great addition to our household.

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Hey Julie,

Thanks so much for reaching out to Sis and I, we both wish you and your family a very Happy Independence Day.  Hope this July 4th is fantastic and everyone stays safe and cool.I can assure you that I will make the trip up to see all our friends at Team Mittelwest sometime this summer and have lunch with you guys.  I love being with people and my beloved GSD’s.

Julie, I have had GSD’s for over 60 years, all from reputable kennels and all were fantastic dogs, beautiful, intelligent, and great temperaments.  You might recall some of these kennels from when you were a kid and you and Dan were just starting out with your kennel.  All of my previous dogs portraits hand proudly in our sun room with plaques noting their accomplishments.  All had AKC titles and on two of my boys, Sis and I were able to Sch2′s on  by ourselves.  We were young, didn’t know much, but we did it.  Now I have to tell you that Ecko Vom Mittelwest, aka Nicklaus (named after my Klaus), aka Nick is the most fantastic GSD I have ever been privileged to have as my best friend.  He is gorgeous, intelligent, has a terrific personality and charisma, and above all a great temperament and disposition. Thank you for breeding him and picking him out for me.

Also please feel free to give my name out as a reference, or use me as a testimonial as a proud and happy Mittelwest dog owner.  I always tell people, who ask or approach me, that if they want beautiful show lines, together with strong working lines, they have to check out Mittelwest Kennel.  On a good note, Ecko got a 193.5 in a recent AKC Show, and no doubt would have gotten 200 if I hadn’t screwed up and lost him 6 points.  Our 9 year old boy, Kip (a Sharan Vom Gamsetal son) has been diagnosed with small intestinal lymphoma and is being treated at Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove.  I am happy to report that he is responding to treatment, has gained his weight back, and enjoys running and playing with his buddy Nick.

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon and wish you and Team Mittelwest much success in all the upcoming shows.  Please stay in touch.

Love,
Ron & Sis

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Julie,

Kalen & I just moved to Palm Springs, California. Here’s a few pictures I took of him at Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs. One of the many beautiful parks here that we enjoy. He’s doing just fine & is just as gorgeous as ever. Everyone that sees him is just amazed at how beautiful he is. I can’t tell you how many people have stopped & come up to us wanting to pet him. They are all so amazed on his gentleness as well as his beauty. So many have said: ‘that’s the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen’ & one gentleman said: ‘ now that’s what I call a dog’. When we go to the off leash dog park & I take him out of the car you can hear everyone in the park say ‘AWE’ as they point & stare at Kalen. It always makes me feel so good & so proud.

And Kalen is such a sweet dog as he goes up to all the other dogs & kisses them right on the mouth. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, but he most definitely stands his ground when necessary. He’s strong, powerful & fearless and it shows, but he’s the most gentle & friendliest dog I’ve ever seen. Must be a sign of good breeding: alias Julie Martinez!!!

My brother & his wife back in Georgia are seriously thinking about buying a dog from you. They think Kalen is just a magnificent animal & of course I’ve always told them as well as anyone else that’s interested in a GSD about Mittelwest Kennels & to look you up. In my opinion they just won’t find a better breeder than you as well as being so honest & trustworthy.  Hope all is well with you & your family.  Gary & Kalen

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Owner update on Axsel vom Mittelwest -  this update was sent just 3 weeks after they purchased  Axsel. (Axsel  was sold at 10 months of age)

Julie,

Axsel went to his first group advanced obedience session last night and he did great. 5 other dogs in the group and about 20 other dogs in other groups doing basic. He was initially amped up and excited and a bit hard to manage but slowly settled in as we started to work all the dogs. He played with a 10-mo old female GSD at the end and no problems there. All appropriate puppy play.

He does an awesome finish to heel. I mean he pops around and sits fast in the most cool way. Stuff I’ve only seen on videos and at shows. He is getting much better off leash with moving sits and downs. He heels very well off leash too. His stays are solid but he got confused with the multiple voices giving commands that it sometimes made him break. But he was outstanding on this first time out around other dogs. I was very pleased. He loved every minute of it too. I only expect he will continue to learn and enjoy the training as he matures. I am thinking about agility or tracking. I suspect he will really want to have a job to work at.

His house manners are exceptional. We are steadily and patiently working the cat in. The kids love him and enjoy walking him on leash in the yard and throwing the balls. He likes to be where we are and he is fine at just plotzing in the living room. I even took a nap with him on the floor today, something I could never do with my last 2 dogs.

I can’t tell you how happy we are with this guy. Axsel is a pure joy.

Chris

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