Dyan Merkel of vom Haus Merkel has over 33 years breeding, exhibiting and Importing experience. Breeding American German Shepherds under the kennel name of Merkel's German Shepherds Dyan has bred the highest scoring Champion at the 98 and 99 German Shepherd National Specialty Shows. She also has produced over 35 AKC/CKC/UKC Champions, (most with obedience/working degrees as well), including the 1982 United States Grand Victrix Merkel's Vendetta OFA, ROM (who was also 2 times Select Champion, Futurity Victrix, Maturity Victrix, ROM). Her bloodlines still stand strong behind 2 recent US Grand Victors one of which has the distinction of becoming only the second dog in the history of German Shepherds in America to win this title twice. Dyan added the Schutzhund discipline and bred the only full American bloodline female in the history of U.S. German Shepherds to become an AKC Champion with a Schutzhund title Ch Merkel's Opium CD, SchH1. Dyan has produced dogs for the blind, working with such groups as The Seeing-Eye, Inc., International Guiding Eyes and Leader Dogs for the Blind, and has also worked with many other groups including Search and Rescue, Therapy dogs and Handicap Assistant Dogs. Dyan has written articles on the breed. and her dogs are pictured in many breed books today. Judging matches on a regular basis, she was nominated as a judge by the G.S.D.C. of America Inc., for the National Futurity show in 1999. She believes there is no truer statement about the breed as stated by the man who created the German Shepherd Breed... "Remarkable in his unswerving loyalty to his master, irrepressible in his high spirits, never idle, always in mothion, good-natured but not a flatterer, a constant pleasure to the eye..."Max von Stephanitz.

*The credentials of the German Shepherds that comprise World Class breeding stock speak for themselves. All are 100% West German bloodlines with Koerklasse 1. To achieve this coveted Koerklasse 1 (Kkl1) rating, the dogs must compete for titles in Germany or America under the rules and auspices of the Club for German Shepherd Dogs (SV) in Germany. To meet this World Standard, each dog must have a companion dog temperament test (B), and certified hips ("a" stamp or OFA), a 12 mile endurance test followed by examination for physical soundness (AD), and compete at a show to achieve a conformation rating of at least SG or"Very Good" (V or "Excellent" being the best at any show that is not the National Championship or Sieger Show where the coveted "Excellent Select" or VA can be awarded once a year to only the very best dogs). These requirements make the dog eligible to enter a Koerung (to qualify for breeding) which is a Breed Survey where the dog is carefully evaluated for excellence of structure, temperament and courage. These impressive requirements are only guidelines for our dedication to the breed. Many times dogs with great prerequisites should not be bred together because of incompatible bloodlines or characteristics.

Top West German stud dogs/lines that we breed from:

1995 World Sieger VA1 Ulk von Arlett SchH3, Kkl 1a
1996 World Sieger VA1 Visum von Arminius SchH3, Kkl 1a
1998 & 1999 World Sieger VA1 Rikkor von Bad-Boll SchH3, Kkl 1a
2000 World Sieger VA1 Ursus von Batu SchH3, Kkl 1a
2001 & 2003 World Sieger VA1 Yasko von Farbenspiel SchH3, Kkl 1a
2003 VA1 Bax v.d. Luisenstrasse SchH3, Kkl 1a
2003 V4 Sarko di Casa Mary SchH3, Kkl 1a
2003 VA2 Larus von Batu SchH3, Kkl 1a
2000 German Young Dog Sieger
2003 USA Sieger VA1 Rapi Supra SchH3, Kkl 1a

OUR BREEDING PROGRAM

Excellent Breed Type
Superb temperament
Innate drives for work
Strong Genetic value
- Health
- Hips: every generation 'a' stamp (certified)
- Bred to the standard conformation
- High trainability for Work
- Rich pigment with excellent color
- Mental Stability for family and other pets
- Outgoing, highly social in temperament

Dyan now enjoys the German Shepherds as a hobby and owns only 4 dogs. She imports quality puppies/adults occasionally for people who wish to own West German* German Shepherds from top VA bloodlines. Her travels to Germany and around the U.S. keeps her updated on who the top winning dogs are and gives her a chance to see all her friends. Dyan has embarked on another passion - ART! Just recently finishing 3 paintings of German Shepherds (Pastels) and a series of dogs and handler/helpers in action (mixed media). She includes Graphic design as a challenge and a storytelling medium as shown by her logos for Fleischerheim, von Fritz, Donnerwald, German Shepherd Breeders and her own logo for von Haus Merkel.

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*For Custom Importing*	Dyan L. Merkel © Copyright 1999. All rights reserved worldwide.	972-931-8080