German Shepherds are truly gems of the Canine world, so it comes as no surprise that you are considering or have decided to add to your family. The breed is highly versatile as it can be used as family dogs or companion dogs, show dogs, police dogs, therapy dogs, and a lot more. They are a true working dog breed with a lot of love to give. They are blessed with high intelligence so they are easily trainable dogs which is what makes them very versatile.
States like Minnesota are no strangers to the German Shepherd breed. There are lots of German Shepherd breeders residing in different locations within the state. And just as there are many breeders, not all these breeders are reputable breeders that truly care for the breed. This is why it is recommended that you take out the extra time to know your chosen breeder.
In this article, we try to make the search for a good German Shepherd breeder a lot easier for you by providing you with a list of 10 good German Shepherd breeders in Minnesota that have showcased good breeding practices as well as impressive socialization and training programs for each of their German Shepherd litters.
We advise that you only view this list as a mere guide to aid you in finding that perfect German Shepherd puppy for you. With that being said, do ensure you read till the end as it promises to be both engaging and informative.
1. Northern Sky German Shepherds
This list of German Shepherd breeders in Minnesota begins with Northern Sky German Shepherds. Located in Roosevelt, Minnesota, Northern Sky German Shepherds is a reputable German Shepherd breeder that is focused on raising AKC-registered German Shepherd puppies that are mainly bred as family companions but also double as either therapy dogs or service dogs. Their dogs are IPO titled and are either solid black in color or black and red.
All their German Shepherd parents are imports from West German show lines with impressive pedigrees and good health. They are blessed with good conformation, high intelligence, and decent temperament. Their dogs are made to undergo genetic health testing as well as orthopedic health testing to show they are indeed ready to be added to their breeding program. When they are not being bred, they are kept as family pets.
All dogs (both adult and puppies) are raised in the home of Lyndi and Russ located in Roosevelt, Minnesota. Their puppies are properly socialized using humans (both children and adults) to keep them occupied. They are also given basic training and are properly checked by the licensed vet who administers their vaccination shots and deworming. Every puppy should come with a written health guarantee. They should be vaccinated and dewormed and also come microchipped.
| Owner | Lyndi and Russ |
| Location | Roosevelt, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (320) 282-8292 |
| Website | northernskygermanshepherds.com |
| Northern Sky German Shepherds |
2. StrongArm German Shepherds
Oak Grove, Minnesota is the location for Strongarm German Shepherds, the next breeder to be added to our list. They are a full kennel service that focuses on breeding high-quality German Shepherd puppies from top bloodlines across the world. They are registered with the American Kennel Club and ensure that all their puppies are bred to the high standards that are set by the American Kennel Club. Tim and Amy Armstrong are the breeders behind this program.
They utilize German Shepherd sires and dams from the Czech Republic and West German show and working lines. And to be sure they provide enough resources to all their dogs, they are only focused on breeding a few litters each year. Each of their dogs is genetically health tested for conditions known to affect the breed. And they also undergo testing by the OFA to show they have good working hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts.
All their dogs are raised in a large facility in Oak Grove, Minnesota, or guardian homes in the area. They are introduced to Early Neurological Stimulation from an early age and each newly bred dog is handled by both adults and children of varying age groups to help get them properly socialized. Your puppy should be properly vaccinated and dewormed as health is a priority for them.
| Owner | Tim and Amy Armstrong |
| Breeder Since | Over 7 years |
| Location | Oak Grove, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (612) 875-8228 |
| Website | strongarmgermanshepherds.com |
| Strongarm German Shepherds |
3. Kozies German Shepherds
Mark Kozitza is a well-experienced dog trainer, owner, and breeder. And he has taken a special interest in the German Shepherd breed. Kozies German Shepherd is a long-established breeder of good quality German Shepherds that have over 30 years of experience with the breed. They aim to produce German Shepherds with the genetics and temperament befitting of a trustworthy family companion while still having the trained nerves of superb work dogs.
Their training program focuses on providing each family with German Shepherds with good genetics, raised in a good environment, and would have received good training. This is why the first step is utilizing suitable breeding dogs from good bloodlines, each having decent pedigrees and having their genetic health fully tested and checked. Their dogs are shown to have good hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts.
All their dogs are trained in Mankato, Minnesota, in a top training kennel that also allows for each puppy to be properly socialized and taken care of. All their dogs receive positive reinforcement training, obedience training, personal protection training, behavioral modification, and a lot more. They are socialized by members of the family, including kids and adults and they are exposed to new environments, textures, and sounds. All dogs should be properly vet-checked. They should be vaccinated and dewormed with records to show.
| Owner | Mark and Amy Kozitza |
| Breeder Since | Over 30 years |
| Location | Mankato, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (507) 317-8746 |
| Website | koziesshepherds.com |
4. Bmeerhuis German Shepherds
Bmeerhuis German Shepherds have long been invested in the German Shepherd breed since 1993. They are registered German Shepherd breeders under the American Kennel Club, even receiving the AKC breeders with HEART badge. They are aimed at producing German Shepherd puppies with a sound temperament that are also blessed with sound bodies and sound minds. Most of their dogs are used as show dogs due to their fine conformation.
Their breeding program has also earned them the AKC Breeders of Merit badge, and this is due to the superior breeding practices they utilize. All their adult sires and dams are usually AKC champions from strong show lines and an almost impeccable pedigree to show for it. They are genetically health tested for harmful health conditions known to trouble the litter and are proven to come with good working hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts.
All their dogs are raised in the family home which is located in Fridley Minnesota. Bmeerhuis German Shepherds are all about socializing their dogs as this is how they get close to their goal of producing German Shepherds of truly sound temperament. The puppies are raised using enrichment tools and socialization protocols like Puppy Culture and a lot more. They are also given basic training and are health guaranteed as well as properly vaccinated and dewormed.
| Owner | Roberta Moore |
| Breeder Since | Over 25 years |
| Location | Fridley, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | 763-614-7607 |
| Website | bmeerhuis.com |
| Bmeerhuis German Shepherds |
5. Samherz Shepherds
Samherz Shepherds are taking up the 5th spot on our list. They are breeders of German Shepherds and are located in Brainerd, Minnesota. They breed two different coat colors of the German Shepherd, the solid black German Shepherd, and the black and red colored German Shepherd puppy. They believe in complete transparency, which is why all puppy owners are given complete progress reports on the activities of each puppy even before they are conceived.
They operate a standard breeding program in which they only make use of health-tested dogs. Their sires and dams are from solid, true West German lines and not American lines. They follow SV guidelines when it comes to choosing their sires and dams as all their dogs have multiple generations of elbow and hip clearances which are available upon request. All their dogs are tested for genetic health defects and they have stable and gentle temperaments.
They raise their puppies in the family home, a 15 acres property located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The puppies are raised using different socialization protocols and they also receive basic potty and crate training among other training programs. Each puppy is sold on a limited AKC registration, they are vaccinated and dewormed and each comes with a written health guarantee for both hips and elbows.
| Owner | Jessi Louis |
| Breeder Since | Over 5 years |
| Location | Brainerd, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (218) 232-6636 |
| Website | samherzshepherds.com |
| Samherz Shepherds |
6. Bartell Haus German Shepherds
Bartell Haus German Shepherd is a modest family-owned and operated German Shepherd Kennel that is located in Becker, Minnesota. Russell Bartell and Becky Legatt are the breeders behind this breeding program and they are quite experienced when it comes to the breed, they started breeding German Shepherds, in 1985, which gives over 30 solid years of breeding history behind them. Their German Shepherd puppies are raised to be solid family dogs.
They are focused on raising happy German Shepherd puppies that are registered with the American Kennel Club and raised according to the high standards set by this AKC. They spend a lot of hours, sometimes days researching the pedigrees of each chosen sire and dam. All their dogs come from good bloodlines. They are genetically health tested and each has their OFA certifications to show they have good working hips, eyes, elbows, and hearts.
The puppies are raised in Russell Bartell’s home which is located in Becker, Minnesota. There, they are socialized from day 1 by a closely knit family with children and adults with a genuine love for the breed. All dogs are introduced to human contact and handling from the start and as time progresses, they are introduced to other stimulating experiences including new sounds, sights, and textures to help keep them familiar with their surroundings.
| Owner | Russell Bartell |
| Breeder Since | Over 30 years |
| Location | Becker, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (763) 203-5725 |
| Website | bartellhaus.com |
| Bartell Haus German Shepherds |
7. Coppermoon German Shepherd Dogs
Coppermoon German Shepherd Dogs is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, so if you happen to be in the area, you can check them out. They are German Shepherd breeders that breed for function, temperament, and quality in all the German Shepherd litters they produce. They are registered by the American Kennel Club and have been awarded both the AKC breeders with HEART badge and the AKC Breeders of Merit Badge.
Kathy Lamping, the breeder behind Coppermoon German Shepherd Dogs prides herself in the quality of dogs in their program’s breeding line. They have mostly West German DDR working lines in their program which are imported and blessed with impressive pedigrees. Their
Sires and dams are champions from multiple conformation and performance events. They are genetically health tested and each has their OFA certifications available upon request.
Their dogs do not live in kennels, instead, they live in the family home which is located in Minnesota. They are raised using Puppy Culture and are exposed to Early Neurological Stimulation from an early age. The dogs are allowed to go swimming, be supervised of course, and do lots of obedience training, potty training, crate training, and a host of other training programs to give them a good foundation or start towards being excellent working and show dogs. They all come with a 26 months health guarantee.
| Owner | Kathy Lamping |
| Breeder Since | Over 4 years |
| Location | Bemidji, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | coppermoongsd.com |
| Coppermoon German Shepherd Dogs |
8. Von Gottschalk German Shepherd Dogs
Von Gottschalk German Shepherds is a true family breeder of the German Shepherd run by a man and his wife. They are strong and responsible German Shepherd breeders of pure West German show lines. All their puppies are bred with outstanding qualities in health and temperament. They are mainly bred to be family companions, but with their proper conformation and good training, they can be used in shows or events as show dogs.
All their dogs are West German Imports which are first researched for hours before being imported into the country. Their dogs are from proper, authentic, German Shepherd lineages and they are used as show dogs winning multiple competitions and being proper champions with impeccable pedigrees to show for it. Their dogs are genetically health tested for health issues that could be transferred from the parent.
Every German Shepherd puppy is raised in the family home which creates enough opportunity for every member of the family to socialize the puppies. They are handled by both children and adults as well as other pets and animals. They also receive training to help make their good show and working dogs. All dogs are regularly checked by a licensed vet where they get their vaccinations and deworming fully received. They are also microchipped and AKC registered.
| Owner | Rayo Family |
| Location | Butterfield, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (507) 621-1749 |
| Website | vongottschalkgsd.com |
| Von Gottschalk German Shepherd Dogs |
9. Mid-daylich Hotzaw German Shepherd Dogs
Jessica Stutzman is an experienced breeder, dog owner, and trainer of German Shepherd dogs located in Lanesboro, Minnesota. She is the owner of Mid-daylich Hotzaw German Shepherd Dogs, our 9th breeder on this list. She is an AKC breeder and has been given the AKC breeder of HEART badge. Mid-daylight Hotzaw is also a recommended breeder by GoodDog.com. They strive to produce German Shepherds that are both healthy and confident.
Every sire and dam to be added to their program is chosen after a lot of resourcing would have gone into researching these dogs. Their bloodlines and generations are looked at temperament, health, and intelligence are some of the traits they look out for. The dogs are further given thorough genetic evaluations and even have their OFA records available upon request to show they have good working elbows, hips, eyes, and hearts.
The puppies are raised in Lanesboro, Minnesota, in the family home. They get to live there throughout their stay as they do not take them outside the home except to the family vet for regular checkups. The puppies are raised with Puppy Culture and are introduced to some enrichment protocols like Early Neurological Stimulation among others. Their puppies are given basic potty and crate training and they are socialized by adults and children.
| Owner | Jessica Stutzman |
| Breeder Since | Over 3 years |
| Location | Lanesboro, Minnesota |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | mid-daylichhotzaw.com |
| Mid-daylich Hotzaw German Shepherd Dogs |
10. Randy’s Shepherds
Randy’s Shepherds is the 10th and final breeder of the German Shepherd to be added to this long list of good German Shepherd breeders residing in Minnesota. Located in Faribault, Minnesota, Randy’s Shepherds have spent over 30 years breeding some of the best quality German Shepherd dogs in the country. They produce German Shepherd dogs that are easy to train and make great guard or protection dogs as well as excellent family dogs.
Their breeding program is heavily focused on the health of the parent dogs and the puppies. Their parent dogs are all registered by the American Kennel Club and are raised according to very high standards. They make sure to not over-breed their dogs and genetically test their dogs for any possible genetic defects that could be transferred to the litter. All their breeding dogs also have their orthopedic health checked properly.
The puppies get to live in a large property in Faribault, Minnesota. They get to sleep in clean, temperature-regulated spaces that provide enough comfort to the puppies. In addition to that, all their dogs are provided with love, care, and attention. They are given high-quality kibbles and supplements. They are vaccinated and dewormed by licensed professionals with records to show and they are socialized by people of varying age ranges. Your puppy should be AKC registered.
| Breeder Since | Over 30 years |
| Location | Faribault, Minnesota |
| Phone Number | (507) 319-3924 |
| Website | randysshepherds.com |
Which one stands out on paper
Minnesota is blessed with lots of German Shepherd breeders that truly care for the breed. The breeders listed above were chosen for their good breeding practices and programs. They have shown to truly care for the German Shepherd breed. Of those listed above, the one that stands out on published information is Samherz Shepherds from Brainerd, Minnesota, owned by Jessi Louis.
How that assessment was made, and its limits. This is a desk review of what each breeder publishes about itself: health testing described, transparency about lines and results, and how much detail is given about how the dogs are raised. We have not visited these premises, bought a puppy from them, or independently verified their testing claims. Treat it as a shortlist to start from, not a recommendation, and run the checks further down this page yourself before you pay anybody.
Although they might not be the most experienced breeders on the list, the reason for singling out Samherz Shepherds is simple, their high level of transparency. Samherz Shepherds make it a goal to involve all their future dog owners in every aspect of their puppies’ life, even before they are bred. The potential dog owners get to follow their beloved puppy through all the processes, and that helps improve the bond between the puppy and the owner.
Asides from that, they operate a standard breeding program. All their dogs are West German imports with good bloodlines that help improve the breed. They are genetically health tested and even come with all the right certifications and guarantees. Socialization is also a top priority for Samherz Shepherds. All in all, you get a well-rounded puppy.
Still, do not take our word for it. Make it a goal to research each German Shepherd breeder you are interested in (whether they are on the list or not). Get in touch with the breeders, ask the right questions, demand the proper certifications or records and if possible make out the time to visit each breeder before choosing to patronize or work with them.
You might want to check: Top 2 Best German Shepherd Rescues in Minnesota
Other states near Minnesota
Buyers rarely stop at one state line. From Minnesota, the shortlist usually grows to include German Shepherd breeders in Ohio, Illinois litters and their waiting lists and what to look for from a Michigan breeder, and the state-by-state index covers the rest. If adoption is also on the table, Minnesota has breed-specific Shepherd rescues too.
German Shepherd Resources
- German Shepherd Colors and Patterns
- Top 8 Different Lines and Types of German Shepherds
- Sable German Shepherd: A Special Dog Breed with a Special Color
- 8-Week-Old German Shepherd: Loyal, Energetic, Active Canine Partner
- 3-Month-Old German Shepherd: A Busy, Active, Playful Ball of Energy
- Why Are Your German Shepherds Overly Aggressive?
- Does Your German Shepherd Dog Eat Grass?
- 14 Major Behavioral Problems That Your German Shepherd May Exhibit
- Top 6 Basic Instincts of German Shepherd Dogs
- How to Intensify the Bond Between You and Your Dog
- Are German Shepherds Good With Kids?
- How to Train Your German Shepherd Puppy
- How To Train Your German Shepherd Dog
- Positive Motivation Dog Training Technique With Corrective Measures
- How to Become A Professional Dog Trainer: 8 Simple Steps to Take
- How To Choose a German Shepherd Puppy From a Litter
Verify any breeder yourself, including the ones on this page
A directory is a starting point, not an endorsement. Breeders start up, stop breeding, move and change practices, and a listing accurate when it was written can be stale by the time you read it. Check before you travel or pay a deposit, whether the name came from this page or anywhere else.
The good news is that most of what matters is checkable in an afternoon, because the things that separate a careful breeder from a careless one produce documents.
“AKC registered” is not a quality claim
This is the most common misunderstanding in puppy buying, and it is worth being blunt about. AKC registration turns on parentage, not health or quality. A litter is eligible when it “is the result of a mating between an AKC-registered Sire (male) and an AKC-registered Dam (female) of the same” breed (AKC litter registration requirements, retrieved 2026-08-12).
So papers tell you who the parents were. They tell you nothing about whether those parents were screened for anything. A puppy mill litter and a carefully bred litter can both be registered.
What to ask for, and what the answers should look like
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals puts the buyer’s job simply: “Research the common health problems of the breed beforehand and ask your breeder for proof of screening (e.g. OFA certificates)”, and “Ask to see at least one of the parents (preferably both) of your puppy, and review the health screenings of both parents’ bloodlines” (OFA, Information for Prospective Dog Owners, retrieved 2026-08-13).
For a German Shepherd specifically, four things are worth naming.
- Hip grades on both parents. The OFA scale runs through seven grades: Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate and Severe (OFA hip dysplasia, retrieved 2026-08-11). Ask which grade, not whether they are “clear”. OFA also notes why the parents matter so much: “Young pups can’t be screened for it, so it’s very important you review the parents’ and grandparents’ screenings” (retrieved 2026-08-13).
- Elbow grades on both parents. Screened at the same time as hips, and skipped surprisingly often.
- Degenerative myelopathy (SOD1) status. There is a DNA test. The OFA notes that breeding two carriers is predicted to produce 25% of puppies with two copies (OFA, retrieved 2026-08-12), and carriers are healthy, so testing is the only way anyone knows. Merck states there is “no specific treatment… and no evidence that glucocorticoids, other drugs, or supplements alter the course of the disease” (Merck Veterinary Manual, retrieved 2026-08-12), which is why avoiding it at the breeding stage is the only real intervention.
- MDR1 drug sensitivity. VCA gives German shepherds at roughly 10% (VCA Animal Hospitals, retrieved 2026-08-13). It matters because affected dogs process several common drugs abnormally, including sedatives used in routine anaesthesia.
Look the results up yourself
You do not have to take a breeder’s word for any of it. Results submitted to the OFA are public and searchable by the dog’s registered name (OFA database search, retrieved 2026-08-13). Ask for the registered names of both parents and look them up before you visit.
One detail worth knowing, because it gets used as marketing. A CHIC number does not mean a dog passed. The OFA states that a dog achieves CHIC certification “if it has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club for that breed and those results are publicly available”, and that “the CHIC number itself does not imply normal test results, only that all the required breed specific tests were performed and the results made publicly available” (OFA CHIC Program, retrieved 2026-08-13).
So “CHIC certified parents” means tested and published, which is genuinely good, but it is not the same as “passed”. Look at the actual grades.
Why this matters more in this breed than most
The screening emphasis is not arbitrary. A VetCompass study of 12,146 German Shepherds found the most common causes of death were “musculoskeletal disorder (16.3%), inability to stand (14.9%), neoplasia (14.5%) and spinal cord disorder (13.6%)” (O’Neill DG, Coulson NR, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, “Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK”, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2017;4:7, retrieved 2026-08-13).
Take the first, second and fourth together and roughly 45% of deaths in that study relate to the dog losing the use of its back end. Hips, elbows and DM are exactly the screenable end of that. It is the single most consequential thing a breeder decides on your behalf, before the puppy exists.
The signals to walk away from
- Several breeds available, puppies always in stock. That is a volume operation.
- Health testing described but never shown. “Vet checked” is not a screening result. Neither is “our lines are healthy”.
- You cannot meet the dam, or cannot see where the puppies are kept.
- Deposit demanded before any of the above.
- No questions asked about you. A breeder placing dogs carefully wants to know your household, your hours and your experience.
- Puppies available before eight weeks.
- “Rare” colours at a premium. Colour is not a health or temperament feature, and a price built on it usually means the money went somewhere other than screening.
What the price actually reflects
There is no registry, breed club or veterinary body that publishes what a German Shepherd puppy costs in Minnesota or anywhere else, so treat any figure you read, including on this site, as something to check rather than rely on. Ask three breeders in your own region what they charge and what it includes.
What is worth understanding is what moves the number: the health testing on both parents, any titles or working results, what is included (vaccinations, microchip, registration, contract terms), and what happens if the dog later develops a condition the parents were screened for.
A puppy priced far below everything else you have been quoted is a reason to ask more questions, not fewer. The usual explanation is that the screening which makes up most of a careful breeder’s cost was not done.
Adopting instead
Breed-specific rescues take in more German Shepherds than most people expect, including young dogs and the occasional puppy, and an adult dog with a known temperament is often an easier match than a puppy whose adult self is still a guess. Our German Shepherd rescue directory covers that route.
Disclaimer: PetVR shares general information based on our contributors’ firsthand experience with German Shepherds — it is not veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian about your dog’s health, diet, or behavior. Read our full disclaimer.
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