The German Shepherd is an incredibly versatile dog breed that is arguably one of the most popular dog breeds you can find in the world today. German shepherds are highly intelligent dogs, so they can easily be trained, plus they possess a very strong work ethic and eagerness to please. This is why you find a lot of German Shepherds being service dogs, working dogs, therapy dogs, show dogs, and sometimes hunting or gun dogs.
Asides from this, the German Shepherd is also a wonderful family companion. The species is blessed with a decent temperament and are comfortable around family including children of all age groups. These are reasons why we love the German Shepherd breed.
If you reside in the state of Colorado and you are considering getting a German Shepherd or adding one to the family, then you definitely would want to get one from a reputable breeder that prioritizes the quality and health of their puppies. And the good news is that Colorado is home to a lot of reputable German Shepherds you can work with.
This article was written as a guide to help you in finding the perfect German Shepherd breeder that you can patronize or work with when looking for a well-bred puppy. These breeders show impressive breeding practices that help improve the breed.
With that being said, we do recommend you read through till the end as we provide our personal pick from this list of good German Shepherd breeders.
1. Pure Heart German Shepherds
The very first breeder that would be discussed on our list of great German Shepherd breeders located in the state of Colorado is Pure Heart German Shepherds. Located in LaSalle, Colorado, Pure Hearts German Shepherds is a family breeder that is committed to producing world-class German Shepherds that could be your personal lifelong companion. Their breeding program is specialized to prioritize the health, conformation, and temperament of their puppies. They are designed to be an exceptional part of your family.
All their breeding parent dogs are from world-class bloodlines which are mostly German imports to help with improving the breed. Their dogs are highly trainable and come with a very impressive work ethic. They are all registered by the AKC and SV and are each extensive health tested for both genetic and general health conditions. They also have their certifications for having decent hips and elbows, which should be available upon request.
The family has been long-time breeders of German Shepherds as their history with the breeds can be traced back to 1990. They are located on a very large 70-acre farm in LaSalle, Colorado, which is located near Denver. The farm is quite large which provides lots of room for the puppies to run around on and explore. It also houses other animals like chickens, pigs, cattle, and horses. This creates a lot of opportunities for the puppies to socialize and experience different types of simulations.
Pure heart German Shepherds all come with a 3 years guarantee. They come with their vaccinations and dewormings fully received and they are microchipped to ensure you do not lose your puppy.
Pure Heart German Shepherds Contact Details
| Breeder Since | Over 20 years |
| Location | LaSalle, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (970) 616-2962 |
| Website | pureheartgermanshepherds.com |
| Pure Heart German Shepherd |
2. Vom Dortmunder German Shepherd
Vom Dortmunder is another long-time breeder of good quality, world-class German Shepherds. Their breeding program has its roots tied back to the year 1985. They are located in the rocky mountains of Florissant, Colorado, and are focused particularly on West German Shepherds. Their dogs are raised to be proper show dogs with good conformation and high intelligence, but due to their versatility, they also make great family companions. Their dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club and are well brought up to improve the high standards of the German Shepherd.
Their dogs are raised to maintain the SV German Shepherd breed standards. They are mostly imports that are brought in to help improve the integrity of the German Shepherd breed. Their breeding program has over 30 years of experience which is what makes them very good breeders. Their dogs all come with certifications for both genetic health and orthopedic health as they are at their peak in health.
Linda and Les Smith are the two breeders behind the Vom Dortmunder German Shepherds. They are resolved to provide German Shepherds with all the help they can get toward achieving a fulfilling life. This is why their socialization practice is quite balanced to allow the dogs to experience new things, people, and activities. The puppies are well-trained in some basic housebreaking practice which includes potty and crate training. They are also given introductory training in basic commands.
Your puppy should come with a written health guarantee. They should be properly checked by a licensed and reputable vet and should also be well-dewormed and vaccinated. Vom Dortmunder German Shepherds also offers lifetime support for all their loving dog owners.
Vom Dortmunder German Shepherds Contact Details
| Owner | Linda and Les Smith |
| Breeder Since | Over 30 years |
| Location | Florissant, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (719) 205-4158 |
| Website | dortmundergsd.com |
| Vom Dortmunder German Shepherds |
3. Rocky Mountain German Shepherds
The 3rd spot on our list goes to Rocky Mountain German Shepherds. They are a premium breeder of German Shepherd dogs located in the beautiful Conifer, Colorado. They breed AKC-registered German Shepherds that are great service, sport, and companion dogs that each possess high trainability levels, great health, and good conformation. They also provide training for all breeds and even offer German Shepherd import service. They have 50 years of experience with the German Shepherd breed.
Their kennel (which is located in Conifer, Colorado) doesn’t focus on working dogs only, In fact, their focus is on both the temperament and health of their German Shepherd dogs. This is to ensure you get a companion that leads a long, healthy, and happy life. Their puppies are well-socialized as they are exposed to a lot of stimulating factors that could help in improving the breed. They are also given SAR training and are trained to be therapy dogs.
All their sires and dams are registered with the American Kennel Club. They have mostly imported dogs that could help improve the integrity of the breed as they come with impressive pedigrees with numerous champions in their bloodlines. The dogs are given their full genetic health tests to show they are free from genetic health issues known to affect the breed. Their dogs also have their orthopedic health tested with certifications to show that they are healthy.
Every puppy you obtain from Rocky Mountain German Shepherds would come with a written health guarantee. Their dogs would be vaccinated and given their full deworming with records to show it. And they would also be vet checked by a licensed and reputable professional.
Rocky Mountain German Shepherds Contact Details
| Breeder Since | Over 40 year |
| Location | Conifer, Colorado |
| [email protected], [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (303) 816-1032 |
| Website | rockymountaingsd.com |
| Rocky Mountain German Shepherds |
4. Gunbil German Shepherds
The next breeder to be added to our large list of German Shepherd breeders located in the state of Colorado is Gunbil German Shepherds. They are focused on working dogs that come from world-class lines with impressive pedigrees and boast of having the best possible working German Shepherds dog you can get in the world. Their kennel is located in Larkspur Colorado, where they socialize their puppies and offer training services to all their dogs.
Gunbil German Shepherds are registered with the AKC and are licensed breeders under the PACFA and SV. Their breeding dogs are raised according to high standards and are mostly German import dogs with impressive champion pedigrees from very impressive world-class bloodlines. They are genetically health tested for defects that are known to affect the breed and each has their hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts fully checked by licensed professionals with certifications to show for it.
Their breeding kennel is a large property with state-of-the-art facilities put in place to make training and socialization of each puppy easy. The team ensures the puppies are kept fit and are trained to make great working dogs like police dogs and a lot more. The dogs are given the best possible dog food and supplements and they are well handled as well as introduced to lots of important stimulations and socialization practices.
All in all their dogs are carefully planned and bred. They offer a very long 5 years written health guarantee and also have their dogs get their much-needed vaccination shots and deworming. They are also microchipped.
Gunbill German Shepherds Contact Details
| Location | Larkspur, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (720) 733-0222 |
| Website | worldclassgsd.com |
5. Von Newagape German Shepherds
Chad and Jenifer New are two German Shepherd breeders residing in Littleton Colorado and are the main breeders behind the Von Newagape German Shepherds. Although they are quite new to the world of breeding German Shepherds (since they started their breeding program in 2019), they are always in the process of learning and improving the German Shepherd breed. Their dogs are basically working line dogs but they also make great family companions that you and your family would certainly love.
Although their breeding program is quite new, they have joined a mentorship program with a more advanced and experienced breeder who is looking to share their experience with the world. They are constantly working to produce sound dogs that come with sound minds and health. To achieve this, they ensure that all their dogs are properly genetically tested and checked for signs of genetic health defects. The genetic testing is done by Paw Prints Genetics. Their dogs all come with certifications to show they have good working parts.
The puppies are raised in a nice and loving environment in Littleton, Colorado. They are given all the handling and socialization they can get as they are exposed to lots of new and interesting sights, textures, and sounds. They are handled by both adults and children as well as other pets. Training is quite essential for them as they are placed on a variety of training programs to help give them a great start in life. All their dogs are made to undergo personality testing before being sent to their new homes.
Your dog should come with a health warranty. They should also be fully dewormed and vaccinated and each should come with their starter kit and they should each be microchipped to ensure you never lose your furry friend.
Von NewAgape German Shepherds Contact Details
| Owner | Chad and Jenifer New |
| Breeder Since | Over 3 years |
| Location | Littleton, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (720) 425-5240 |
| Website | vonnewagape.com |
| Von NewAgape German Shepherds |
6. Apex German Shepherd Dogs
Apex German Shepherds are the 6th breeders of German Shepherd Dogs to be added to this long list of German Shepherd breeders located in Colorado, United States. Apec German Shepherd Dogs are experienced breeders with over 7 years of working with the very strong and powerful German Shepherd breed. Their dogs are registered with the American Club. Their breeding facility is also located in Florissant, Colorado state.
This quality breeder of the German Shepherd prides itself in their breeding program as it consists mainly of impressive German Shepherds mostly imported from Germany to improve the breeding program. Their dogs are selected based on their health, intelligence, conformation, and their overall temperament. In fact, their dogs each undergo proper genetic health testing as well as orthopedic testing and are cleared of any genetic health defect known to trouble the breed.
All their dogs are raised in Florissant, Colorado. They are raised on a large property that presents them with more than enough space to learn and improve. They offer numerous training services to all their dogs. Their dogs are raised to be good security dogs as well as good therapy and service dogs. They are also well fed as they are given good quality food and are each exposed to a wide range of experiences that could help in developing the dog.
Your new puppy should be properly vaccinated and dewormed with health records from a licensed and reputable vet to show for it. They also come with a written health guarantee and each has their dew claws clipped early.
Apex German Shepherd Dogs Contact Details
| Owner | Brian Nance |
| Breeder Since | Over 7 years |
| Location | Florissant, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (719) 323-5558 |
| Website | apexgsd.com |
| Apex German Shepherd Dogs |
7. Casimir German Shepherds
Casimir German Shepherds are the 7th breeder to be added to our list. This breeder is located in Elbert County in the state of Colorado. Tracie Wenzel is the breeder behind Casimir German Shepherds and she is a devoted dog lover actively involved in German Shepherd shows and trial events. She is also an active member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. She produces high-quality German Shepherds that show great conformation, intelligence, and a beautiful work ethic that is quite impressive.
The puppies are raised on a small 2-acre farm located in Elbert County, Colorado. Right from their very first day, they are involved in various socialization protocols and are handled by the family. The children are most active in socializing the puppies from day 1. The puppies are also started on potty training very early to give them a decent head start. They are also introduced to basic crate training during the 5th week and are all in all given a well-rounded experience.
Their breeding program is carefully spaced or scheduled to ensure that each newly produced litter is given enough time, attention, and other resources. With every new litter being produced, Casimir German Shepherds intend to better the breed. Their breeding parents are all healthy as they are tested for genetic health issues that are known to disturb the breed. Plus they also have their orthopedic health checked regularly and are given a certification to show that their hips and elbows are indeed functional.
Every puppy should come with a puppy starter kit that contains some of the sample food. They are also health guaranteed and come with their full vaccination shots and deworming records fully updated. The puppies are also microchipped.
Casimir German Shepherds Contact Details
| Owner | Tracie Wenzel |
| Breeder Since | Over 3 years |
| Location | Elbert County, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (303) 621-2906 |
| Website | casimirshepherds.com |
| Casimir German Shepherds |
8. Obedient Hearts Kennels
Windsor Colorado is the location of the 8th breeder, Obedient Hearts Kennels. They are a premier breeder of two dog breeds. The German Shepherd and the English Cream Golden Retriever. They are focused on the working line German Shepherds and have devoted over 20 years to the breed. They are deeply in love with their dogs and have designed their entire program to ensure that each dog can boast of being conformationally sound, highly intelligent, and well-tempered. Their dogs also make the cutest family companion dogs.
Their breeding program which is over 20 years old has been designed to ensure that each German Shepherd is of high quality. Their sires and dams are all registered with the American Kennel Club and are bred to such high standards. They all come from West German and Czech breeding lines and are genetically health tested to show they are free from harmful DNA defects that are known to affect each newly produced litter. All their dogs are also OFA registered and each comes with OFA health certifications.
The puppies are raised in their family home in Windsor Colorado. This is to ensure that they are placed under very close supervision to ensure they receive all the needed care. Their dogs are given Early Neurological Stimulation and are exposed to a wide variety of socially stimulating experiences to help build the breed. Obedient Hearts Kennels also uses their decades of puppy training experience to ensure that the puppies have a great start with potty and crate training. You can rest assured that you are getting a well-rounded puppy that you certainly would love and enjoy.
Their dogs come with a 1 year written health guarantee free from genetic health issues known to trouble the litter. They are also vaccinated and dewormed as well as evaluated by a licensed vet. They also have their AKC registration papers and are microchipped.
Obedient Hearts Kennels Contact Details
| Breeder Since | Over 20 years |
| Location | Windsor, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (605) 569-1255 |
| Website | obhkennels.com |
| Obedient Hearts Kennels |
9. Centennial German Shepherds
The final breeder to be added to our list of the most reputable and responsive German Shepherd breeders in Colorado is Centennial German Shepherds. This is a top breeder with over 25 years of breeding history. They are from Pueblo West, Colorado, and are highly dedicated to the overall betterment of the German Shepherd breed which is the main reason why they breed German Shepherd dogs. They are members of the American Kennel Club and are recommended breeders by GoodDog.com.
Valerie Hannah, the breeder behind Centennial German Shepherd Dogs, raises all her puppies in the family home. The puppies are constantly being evaluated and assessed to track their growth and better understand their individual personalities. The puppies are slowly introduced to lots of stimulating experiences and factors at a young age to spark their curiosity and make them more confident in new areas or new sounds and new textures. They are also given a basic introduction to potty and crate training.
Their breeding dogs are a result of heavily and methodically scrutinizing different compatible bloodlines and pedigrees to ensure only the best dogs are accepted into their program. The chosen dogs are further genetically health tested for health defects associated with genetic health and they make sure to avoid the dogs with genetic faults so as to ensure that each new litter is protected. They also have their OFA records fully present and available upon request.
Every dog you receive should be health guaranteed for a period of 1 year. They should also come with their AKC registration papers, be properly vaccinated and dewormed, and should each be microchipped.
Centennial German Shepherds Contact Details
| Owner | Valeri Hannah |
| Breeder Since | Over 25 years |
| Location | Pueblo West, Colorado |
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (719) 332-2535 |
| Website | centennialgermanshepherds.com |
| Centennial German Shepherd Dogs |
Which one stands out on paper
Colorado is truly the home of very impressive German Shepherd dog breeders. However, my personal pick from the list of breeders listed above would be Von Newagape German Shepherds located in Littleton, Colorado, and owned by Chad and Jenifer New.
They might not be the most experienced breeder on the list but they are quite impressive with the quality of their breeding program. They are registered breeders under the American Kennel Club and are also awarded the AKC breeders HEART certificate. Their breeding program ensures that only the best possible dog pedigrees are used and most importantly the level of detail about their breeding program revealed on their website is quite impressive.
Still, we are very insistent that you carry out your personal research before choosing to work with any of the breeders that we have listed above. Remember, this article is merely a guide. Learn to ask the necessary questions and demand all the right certifications for each new puppy.
With that being said, that is all we have for you in this article, the website has a lot more engaging articles that you can check out.
You might want to check: Top 3 Best German Shepherd Rescues in Colorado
Widening the search past Colorado
If nothing in Colorado fits your timing, waiting lists here can run months, the west is the natural next place to look. Start with Idaho kennels and the health testing they run, then compare vetted California German Shepherd breeders and Oregon kennels and the health testing they run, or open the state-by-state index. If adoption is also on the table, Colorado has breed-specific Shepherd rescues too.
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 Colorado 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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