ABOUT US

Vom Geliebten Haus is a small, family-owned and family-operated German Shepherd Dog kennel located in the rural countryside of Wisconsin. Our kennel is run entirely by us—Serge and Veronika, husband and wife—without employees or outside assistance. Every aspect of our program, from daily care and breeding decisions to communication, education, and ongoing support, is managed personally.

We have been married for twenty years and are raising four children, balancing a full and active family life alongside our dogs. All dogs used in our breeding program are fully owned by us and live with us as part of our family. We do not co-own, lease, or place dogs elsewhere. Every dog you see on our website resides on our property and is under our direct care.

By remaining fully independent and intentionally small, we are able to make every decision in the best interest of our dogs—without outside pressure, contractual limitations, or volume-driven breeding. This approach allows us to maintain a thoughtful, ethical program where quality always comes before quantity.

How It Started

Both of us have shared our lives with dogs for many years, but our journey into breeding German Shepherd Dogs began in 2011 with our first breeding dog, Casar. At the time, we were living in a rural area and found it surprisingly difficult to locate a well-bred German Shepherd puppy with properly health-tested and titled parents. That challenge ultimately became the spark that led us to raise German Shepherds ourselves—intentionally, thoughtfully, and with high standards.

Veronika grew up around responsible breeding practices. Her parents have been raising and breeding Rough Collies in Europe for over a decade, and through them she learned early on the importance of ethics, structure, health, and long-term responsibility in dog breeding. Serge, meanwhile, had extensive experience owning and training various breeds across Europe and had always felt drawn to working closely with dogs.

When we decided to build a family together, one thing was certain: dogs would always be part of our lives. While Veronika initially imagined a Labrador or Golden Retriever, Serge was unwavering—he believed the ideal family companion, guardian, and partner was the German Shepherd Dog. At first, Veronika associated the breed with police work and intensity, not family life. Serge, however, understood the profound differences between breeds and was confident that a well-bred German Shepherd offered unmatched intelligence, loyalty, versatility, and emotional depth.

Looking back, we are deeply grateful for that decision. We have never once regretted choosing German Shepherds. In our experience, once you live with a truly well-bred German Shepherd, it is difficult to imagine life with another breed.

From the beginning, we committed ourselves to learning everything we could about the breed—bloodlines, temperament, health, nutrition, behavior, structure, breed standards, and history. We visited numerous breeders, observed different facilities, and studied a wide range of breeding practices. What we learned reinforced our belief that breeding should never be about volume or profit. Puppies are not products, and breeding females are not factories. Our goal has always been to approach breeding with humanity, compassion, and deep respect for the dogs entrusted to us.

Every dog we own is loved, known, and valued as an individual. Their health, well-being, and emotional stability come first—always. Being able to share this experience with other families, and knowing that our dogs go on to bring the same depth of love, loyalty, and connection into their homes, is what makes this journey truly meaningful to us.

We continue to educate ourselves through ongoing learning, including AKC breeder education programs, and we remain committed to preserving and improving the German Shepherd Dog through responsible, thoughtful breeding.

Today, we live on a beautiful farmstead just north of Menomonie, Wisconsin. Our home was thoughtfully designed by us and custom built by an Amish craftsman to support life with dogs, including warm, spacious indoor kennel areas integrated into our home. In addition, our dogs have access to a large, secure outdoor kennel, also custom built to the same high standards.

Our German Shepherds live as part of our household. When they are not spending time with us indoors, they enjoy their fenced yard or their indoor and outdoor kennel spaces. They are attentive and protective, always announcing visitors, yet once familiar, they consistently show the gentle, affectionate, and loving nature that defines a truly well-bred German Shepherd.

This is the life we built—intentionally, with care—and it is one we are proud to share.

Vom Geliebten Haus

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BREEDING STATEMENT

VGH Position Statement on Responsible Breeding

We are responsible breeders and have focused our efforts on one breed - a German Shepherd Dog. Through our breeding, historical research and ongoing study, mentoring relationships, club memberships, showing, raising and training of this breed we strive to become experts in German Shepherd Dog health, heritable defects, temperament and behavior. We are well suited to educate and screen potential buyers and provide follow-up support after purchase.

Therefore, we:

Screen breeding stock for heritable diseases; remove affected animals from breeding program. Affected animals are altered; may be placed as pets as long as health issues are disclosed to buyers.
Have working knowledge of genetics and avoids inbreeding closer than 3:3.
Temper test and do not use aggressive animals in our breeding program.
Keep breeding stock healthy and well socialized.
We do not keep more dogs than we can provide with the highest level of care, including quality food, clean water, proper shelter from heat or cold, exercise and socialization and professional veterinary care.
Base breeding frequency on mother’s health, age, condition and recuperative abilities.
Do not breed extremely young or old animals.
Breed and rear dogs in our home as they are considered part of the family.
Ensure neonates are kept clean, warm, fed, vetted and with the mother until weaned; begins socialization of neonates at three weeks of age.
Screen and counsel potential buyers; discusses positive and negative aspects of owning a German Shepherd Dog.
Ensure animals are weaned before placement (eight to ten weeks).
Comply with all applicable laws regulating breeders in Dunn Co, WI.
Never sell puppies to a dealer or pet shop.
Offer guidance and support to new owners.
Provide a purchase contract in plain English that spells out breeder’s responsibilities, buyer’s responsibilities, health guarantees and return policy.
Provide health report, including vaccination and de-worming information with each puppy sold. Puppies are never sold without a vet exam.
Microchip each puppy prior to sale to ensure identification.
Provide accurate and reliable health, vaccination and pedigree information.
Make sure puppies are sold on a limited registration to pet homes, full registration is offered to approved show/breeding homes only.
Make sure our dogs are spayed/neutered once age appropriate only.
Will take back any dog of our breeding, at any time and for any reason (without a refund).

Bred with H.E.A.R.T

Vom Geliebten Haus means "from the Beloved Home" and everything we do here, we do with heart. But #bredwithheart hashtag means more. Since 2018 our program is recognized as Bred with H.E.A.R.T by American Kennel Club.

What it means to be AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. Breeder ?

An AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T breeder makes an on-going commitment to the health and well-being of purebred dogs by committing to these program requirements:

HEALTH

Certifying that their breeding stock is health tested in accordance with the recommendations of their breed's AKC Breed Parent Club.

EDUCATION

Promising that they will pursue AKC provided or AKC approved continuing breeder education so that they stay current on the best breeding practices, including advances in canine health.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Agreeing to comply with the AKC Care and Conditions Policy, including inspections by the AKC, and promising to share with AKC health testing and continuing education documentation.

RESPONSIBILITY

Accepting responsibility for the health and well-being of the puppies they produce and for complying with all laws regarding the ownership and maintenance of dogs.

TRADITION

Upholding the AKC's tradition of breeding purebred dogs that are happy and healthy.

GOOD DOG BREEDERS

When the GoodDog platform first launched, Veronika was invited to participate early in its development and was among the first breeders interviewed during the platform’s initial rollout. As part of this process, our breeding program was reviewed independently, including documentation of our facilities, breeding practices, and health testing protocols. This early involvement allowed us to help shape standards that emphasize transparency, accountability, and responsible breeding.

While we rarely place dogs directly through third-party platforms without a prior interview and personal connection with prospective families, we value the role GoodDog plays in today’s environment—particularly as an additional layer of verification in a world where misinformation and scams are unfortunately common. For families outside our region, independent third-party review can provide reassurance that a breeder’s program, dogs, and practices have been thoroughly evaluated.

Being recognized as a Good Breeder by GoodDog is meaningful to us. We have always held ourselves to high standards, but having that work reviewed and affirmed by an independent platform reinforces the care, intention, and responsibility behind our program. We are happy to share our breeding program with GoodDog users and those who are seeking a transparent, verified starting point in their search for a German Shepherd.

You can view our verified GoodDog profile here: link to our page on GoodDog.

Breeding Program

Every litter in our program is thoughtfully planned, typically six months or more in advance. We do not breed casually or opportunistically. Each breeding begins with careful preparation to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of both the mother and her future puppies.

When a female is approaching her heat cycle, she undergoes a comprehensive veterinary examination, including bloodwork, to confirm that she is in optimal health to carry and raise a litter. Throughout pregnancy, our females remain with us at all times, allowing us to closely monitor their condition, comfort, and overall well-being.

Approximately two weeks prior to delivery, the expectant mother is introduced to the whelping area in our home so she can become familiar with the space and feel safe and relaxed. The whelping room is located in our basement and is fully integrated into our daily life. The space remains open and accessible, allowing the mother to move freely and never feel isolated or confined. As the due date approaches, we schedule a final veterinary visit, including an X-ray, to confirm puppy count and help us prepare for delivery.

In the days leading up to labor, one of us remains nearby—often sleeping in the basement beside the whelping area—or we take turns checking on the mother every few hours, including overnight. We also monitor her temperature daily to identify the onset of labor. All puppies are born naturally in our warm home, under close supervision, and remain in the whelping room for the first several weeks of life.

From birth, puppies are handled daily, weighed, and carefully observed. We incorporate Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) during the newborn period to support healthy nervous system development and give each puppy a strong foundation. Beginning at two weeks of age, puppies are dewormed on a regular schedule. We typically do not introduce supplements until around four weeks of age.

At approximately four weeks old, puppies transition upstairs into our dedicated puppy nook within our dining room area. This move marks an important step in their development, as they begin daily exposure to normal household life, human interaction, and routine activity.

Our puppies are raised in the heart of our home with constant human contact. Bedding is changed daily, solid foods are gradually introduced, and early potty training begins. This environment allows puppies to naturally experience everyday sights and sounds, interact with children and other dogs, and build confidence through gentle, consistent exposure. Around six weeks of age, weather permitting, puppies begin supervised outdoor time as they continue potty training and exploration.

Between seven and eight weeks of age, puppies visit our veterinarian for a full health examination. At this appointment, each puppy is microchipped and receives age-appropriate vaccinations, ensuring they are fully prepared to transition to their new homes at eight weeks of age.

Our hope for every family is not simply that they acquire a well-bred German Shepherd, but that they welcome a new family member. Our dogs and puppies are deeply loved, and when a puppy leaves, a part of us goes with them. We value ongoing relationships with our puppy families and truly appreciate updates as our puppies grow.

Because of this commitment, we do not place puppies casually. Each family is thoughtfully interviewed to ensure they understand both the responsibilities and the rewards of German Shepherd ownership.

Our kennel is also our home, and for that reason we are open by appointment only. Scheduled visits allow families to meet us, meet our dogs, learn about our program, review sample contracts, and ask any questions they may have. Families who feel ready may also place a deposit and join our waiting list during this visit.

We welcome thoughtful inquiries and are always happy to answer questions. We look forward to connecting with you and, if the fit is right, working with your family in the future.