If you need help looking for the best German Shepherd breeders in Iowa, our guide lists the state’s top breeders. German Shepherds are among the most popular dog breeds in the country because of their loyalty, intelligence, and protective nature.
Besides being used for search and rescue, German Shepherds make excellent family companions. When searching for a reputable breeder offering German Shepherd puppies for sale in Iowa, you’ll need to consider those who prioritize the health and temperaments of their litters and have a thorough application process for eligible new owners.
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1. Valiant Shepherds
First up on this list of the best German Shepherd breeders in Iowa is Valiant Shepherds. This breeder prioritizes breeding quality puppies with a sound temperament and good health. The breeder specializes in breeding West German Shepherds and raises the puppies on a ten-acre farm with spacious indoor and outdoor kennels.
The dogs in this breeder’s breeding program have health clearances for degenerative myelopathy, a genetic spinal condition that causes muscle weakness and limb paralysis; puppies are socialized daily with children. They begin initial outdoor potty training after six weeks.
Interested applicants must send a $300 non-refundable deposit and have experience with this breed to place a puppy on hold. Puppy selection occurs after seven weeks. Long-coated puppies are priced higher than short-coated ones. This breeder offers a $200 discount for military and law enforcement families.
Eight-week-old German Shepherds go to their new homes with up-to-date vaccination and deworming records, American Kennel Club registration, a bag of puppy food, and a two-year health guarantee for genetic hip and elbow issues.
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| Phone Number | (515) 890-0281 |
| Website | Valiant Shepherds |
| Location | Humboldt, IA |
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2. Alte Baum Kennel
One of the best breeders offering quality German Shepherd puppies in Iowa is Alte Baum Kennel. Established in 1995, they specialize in breeding working-line German Shepherds with European bloodlines, sound temperaments, and excellent trainability, making them ideal for family companionship, police work, and Schutzhund training.
Like most reputable German Shepherd breeders in Iowa, they test their dogs for several breed-specific health problems, including hip dysplasia. Each puppy is handled and socialized daily for proper development.
New owners can bring their German Shepherd puppies home when they’re eight to ten weeks old. All puppies come with age-appropriate vaccination and deworming records, health guarantees, and a lifetime of support from the breeder.
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| Phone Number | (515) 955-4801 |
| Website | Alte Baum Kennel |
| Location | Fort Dodge, IA |
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3. Holtgrew’s German Shepherds
Holtgrew’s German Shepherds is an AKC-recognized German Shepherd breeder with over 25 years of experience. Jennifer Holtgrew, the breeder, specializes in breeding both working-line and show-line West German Shepherds.
Besides testing her breedable dogs for genetic health problems and socializing the puppies with older dogs, this breeder evaluates each puppy through a Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test after 7.5 weeks. She places her puppies on a raw food diet to keep them energized and improve their skin and coat health. Jennifer posts regular puppy updates via Facebook.
Eligible owners can take their puppies home when they’re at least eight weeks old. They come with a one-year health guarantee for genetic hip issues.
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| Phone Number | (712) 251-3148 |
| Website | Holtgrew’s German Shepherds |
| Location | Merrill, IA |
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4. German Shepherds of Iowa
German Shepherds of Iowa is one of the best places to find German Shepherd puppies for sale in Iowa if you live in the state’s eastern region. This breeder raises working-line German Shepherd puppies on a small farm, providing each with love and attention before placing them in suitable homes.
Every breedable dog in the breeder’s breeding program gets tested for health and temperament issues. Their puppies socialize with adults and children daily and get dewormed biweekly. They feed their puppies Sportmix puppy food because its protein, calcium, and phosphorus content promotes stable growth in larger dog breeds.
Eight-week-old German Shepherds have a two-year health guarantee, limited AKC registration, and up-to-date health records. This breeder recommends spaying or neutering when the puppies are around two years old. They have a return policy for owners unable to care for their German Shepherd because of unforeseen circumstances.
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| Phone Number | (319) 930-8471 |
| Website | German Shepherds of Iowa |
| Location | Hills, IA |
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5. Royalair German Shepherds
If you’re looking for quality AKC-registered German Shepherd breeders in Iowa, look no further than Royalair German Shepherds, helmed by Robin Krumm. This breeder has over 35 years of dog breeding experience and raises her puppies in her home to prepare them for life as large yet loving family pets.
Before breeding, she emphasizes testing her dogs for genetic issues related to hips, elbows, and heart. She gets her puppies accustomed to daily household noises and socializes them with other dogs and people. She incorporates several enrichment programs to evaluate their temperaments before placing them in eligible new homes.
All puppies go to their new homes with microchip registration, up-to-date health records, a three-year health guarantee, a harness, and a puppy care packet. The breeder can deliver puppies to new owners within two to four hours from her home.
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| Phone Number | (641) 990-9901 |
| Website | Royalair German Shepherds |
| Location | Grinnell, IA |
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6. Gusto German Shepherds
Another great place to find healthy and social German Shepherd puppies in Iowa is Gusto German Shepherds, located west of Des Moines. They prioritize breeding their German Shepherds for their temperament, structure, and intelligence.
The sires and dams in this breeder’s breeding program are AKC-registered and undergo health evaluations for knee and hip problems. They get their puppies dewormed every two weeks before letting their new owners take them home. Their dogs have extensive pedigrees to ensure healthy bloodlines. They post litter updates via Facebook.
The breeder incorporates puppy culture programs to ensure stable development, including early neurological stimulation. Most puppies from this breeder go to their new homes at ten weeks of age. All German Shepherd puppies have age-appropriate shots, a health guarantee, and a lifetime of breeder support.
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (515) 249-9001 |
| Website | Gusto German Shepherds |
| Location | Earlham, IA |
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7. Knallhart Kennels & Training Academy
If you live in eastern Iowa, the best breeder you can contact for quality German Shepherd puppies is Knallhart Kennels & Training Academy. Chelsea Montgomery-Gusta prioritizes breeding American show-line German Shepherds that meet breed standards established by the AKC. Many puppies from this breeder are suitable for both companionship and service dog careers
This breeder tests her dogs for over 200 breed-specific health issues, including degenerative myelopathy and hip and elbow dysplasia. She handles her puppies daily and socializes them with other dogs and people.
Every mother in her breeding program has extensive AKC pedigrees and produces four litters in her lifetime before retiring and getting spayed. Dogs who don’t qualify for the breeding program are available for new owners interested in a trained dog.
Puppies are ready to go to their new homes and leave their littermates and mothers after eight weeks. All puppies go home with up-to-date vaccinations, deworming, and AKC registration.
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| Phone Number | (319) 573-2133 |
| Website | Knallhart Kennels & Training Academy |
| Location | Iowa City, IA |
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8. Windy Acres Shepherds
Concluding our list of the best German Shepherd Breeders in Iowa, Windy Acres Shepherds is another one of the top German Shepherd breeders in Iowa that residents can count on if they’re looking for ones in the state’s northeastern region, about half an hour from Decorah. They specialize in breeding German Shepherds with excellent bone conformation, protective temperaments, and straight backs.
Most dogs in their breeding program live on the breeder’s farm or with local guardian families. They keep their dogs in temperature-controlled kennels for year-round comfort. Their home has a private whelping room with cameras for monitoring the mothers and puppies at any time. The puppies have plenty of room to play and explore.
Interested applicants can send the breeder a $300 non-refundable deposit to reserve a puppy. All puppies go home with a two-year health guarantee, limited United Kennel Club or AKC registration, and up-to-date health records. The breeder requires new owners to spay or neuter their puppies when they’re at least 1.5 to two years old.
| [email protected] | |
| Phone Number | (563) 547-4677 |
| Website | Windy Acres Shepherds |
| Location | Cresco, IA |
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Conclusion for the “Best German Shepherd Breeders in Iowa”
There are plenty of reputable German Shepherd breeders in Iowa you can trust for a happy, social, and healthy puppy. Although narrowing down the best ones can be challenging, many offer insight into their breeding programs and are happy to answer all your questions.
German Shepherds require plenty of daily exercise and can live to be over ten years old, so consider researching the breed before deciding if they’re the right breed for your lifestyle. We hope this list can help you simplify your search for trustworthy breeders.