IN RESPONSE TO KAREN N POST FROM BREEDER this puppy that Karen had (Callie) did die... Karen Didn't own this puppy for very long so you can imagine how I felt... We had Callie over for boarding while they were on Vacation.. We loved this puppy.... Then one day Karen called me in the early morning to say that Callie was dead by her bed.!!!! She assured me that Callie had made not one noise.. How could a puppy just die!!! We were horrified.. YIKES So we had our vet preform a autopsy......Callie had marbles and raw hide in her belly.... Our vet said he felt she died from a allergic reaction to the raw hide. They are bleached....... Karen continued to call called dailey. We needed each other to morn this loss.... We both felt terrible. Karen wanted another puppy and one just like Callie.. She said she was so sweet and was afraid there would not be one like her... I assured her all our pups were nice...But... we didn't have any puppy's left from that litter.. Then a heart breaking call came from Rokie,.... Kavick had been attacked by her golden... She needed to bring him back home. to me... Kavick was returned and I made a exciting call to Karen.. We had Callies brother.. I told her that he had emotionally been injured and she could have him if she understood what it would take to help him... He could be afraid of other dogs now for life.. I just didn't know how he would be if someone didn't understand what he just went threw...Karen assured me she could handle his fear and that they wanted him.... Karen and her family came over to pick him up.. He didn't want to go with them and I should of known better.. Long story short Karen did complain about Kavick not at first but as he grew to be 9 months or so.. I did feel his problem at that time were vacc related as. Rookie saw no health problems. NOW after reading you review.is was why Karen did you want another pup if you felt Callie was always sick?? We tried so hard to work with Karen but it was impossible..We emailed all the folks owning pups out of those lines. ,Karen was the only one having a problem... We felt we did not owe Karen another puppy and she did not pay for Kavik. I just felt so bad all the way around...... I was willing to help 100%.... And did try.. But when Karen called and wanted me to, pay for her carpet to be cleaned because she hired a house sitter as we were to full for boarding Kavick that week.... I knew I couldn't be in this relationship any longer ...It was draining for me and Will and I am, sure for Karen..So I ended our relationship with Karen.... .. Kavick now Brady.. I am, sorry for your life.. As we Iook back 5 years ago and no whatI know now... I believe with all my heart it was due to STRESS and VACC.... We are human and make mistakes but I do feel I did all I could do with this women........ Kavick should of never left here.. He was happy and healthy here.. Some people really should not own GSD.. They are super sensitive with any stress going on around them...Other dogs may not notice... read more

We purchased a wonderful dog 2 years ago from stronghold. It all started as just a visit to see different breeders. They were our first breeder that we visited and once we met them we knew that we did not have to go any further. Before we left we had put a deposit on our special puppy. We did not know that buying a dog would lead to such a great friendship with penny and Will. This was our first dog and they made it possible with all of their support. We could call them at any time of day or night if we were concerned about something and they had the answer. We did not realize how much support and caring penny and will give to their dogs and owners. The amount of things they have done for us over the past few years is priceless. You truly get a lifetime of support when you purchase a dog, you are not just buying a dog from them. We have continued to grow our friendship over the past 2 years with many visits to wolcott for training and relaxation where the dogs all started their lives. No to mention that they did not charge us for any of the training we received try finding that anywhere else. Our boy Titan is such a perfect fit for our household. He is everything we wanted and more. He is the protector of our household and our newborn baby. He is so gentile and caring for our new baby it truly is a blessing to have a dog like this. Alot of people dont realize and we as well didn't when we got him but they are alot of work. You cant just buy one and expect it to know everything, you have to put time and effort into training. Titan goes eveywhere and does everything with our family he enjoys kids the most. It is obvious when you meet penny and will that their biggest concern is the health and temperment of the dogs. Thus the reason that the dogs are all on a raw food diet so they dont get poisioned from processed "stuff" in kibble. We have had endless comments when we are out in public on how well behaved and how beautiful our Titan is. Thank you Penny and Will for such a great experience. read more

Stronghold Shepards was highly recommended to me by one of my customers when we were in the market for a GSD. My customer had his own GSD and I loved when he would visit. I made the call to Stronghold Shepards and we had an appointment set up to go meet Will and Penny and what puppies they had available. The day finally arrived and we made the drive to the farm. We were greeted by the one the biggest GSD dogs I have ever seen. His name was Lex. Penny and Will came out with a 12 week old puppy that was just beautiful. He was very big for his age and a face that Patti and I just fell in love with. Turns out Lex, was his father. We spoke with Penny and Will and visited with the dogs for over an hour. We got to see how Penny interacted with the dogs, the dogs interacted with the family and other farm animals on the property. It was truely amazing and Patti and I were very impressed with the commitemnt that Penny and Will have to the dogs and their well being throughout the dogs entire life. We purchased that 12 week old puppy and his name his Kuno. He has grown to be as big as his father(Lex) and is absolutely wonderful!! He has a heart of gold and is truely a wonderful ambassador of the GSD and breed and of Stronghold Shepards. Kuno turned 3 years old in August of 2012. I mentioned to Patti that I wanted another GSD. There was no question that it would be a Stronhold GSD. We called Penny and made arrangements to see a litter that she had. We now have another GSD that is all black. His name is MIka and is 16 weeks old. He is my pride and joy and is becoming a wonderful family companion. Kuno has taken on the roll to help train him in dog behaviors and being a member of our pack. GSD's are wonderful animals and I would not look anywhere else but Stronghold for my next GSD. I highly recommend Penny and Will if you are in the market for a GSD. read more

We have gotten 3 Shepherds from Penny and my son who lives next door, got one , so I was able to watch him also grow up making a total of loving and living with four of Strongholds GS . I feel I have experience to share therefore with anyone looking for one of these magnificent animals.These observations spans 20 years of knowing Penny and I trust her completely with her knowledge and innate wisdom with her dogs.I have seen her meticulous perimeters she has for breeding and caring for them , her love for them that she also has for ALL animals on her small farm , which is not hearsay but an eyewitness! She is always on call for help or suggestion with your pet as when I asked for any tips as my older boy was jealous of this young pup , she said feed the treats and food at the same time'to the both of them. Sure enough it broke the ice ! Simple! My black boy is 13 and has had not one thing wrong with him and still takes me for walks up and down hills,He wants to stay out at night to guard us and wants to come in after a long night at work, loves all the grandchildren and will walk them home. My one year old female is the most beautiful loving girl I have ever seen, she is perfection of a watch dog and a cuddle bug also adoring the children. I could write volumes of many other circumstances I have seen to back these ending words, if you want a German Sheperd to be what they are supposed to be, loving companion, healthy family guardian with good breeding I leave you with this, go to Penny , whom you can trust , she is a very dear and caring person. read more

I had the pleasure of meeting Penny and Will over two years ago when my son and daughter-in-law were looking to purchase and GSD. I was so very impressed by the love, caring and true devotion to their dogs. We made many trips to Penny and Will's home and spent quite a bit of time with them and I have never seen two people more particular about the breeding and upbringing of their dogs. My son and his wife brought Titan home over two years ago and he is such an healthy, happy boy. I was very impressed by the testing that was done before any of Penny's dogs leave their premises. They would never let a dog leave if their was any health issue or temperment issue. Titan has the best temperment and just adores children. He is the most loving precious dog and a huge part of our family. My family has had quite a few german shepherds over the years and I wish I knew all that I do now, that I learned from Penny. I think my resucue shepherd that I had years ago would still be around today if I had known Penny and Will when I had her. You couldn't ask for better breeders or people. They are always their for their extended german shepherd familys. When I am ready and have the time for another german shepherd I would only get one from Penny and Will. For now I am just enjoying all the time I get to spend with my grand-dog Titan. read more

Stronghold German Shepherds have beautiful, intelligent, healthy pups. Penny Strong does not just sell you a puppy she brings a wealth of knowledge of feeding and supplements to help you maintain a healthy pup. I got my Kilian in 2014 from Stronghold and he has been an amazing dog. We have done tracking, search and rescue and Iron Dog Competitions. Kilian has the perfect blend of personality. He not only has the drive I wanted to be a working dog he is also a loving family dog. He goes to work with me and greets my clients. Loves swimming and car rides. He is friendly with people and other dogs alike. Not only does Penny care about breeding high quality dogs she keeps in touch with her clients. Penny has hao potluck get togethers where we bring our dogs. They swim and play and we mingle. Penny has provided holistic healing classes for us humans and our pets as well as photo shoot opportunities with a professional photographer. I refer Stronghold to anyone I know wanting a high quality dog. Penny is not just a breeder she truly cares about her pups, their health, temperament and ability to be just a pet or a true working dog. 100% Recommend!!!! read more

Three years ago we purchased our first GSD, Kuno, from Stronghold. He has been everything and more! He is a very large, black & tan with a perfect black saddle. We learned the hard way that even the most expensive dry kibble didn't agree with him and have switched him back to raw food. (We have a black-lab/beagle mix and his skin and coat are gorgeous on the raw food but not so much on dry kibble.) He is an amazing companion dog for our pack and is our youngest child's special protector. My son has some special needs and, instinctually, Kuno knows his job is to keep an extra eye on him. About 6-7 weeks ago, we purchased our second GSD, Mika, from Stronghold. He has been a blast. He has solid nerves and is the smartest dog with which I have ever worked. We will need a lot more training to maximize his potential. When we are out and about, I typically talk to GSD owners and across the board, anyone with a Stronghold pup, have expressed nothing but satisfaction. We are very satisfied owners of two beautiful Stronghold German Shepherds and would recommend them highly. read more

We bought our precious Mila from Penny at Stronghold last summer, and it was the BEST decision! She is a gorgeous, sweet, smart, healthy pup. She is wonderfully alert and friendly to all of our family and friends. I'm a teacher and have brought her to school sporting events; talk about a nice temperment, she is practically a mascott with my students! She and my husband play "ball" every day-- and she is just smitten with him. In the seven months that we have had her, we constantly look at each and remark on how lucky we are to have met Penny and to own a Stronghold shepherd. Penny is extremely supportive through the entire process: before and after bringing home your puppy. She provides you with loads of information, always welcomes you over to the farm, and commits herself to all owners/dogs. We have kept Mila on the raw food diet and switched our black lab over as well. I can't believe how shiny his fur has become! They are both happy and get along extremely well. Thank you Penny!!! read more

My experience with Stronghold Shepherds has been nothing short of wonderful. My almost two year old female is everything I could have wanted in a GSD. She is intelligent, beautiful, calm, and attentive. With the raw diet Keira's coat shines and she is a lean and muscular girl. She is healthy and strong. As a companion she loves to walk, hike, boat, swim and play with the neighborhood kids and dogs. From diet to training questions Penny and Will have been phenomenally generous with their wealth of information. There has never been a question or concern too big or, in most cases, too small for them to answer. They helped with socialization and recall and everything else that has come up in the past 20 months. Keira loves spending the day, a weekend or the occasional week at her first home, her Stronghold home. Penny and Will love their dogs and are committed to helping owners and dogs for each puppy's life time. Thank you Penny and Will for my best friend! read more

We met Penny 15 years ago through another couple that had purchased two GSD's with them. When we reached out, we had no idea what it meant to own a GSD. We went up and met with them and brought home our girl Fitzy. She was honestly what we thought - the best dog anyone could ever own. She was the classic GSD that we had always wanted. Fitzy passed away this past April after 14 loving years with us and we will never forget her. We thought we needed a break but just a few short months later, we reached out. This past weekend we came home with our new girl Remy and she is a dream. While they are different with personalities, she is already showing what a loyal, strong girl she is and we could not be happier. Penny loves these dogs like they are her own and goes the extra length to answer questions and guide us to owning another best friend for years to come. We cannot recommend Stronghold enough! Thank you so much for multiple great experiences! read more

To the person (Julia A) commenting that these dogs are aggressive, your comments are WAY off base! Penny's gentle, loving, and loyal dogs would be a welcome addition to any home. As a puppy, my baby Hans stayed by my side 24/7 when I was diagnosed with cancer and for 6 months worth of chemo treatments. He was the most loving, well-adjusted dog you could ever ask for. When we had company, he would greet them at their car door and walk them to our front door to make sure they were OK to enter my home. Sadly, I lost him during COVID after many wonderful years. If your Stronghold dog is/was aggressive, it was not because of the breeding and most likely because of how they were raised AFTER they left Penny's home. She puts so much work into her dogs. The only reason one of her dogs would be 'aggressive' is if they didn't receive the proper socialization during the critical first months. read more

My husband and I met Penny and Will 5 years ago when we were looking for our next family member. Jax was our first German Shepherd and Penny made sure we were fully prepared when we brought him home. She and Will have been raising German Shepherds for over 25 years and have a wealth of knowledge they are willing to share. We got our second puppy, Nova, from them a couple of years ago and are now part of their breeding program. Penny has been amazing throughout the whole experience and very responsive when we have questions. She undeniably loves the puppies and cares for them as if they are her own. She regularly shares updates and photos as they grow, Jax and Nova love to visit as they stay with Penny and Will when we go on vacation. We highly recommend Stronghold German Shepherds when you are looking for your next family member. They are wonderful! read more

Penny and Will from Stronghold are two amazing breeders who have devoted their lives to breeding beautiful and wonderfully developing dogs. We have a 9 months old puppy from them and Penny has been a blessing. Fitzy is the first dog I have ever had in my life and Penny has welcomed me into her life with a full range of resources and support for being the best "mom" possible. Her dogs have an outstanding temperament with adoring personalities that can only be attributable to the love and unconditional patience they have bred their dogs with. Fitzy is friendly, confident, smart, protective and aware- the best dog I have met in all my years of life. Her dogs have true passion for living healthy lives and Penny has taught me to encourage this mentality in all those I meet. Stronghold is the only place I will EVER purchase a puppy from.- Tom and Mindy R. read more

I have known Penny and Will for almost 15 years. Their dogs are born into the MOST loving environment. They grow up being exposed to farm life and children. I have had 2 of the most incredible dogs from them. Athletic, great calm brains, solidly built and very thoughtfully bred. The ONLY person I have EVER let pick a dog and puppy for me is Penny. She wants the puppies to go to homes that the love they were raised with will continue. My dogs from Stronghold truly speak for themselves...gorgeous, willing,smart, attentive, LOVING AND BRAVE. I will never get a shepherd from anywhere else. These dogs have changed my life..they make me a better person.. happy to speak to anyone considering a Stronghold Shepherd... the best personalities and intelligence! read more

I've had the chance to spend lots of time around Kelly Voorhis's German Shepherd, Kilian, who she purchased from Stronghold, and he's nothing short of incredible. Kilian is intelligent, stable, and full of drive while still being a wonderful companion in everyday settings. His athleticism and focus are outstanding--he even competes in Iron Dog races, which says a lot about the strength of his breeding and training foundation. From everything I've seen, Stronghold produces dogs with both exceptional working ability and great temperaments. If you're looking for a German Shepherd that can excel in sport, competition, and family life, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. read more

This is the greatest place to buy a wonderful GSD. Penny and Will are awesome people to deal with. We drove 8 hours to get our puppy and it was well worth the trip. He really is the best dog I have ever been around. I would give these guys 10 stars if I could. If you are looking for a GSD this is the place. I HIGHLY recommend Stronghold German Shepherds to my friends and family. I only gave them 1 stars because y e l p takes down all the higher reviews read more