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The dogs at Schwarz Kennels and Kingsley Kennels are THE ONLY American Alsatian Dire Wolf dogs available in the world.
The Dire Wolf Project was created to oversee the American Alsatian. Lois is the founder of the breed and without her approval of the pups born, no other pups are held to her standards.
We DO NOT breed working dogs! We do NOT breed your average, "go play fetch, go to the dog park and RUN" dogs. We breed velcro, quiet, large boned, large breed companion dogs.
Good luck on your search and if you continue to research our breed, we look forward to speaking with you and seeing if our dogs are the right fit for you and your family.
Step 1 - Is this the right dog breed for me?
The American Alsatian is breed created for companionship. Their main goal is to be with you, the human. Though the AA can and will often find friends with other animals in the house they are in, they were not bred to be your animals best friend. They crave companionship from you, the human. See the Standards of the Breed to learn more: Standards of the Breed
Pricing is another thing you want to look at.
Our prices are based on the individual puppy, its temperament and if we need it for breeding. See more here: Puppy Pricing
You've looked at the most basic of information and you have decided to either leave (in which case, you will no longer be reading this), or you have decided, this breed makes sense for me, my family and our needs. What next?
Step 2 - Puppy Application
The puppy application found here: Puppy Application it is required and you MUST fill it out for a few reasons:
- I save it on my computer for research.
- Your puppy application allows me to see answers to questions that are deeper than just your answer.
- It also lets me know about your depth of knowledge in animals, if I feel you need to further educate yourself about our breed, or speak with me about things that I may have questions about, and lets me know if I feel that you will fit with our dogs based on your answers. The application also is one of the only 2 ways you can get approved and move forward with getting on our waiting list.
Step 3 - The Deposit - I'm asking again... Do you want one of my dogs?
You might wonder why I keep asking if you are sure? Is this the right breed for you? Well, I do this because if you are not sure, even in the slightest, I DO NOT want you to have one of my dogs.
If you do not sound like you are ready for one of my dogs, I WILL NOT sell you one. I don't NEED your money. I breed these dogs for companionship and for those that want large breed dog. When that need is gone, I will no longer breed.
- So, I ask you one more time:
- Can you care for a 95lb to 165lb dog that eats upwards of 6 cups of food a day?
- Can you ensure you are willing to pay the larger costs at a vet if you want to get your dog spayed or neutered? (yes, the cost goes up based on weight)
- Are you willing to be responsible to the public as an ambassador and understand that many people are afraid of large dogs, and to train them appropriately so that they do not jump or paw or push again others?
- Can you afford the transportation (on top of the cost of the dog) that is required to get your puppy? See step 6.
You see, we can breed the most loving, calm companion dog on the planet, but you, the human can still ruin that dog by not listening, not learning and not caring what the breeder (us) says about these dogs and how they are different. We can breed the largest boned, solid and beautiful dog that looks like a Dire Wolf but has no wolf in it, but will you know and listen to us when we tell you that if you own stairs you might be carrying your 50 to 80 lb puppy up and down those stairs to ensure their joints don't get damaged, or they don't fall on their 5 month old puppy legs on stairs that are too many for them? Do you realize that you will own a LARGE dog for 10, 12, 14 years? Take some time, especially if this is your first large breed dog, to decide if you have the time and commitment for an animal in your life. One that lives and was bred to be a companion to your and your family.
Step 4 - Your Approval Letter and Next Steps
When you are approved, you will receive an approval letter with your "next steps". From the deposit, to our private Owners Facebook Page, there are plenty of things to do while you wait for your puppy to arrive! We have the Handbook for New Puppy Owners that shares how to raise one of our pups, how they are different and maybe show you some new ideas that you hadn't thought about before. The "American Alsatian Wold's First Large Breed Companion Dog" book written by Lois Schwarz, the breed founder while goes into the breed, how it came to be and what your new dog is. There are AA Health pages on Facebook that you can be added too to learn more about the health and other dogs health in and around the US and beyond.
Your next steps are to learn and never stop asking questions! Your next step is to WATCH. Keep an eye on the Anticipated Litters page. When you research the litter and decide you want one from a specific set of dogs, let me know and I will put you on the "interested" list on their litter page.
I want you to learn, listen, ask questions and become immersed in the breed you have chosen. Like it or not, when you get one of our puppies, I will consider you family and might check in on you and your new member to see how you're doing throughout the years!!!
Step 5 - Our Waiting List: How It Works
Here is the answer in a long winded way, because the waiting list is special!
We have a waiting list of at least 40+ folks ahead of you, though they may skip any litters they want to, and they have up to 5 years to choose a pup.
Many folks will opt to skip over first generation pups to get some of our 3rd generation pups, so we do have puppy buyers waiting a year, two years+ .
What that means is that the folks on the bottom of the list will get to choose pups as those above them on the list forfeit.
Yes, there are about 40 people ahead of you, but... will they be getting a pup or not? I do not know. Most wait. They wait until they see a litter that screams out to them, and then as they watch the pups on Facebook (on my account or in the owners group) then they go to the web site and read up on that particular pup they are falling in love with.
Just for shits and grins, they contact me, and we talk. Then I suggest that they add their name to that puppy on the web site as "interested in"........ who knows?
As the pups grow you will keep going back to the web site to see who else might be interested in that pup. Up pops a name and its deposit date is before you, but they also put their name to 3 other pups as interested'.....
You continue following and another person adds their name and the first subtracts its name. You can add or subtract your name as interested at any time.
At 6 weeks old, I contact the folks by their deposit date... and this is when we talk about what they are looking for. I will guide them into one or two pups that would fit. They choose and you will watch the 'SOLD' come up on a pup.
Mostly the new deposit date folks will be grabbing up pups. The old ones are still waiting. What for? I do not know.
After you have your pup for about a year, you find out you want another, so you send in another deposit and sit there like the rest of them after all you can’t have just one, lol.......
~Lois E. Schwarz~
Step 6 - Transportation of your new family addition
Some people don't think about the ways they will get their dog. Especially when it is across the country. Start thinking about this NOW.
It is never the responsibility of the breeder to take your dog to you. If you search the breeders across the Country, you will see they offer much help to get your dog to you in means of options, but rarely if ever do they state they will "bring your dog to you".
In the past, cargo was the main way to get your puppy. Or, MANY people would come to our kennels and pick up their puppies. This way they were able to visit with the mom and dad, see the pack mates, and the rest of the dogs in the kennel.
We understand, this isn't always an option for everyone, and in the case that you cannot arrive here to pick up your puppy, there are other ways to get them to you. The message here is not to share with you HOW to get your puppy though... it is to ensure you are aware that this is another cost associated with dog ownership, and in this case, large dog ownership. So, be sure to do your homework!
It is ALWAYS cheapest to drive/fly in and pick your puppy up and if the puppy is small enough for a soft crate (up to 20 lbs) you will fly them back on the flight in your lap. The second cheapest option is fly in and drive back.
The next 2 options are more expensive, but when you personally don't have the time to do things, we all know that having others do it for you always costs more! :) So, puppy transport companies are an option (we use All Aboard Pet Transport LLC currently (the costs involved in transport companies are their cost, AND a health cert from our vet, currently an additional $127 dollars), but this may change in the future, or you may choose another. Another option is for me to drive your puppy to Alaska airlines in either Seattle or San Francisco (this is based on availability of a DIRECT flight) and ship cargo. The costs involved in cargo are my time and gas to get to the airport (which can be $250 to $350 depending on the distance and gas needed), crate (between $65 and $129 depending on the size of your pup at the time of transport), 2 water/food dishes $12.99 each, health cert $127 and the cost of the flight (the smaller your puppy, the cheaper the flight). I have seen flights as low as $275 and as high as $725 going to higher tax locations.
Phew... you've read until the end? Congratulations!!! If you are one of our "clients/family members" that already has one of our dogs and are just reading up on the changes on the website, thank you for always being amazing and for loving our dogs and for being such an amazing addition to our lives, and if you are new and just reading, welcome and if you have questions, never fear asking them!