At Sanssouci our goal is to breed the perfect Schapendoes. We all know that there are no perfect humans or dogs but as responsible, ethical breeders we strive to produce healthy dogs with sound temperaments, who are good examples of their breed. Dogs that we hope will become cherished family members and good canine citizens able to do any task you care to teach them.
If we don't have any puppies available or a litter planned in the near futur, we are more than happy to refer you to other reputable breeders of Schapendoes that have puppies available or are planning a litter before we are.
Our dogs are first of all family members and our dog sport partners. Some are breeding prospects, chosen because of their good temperaments and have passed all the health checks related to their breed. I am a member of The Canadian Kennel Club & The Club Schapendoes néerlandais du Québec and The Schapendoes Club of North America. I abide by my clubs rules and code of ethics which means being a responsible and ethical breeder.
To make sure that our dogs can handle all aspects of life, as young dogs we take them to basic obedience & beginners agility classes. When they are old enough we take them for a herding instinct test. This breed was developed to help Shepherds at work, we believe it is important they prove to us that they have not lost their working ability. We show them in conformation with the hope that they will be judged as good examples of their breed and attain their Championship. From then on we take classes with them in all types of the dog sports to assure that their minds as well as their bodies are sound. Herding dogs love having a job to do and are happiest when out there doing something with their partners.
We have the advantage of having our store attached to our home, the dogs are with me during the day, most times there is more than one if it's not too busy. They get to meet people of all ages and have won the hearts of our customers with their good manners and wagging tails. Only one problem with herding dogs, they'll watch over a flock of sheep but don't ask them to protect your goods because they're more likely to show a thief where the silverware is than herd him out of the house !!! Our dogs live with us as family, we only use crates when training them as puppies or when we travel to shows.
We have 3 daughters, and 2 grandchildren so our household is an active and noisy one, our dogs take it in stride, they'll sleep through rock music or a baby crying without batting an eye. They especially love the toddlers that are within kissing reach and teenagers that are up for a game of Frisbee in the yard.
We only breed occasionally, potential buyers are selected with care so that our puppies will have the best possible families to grow old with. Our puppies are temperament tested, evaluated for structure and examined by a veterinarian. They are vaccinated, de-wormed, micro-chipped or tattooed and are registered with the Canadian Kennel Club. All are sold with a sales contract and a non-breeding contract, they are guaranteed 3 years for genetic health issues and temperament . We offer lifetime support.
Our puppies are trained to potty outside, sleep in a crate, and have learned to play with our cats, other dogs, children and have met many people before leaving. We are there to help you with any questions you may have about training, health etc. for the life of our puppies. You also get a grooming lesson and the correct grooming tools you will need to use at home. At Sanssouci we are honest about our breed, we don't only brag about their qualities but we also tell you about their quirks. We are there for you throughoutthe life of our puppies, we love hearing updates about them and getting photos from their new families. Any problems or questions you may have once you get your puppy we take the time to help you work through them.
