 |
 |
|
AOE Select Excellent Ch Riverrock's Starlett O'Hara TC PT at 4 months |
RiverRock 2024 Puppies
Revised 6/13/24
Both show
and companion puppies will be available in 2024. I (Zoa Rockenstein) will
be evaluating applications and managing breeding and placement decisions in
conjunction with litter co-owners and co-breeders. We may be able to assist with transportation,
but we do not ship puppies.
Breeding/Placement
Criteria. The AKC German Shepherd Breed Standard, along with my core
values regarding Soundness, Performance, Beauty, and Style, guide and determine
our breeding decisions. See the About Us page for more information on
breeding philosophy. We take both the screening of breeding stock (especially
regarding health and temperament issues) and the selection of buyers/owners
equally seriously. We do our best to match the right puppy with the right
owner.
Thorough
responses to the puppy application questions will best ensure that you get a
puppy that will be compatible with your goals and lifestyle. All sires and dams are of the highest quality
with sound temperament. All breeding stock are screened for degenerative
myelopathy (DM) status. This ensures that none of the puppies will be at
risk for developing DM. Preliminary hip and elbow xray information a very
low probability of DM or hip/elbow dysplasia. You can be assured that every
effort has been made on our part to provide you with a puppy that will fulfill
your highest expectations. You are the other half of the equation:
The training, socialization, exercise, and general maintenance that you are responsible
for will complete the picture.
Puppy
Application. If you are interested in acquiring a RiverRock puppy, please
note that there is an application process. Submission of the application,
as directed below, is the first step in the process. It does not obligate you in any way.
Your application, if approved, will help me make the right match for both you
and the puppy. The time you spend on the application will be worth it in the
long run. Please read this entire page, and review the pricing,
deposit, and placement information at the bottom of this page, before
completing your application. Please do not call or email me
prior to emailing your application. I will only discuss puppies with
pre-qualified buyers. You will be promptly notified by email as to the
status of your application. If approved, you will be welcome to call and/or
schedule a visit. This will be the most efficient use of time for both of
us. Whether you are interested in a top-winning show dog, a dog for AKC performance
competition, a protective companion dog, a service/therapy or some combination
of these, you can be assured that the same high standards have been applied to
important issues like compatibility, health, temperament, and longevity.
Information About 2024
RiverRock Litters
We are planning two breedings in the summer/fall of 2024. See information below. All litters will be Futurity nominated.
All puppies from these two litters will be black and tan. There may be some long-coated puppies
available. I am taking reservations
(approved application plus deposit) for both companion and show-potential
puppies now. See pictures, links to litter pedigrees, and pricing
information below. Submit the application if you are interested in
acquiring a puppy.
Questions for Prospective Puppy Buyers (Application). Please
copy and paste these questions into an email along with your responses. Send
your completed application to me at zrockenstein@yahoo.com
1. Why do
you want a German Shepherd?
2. Do you
have a preference for a male or female? If so, why?
3. Can you
be flexible about coat length and color? We breed for the total dog,
guided by the Breed Standard, and not for specific coat color or length.
Particular emphasis is placed on health and temperament. That being said,
my line carries the recessives for solid black and long coat. On rare
occasions, I have black and long-coated puppies available. The majority
of puppies are black and tan with standard-length (stock) coats. Do you
have strong preferences regarding coat color and length or can you be flexible
in this regard? We will try our best to honor your preferences.
However, these factors are beyond our control. Preference will be given
to those who are willing to be flexible regarding coat color/length if it is impossible
to honor a specific request. No deposit refund will be given if a puppy
is refused on the basis of coat color or length. The deposit may be
carried forward to a later litter, however. We will know coat color at
birth, but coat length cannot be assessed before four weeks of age. If we
don’t have a good fit for you for any other reason, such as gender preference,
you will be offered either a total refund of the deposit or the opportunity to
transfer your deposit to the next litter.
4. Have you
owned a German Shepherd previously? If so, where did you acquire your dog(s),
and what was your experience with the dog(s)?
5. Will you
be willing to attend puppy socialization and/or obedience classes with your new
puppy?
6. How did
you learn about our dogs?
7. Do you
have any interest in showing, breeding, or competing in performance events?
8. Do you
own your home?
9. What is
your occupation? Does it require frequent travel? If so, who will
manage the dog when you are gone?
10. Do you
have a fenced yard or kennel area? What type of fencing do you have or plan to
construct? Do you own other dogs? If so, how many?
11. Do you
have children? If so, how old are they?
12. What
would a puppy’s typical day be like at your house?
13. Where are
you located (city, state)?
14. Since we
do not ship puppies, will you be able to pick up your puppy in person?
RiverRock puppies are placed nationwide. They are whelped and raised
either at RiverRock in Minnesota or at Barrow Ranch in Texas. On
occasion, on a case-by-case basis, we are able to assist with transportation by
meeting you part way.
15. Have you
reviewed the payment, deposit, and placement information at the bottom of this
page?
16. Are all
of the decision makers in your household in agreement about acquiring a puppy
at this time?
____________________
Litter #1 Puppies due in the middle of August. Best Futurity Male/Best in Midwest Futurity (Pete X Bailey) |
||
|
|
|
|
Here is Pete going
Winners Dog and Best of Winners under judge Linda Clark.
|
Dam: RiverRock’s Bailey (major-pointed Sara daughter) |
|
| Baskerville’s Pete of Anne Isle-Malibar (major-pointed) Judge Linda Bankhead’s Critique of Baskerville's Pete of Annieisle-Malibar at the 2024 Midwest Futurity. “Best Futurity Male. BIF. Baskerville's Pete of Annieisle-Malibar. A striking dog standing with a wonderful masculine head and attractive expression. Clean coming and going, excellent topline, and correct follow through. The overall impression is soundness in every aspect. He maintained a correct side gait at all speeds, smooth and easy on a loose lead. He is a pleasing package with proper proportions.” |
||
|
Litter #2 (Thunder X Sara) |
||
 |
 |
|
|
Here is Thunder going Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Breed |
Here is Sara going Best in Show under judge Michel Chaloux. Handler Christy Heiman. |
|
Puppy Prices and Deposits
Companion puppies are priced at $5000.00 and show-potential
puppies are priced at $6,000.00. A $1,500.00 deposit is required to
reserve a puppy.
Personal checks and Venmo are accepted for the deposit. If
your application has been approved, you may choose to mail your deposit right
away (I will email a mailing address to you), or send by Venmo in order to
secure a place on the reservation list. You will receive a receipt by email.
This receipt guarantees you a full refund if you change your mind for any
reason prior to the whelping date. If, following the puppy evaluation, we
do not have a puppy that is a good match for you, you can transfer your deposit
to the next litter or receive a full refund (subject to the terms specified in
the application). The balance of the purchase price will be due when the
puppy is homed.
Once you have placed a deposit on a puppy from a future litter, you will be
sent an invitation to join the closed RiverRock German Shepherds Facebook
group. Puppy buyers have enjoyed this opportunity to share photos of
littermates as they grow and to interact with other owners of RiverRock
puppies. The group page is updated frequently, and educational files are
added on a variety of topics of interest to the owners of both show and
companion puppies. It is also a great place to ask questions about topics
related to health, nutrition, training, and other subjects of interest to all
members.
Visiting RiverRock German Shepherds.
Once your application is approved, you will be welcome to visit our kennels and
spend time with the RiverRock dogs. Interacting with the dogs will give you an
opportunity to experience the type of temperament and personality our dogs
have. We will discuss any additional questions or issues you would like
to address. I will show you pictures of the sire and dam (if they are not
in residence) and of dogs in the litter pedigree. We will go over my breeding
program and my pedigree analysis process. We will discuss the puppy evaluation
process and anticipated placement dates. These meetings normally run about 90
minutes. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your family. Children will be
required to be quiet, calm, and well-behaved around the puppies and to stay
seated when interacting with the adult dogs. Please keep in mind that it
takes me several hours to plan for your kennel visit. While you are not required
to place a deposit on a puppy during, or before, your visit, I do ask that you
be considerate of my time. These meetings are not intended for curiosity
seekers.
If you live out of state, and a preliminary meeting is not possible, you can
mail your deposit or send it by Venmo and we can conference by phone. Once your
application has been approved, you can send a deposit at any time.
Sometimes it takes a while to schedule a visit if you have a busy personal
schedule. Meanwhile, litters are reserved very quickly! Puppies are not reserved until a deposit has
been received. I do maintain a wait list.
Puppy Pick Up. You will be given a
range of dates to pick up your puppy. Puppies must be picked up during this
time period. We will assist with
transportation when possible through a trusted carrier at a very reasonable
additional cost to you. Puppies will not
be shipped.
Successful Placement of a German Shepherd Puppy. The
successful placement of companion puppies in appropriate situations, where they
will be loved, taken to a puppy socialization class, obedience trained,
properly contained, and well cared for throughout their lives, is every bit as
important to me as finding and placing the next champions. I want my puppies to
have life-long homes with people who I have screened and selected as the right
match for each individual puppy. I will be in contact with you
periodically and will be available to answer questions and make suggestions
throughout the lifetime of your dog. I will expect you to provide the best
possible home for your puppy. You can expect me to provide ongoing breeder
support. I look forward to receiving your application and to working with
you and your family on a successful puppy placement.
.
 |
|
Aunt Sunny with the Star Litter |