Kaleef is proud to offer German Shepherds who are beautiful, sound, correct representatives of the breed, who excel at whatever endeavor you choose; whether as an all-breed or specialty show dog, as a performance animal in herding, agility and obedience, in search and rescue, or as a beloved family companion.
Jim and Sheree both had German Shepherds as childhood pets; it has remained a life-long love affair with the breed. Jim finished his first champion at 13 years of age and has had a truly spectacular career as a handler. Sheree got her first GSD when she was five; participated in Schutzhund as a teenager and then attended her first conformation show at 17, first as an exhibitor (the trials of an owner-handler!), then as a groomer, conditioner and general jack-of-all-trades. Jim and Sheree had the honor and pleasure of judging the National Specialty in Mexico City in 2001. They are both actively judging GSDs as well as other breeds. The pair have always bred dogs on a limited basis. In more recent years, as time allowed, they have expanded their breeding program.
For those interested in the conformation world, Jim and Sheree understand the requirements of a successful show dog. Jim has won over 1,000 Best in Shows in the US and Canada and he is a member of the Dog Show Hall of Fame. He has won Grand Victor or Grand Victrix numerous times in both the US and Canada. He was BIS at Westminster in 1987 with Ch Covy Tucker Hill’s Manhattan, the #1 male show dog of all time (#4 overall), with 201 BIS. Jim and Sheree also exhibited Select Ch Altana’s Mystique, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the top-winning show dog of all time. Mystique earned 275 all-breed BIS, as well as 30 specialty wins and Select ratings at the US National. They also exhibited two more of the top 20 show dogs of all time, both members of the coveted “100 Club,” including their home-bred Ch Kaleef’s Genuine Risk OFA Excellent. Their specials have won Quaker Oats 19 times, and they have had the #1 German Shepherd for most of the last 20 years.
Jim and Sheree are the breeders/owners of the top-producing dam in the history of the breed, living or dead, Kaleef’s Valle ROM. They exhibited and managed the career of the top- producing sire in breed history – AOE Am/Can Sel Ch Kismet’s Sight for Sore Eyes ROM OFA – who went on to attain his herding title after his retirement. They have bred and/or owned more than 100 Champions and have bred and owned many Register of Merit Sires and Dams. They have multiple dual- titled dogs and believe that German Shepherds should be able to do the jobs they were originally bred to do. One of their breedings, Ch Kaleef’s Blondie ROM HS X Ch Tindrock Kaleef About Thyme ROM HS, produced a Best in Show winner, a Canadian Select/US Group winner who attained 11 agility titles including her MX. When bred, that girl’s first puppy debuted as Best Puppy at the Canadian National and is now a Futurity Victor. A littermate attained her ROM in her first litter. Another sister, novice-handled, was High in Trial both days at the herding trial at our Nationals and is OFA Excellent.
Several other animals achieved their championships and were group winners. A brother to Thymer was a Maturity winner, went second in a very competitive Open class at the National, with a new handler and no double-handler, then finished at all-breed shows. His sister was minored out by her owner, but showed her true calling as a working Search and Rescue dog, certified by both organizations. This group of animals could truly do it all, in addition to being beloved members of their human families.
At Kaleef, we believe there is only one standard for the German Shepherd Dog; the best do both. Most of Jim and Sheree’s specials during the last decade have not only been the top all-breed Herding dogs, they have also been Select at the National. Geneva was Canadian Grand Victrix and Two Times US Select, in addition to twice winning the Group at the Eukanuba National Show (and Viewer’s Choice for Best in Show), as well as being in the top five all-breeds in a very competitive year. She is also quite adept at stealing the pizza from the Domino’s box you put safely out of reach (!) on top of the hotel dresser.
Many of these confirmation champions go on to very successful performance careers and several are now working service dogs.
Health is another issue Jim and Sheree feel strongly about. Kaleef offers a written guarantee of soundness, both physical and mental. Many dams are OFA Excellent; all sires are OFA certified. Kaleef uses the Ft. Dodge “PuppyShot” series, along with an additional parvo (for newer strains of the disease) and bordatella. They recommend a healthy diet and monthly heartworm prevention. Breeding animals are screened for the genetic defects that can occasionally trouble the breed, and they strive for longevity in their dogs. They are committed to producing a sound, healthy companion you will enjoy and love for years to come, in whatever avenue you choose to pursue. Please browse the website and “meet” some of the dogs. Feel free to contact Sheree or Jim via email.