answering our most frequently asked questions!
How do I reserve a Lionheart puppy?​
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​​Call, text or email us with details about what type of German Shepherd you are looking for and a little info about yourself, and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. If we have what you are looking for, you can put down a deposit to reserve. If we do not, you can get on our waitlist for upcoming litters. For more info on how the process works, click here!
Do you require a deposit?
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Yes, we require a $700 nonrefundable deposit to reserve your Lionheart Shepherds puppy.
What do your puppies cost?
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Total cost depends on the parentage, coloring, and coat length of the specific puppy! Contact us for more details.
What forms of payment do you accept?
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We accept Zelle, Venmo, check, credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer with corresponding fees for the deposit. If you are picking up your puppy in person, we accept cash for final payment. If you would like to do a check for final payment, you will need to mail it in enough time for it to arrive and clear before your puppy goes home.
Do you have payment plans?
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Once the puppies are born, you will have two months to make payments until your puppy is ready to go home. We do require payment to be made in full when you take your puppy home with you.
What kind of health testing do you do?
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Health is our top priority here at Lionheart! All of our dogs have had hip testing done, some here in the US through OFA and some over in Europe through the European OFA equivalent. All of our males have had hips, elbows, eyes, and heart checked and cleared. All of our females have had hips tested and come from quality, health tested European lineages. All dogs have been DNA tested here in the US.
Why do you import your dogs from Europe?
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​While there are many purebred German Shepherds here in the US, Americans have much lower standards for breeding than the Europeans do. Health, titles, and lineage are much more important over in Europe when it comes to breeding. For instance, in many countries a male cannot be bred and his litter registered unless he has passed certain health requirements. Because of this, European Shepherds are in general healthier, have better structure, better temperaments, don't have such an extreme sloped back (something you primarily see in American German Shepherds), and often come from championship lines. These are the main reasons we import our dogs from Europe - to determine that our puppies are from some of the healthiest, most beautiful, most even tempered German Shepherd lines in the world.
How do I choose my puppy?
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We make choosing a puppy easy with weekly updates of photos and videos! We have all of our families choose their puppy at seven weeks of age, as this is when their structure, coloring, and personality is the most developed. We'll send you individual photos of each puppy at six weeks of age and a video of each puppy at seven weeks, and will also offer personality assessments and recommendations at this time to ensure that you are getting the best fit for your family. We can also do Zoom or FaceTime calls if you'd like to meet us and the puppies face to face! Puppies are chosen in the order deposits are received.
Do you have a health guarantee?
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Yes, we have a two year health guarantee! Just ask, and we can send a copy to you to review.
Where are you located?
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We are out in the middle of the country in central Tennessee!
Do you offer delivery?
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Yes! We offer delivery within two hours of our location completely free.
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If you are beyond that radius, we can go further than that for a delivery fee, dependent on distance.
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If you don't live within a reasonable driving distance - don't worry! Our transportation team can hand deliver our pups anywhere in the US. Your puppy will not be flown alone in cargo under a plane. He or she will be handed to one of our puppy nannies who will deliver the puppy directly to your nearest major airport where they will meet you for pickup. The puppy will fly in a carrier, under the seat on the plane, and be with the nanny the entire time until placed in your arms. This is safe and stress free for everyone involved, including the pup! This is an additional fee. Inquire for more details.
What will my puppy come home with?
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We'll send your puppy home with a goody bag full of the food they are currently eating, treats of canned pumpkin and wet food, a blanket that smells like the litter to comfort the pup in their new home, and our puppies' favorite ball. In addition, you will receive the pup's vaccine record, vet report, and AKC registration paperwork.
Will my puppy have proper vaccinations?
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Yes, our puppies will have received all age appropriate vaccines and dewormers upon going to their new homes. They will also receive a pre go-home vet checkup to ensure their complete health.
Are your puppies akc registered?
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Yes! All of our puppies go home with limited AKC registration.
Do you offer breeding rights?
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Occasionally. It depends on the litter and the person. Please reach out to us if this is something you are interested in and we can discuss further!
What type of socialization do you do?
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Our pups go home completely socialized. We are a family of nine, and each one of us is involved in the breeding and raising of these amazing Shepherds! The kiddos handle the puppies every single day, so the pups are used to being held, loved on, and cuddled on a day to day basis. They will have been taken outside, held by kids, pet by strangers, used to the smell and sight of other dogs and cats, driven in a car, given baths, and gone through the oh so traumatizing nail trimming experiene. All in all, our puppies will be used to all sorts of sights, sounds, and smells in order to give them as smooth transition into their new home as possible.
Will my puppy come home potty trained?
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Our puppies generally go home around eight weeks, which is right at the age when they're ready to start learning the difference between going potty outside and inside! Potty training is something that our pups will learn with their new families, and something that needs a little more time and focus than we are able to give them in the few weeks they are with us in our home.
Will my puppy be microchipped?
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We do not routinely microchip, but we can upon request, so just ask!
When is final payment due?
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We ask for a $700 deposit up front in order to reserve your Lionheart Shepherds puppy.
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We require a second payment of 50% of your remaining balance when the pups reach six weeks of age.
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Final payment is due the week the puppies turn eight weeks old. Generally our families pay this upon picking up the puppy. If we are boarding the puppy for an additional period of time for you, we still require full payment at eight weeks. If your pup is being delivered via our nanny service, we do require full payment to be made within 24 hours of the flight's scheduled take off time.
How do I know if a german shepherd is right for me?
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Click here to read all about the German Shepherd breed and see if one is right for you! Have more questions? Just reach out, and we can chat more about these amazing dogs!