About Us
I've been asked a couple of times,
“How did you get started with German Shepherds?”
Well, it’s a bit of a long story, so buckle up!
It all started with my Mom, my Grandma, & the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua,
and an all-breed dog show back in 2012.
I was born into the dog world, specifically the world of Shetland Sheepdogs. My grandma still breeds & shows Shelties so dogs are pretty much all I ever knew growing up. From the time I could walk, I was right there beside her learning the ropes. I was hands-on with everything, breeding, whelping, raising, training, and showing. I even got to show a Rough Collie in conformation for a complete stranger I met at a dog show
when I was just 11 years old. That’s how deep into the dog show world I was at the time.
Now, you might laugh, but my love for German Shepherds actually started with Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Yes, the movie about a tiny Chihuahua! I remember watching it for the first time and becoming completely captivated, not by the Chihuahua, but by Delgado, the German Shepherd. He was brave, noble, and incredibly beautiful. There was just something about him that sparked something inside me, and that spark later turned into a burning passion during an all-breed dog show somewhere in Michigan in 2012. I was there with my grandma, who was showing two of her
Shelties at the time, and my mom (who somehow got roped into helping her wrangle the dogs, crates, & grooming supplies). I was mostly just there for the thrill of it all,
wandering around, and soaking it all in. Dog shows are chaotic in the best way. You’ve got the sound of clippers buzzing, handlers rushing by with perfectly groomed dogs, the smell of hot dogs (the edible kind) and all kinds of grooming products lingering in the air. It’s a bit overwhelming, but also magical.
At some point during the afternoon, I noticed a crowd gathering. People were oohing and aahing, dogs were barking, and there was this electric buzz in the air. Naturally, being my curious, and maybe a little nosy self, I tugged on my mom’s arm and begged her to take me over to see what was going on. She looked at me, then at my grandma juggling two Shelties, and said, “okay let's go look!
What I saw next changed everything. There was a man giving a presentation about military and police dogs their training, what they do in real-life situations, and how they are selected. I was already intrigued, but then they brought out a dog unlike any I’d ever seen before. A Black Sable Working Line Male German Shepherd. He was big, muscular, intense, and completely focused. His ears were up, eyes locked on his
handler, like he was reading his handler's mind. The handler gave a command, and in an instant, the dog took off after a decoy dressed in protective gear. The decoy was pretending to be a threat, flailing around and shouting. The German Shepherd hit him like a missile, fast, controlled, confident. Not wild or out of control, but with purpose. It wasn’t scary, it was actually breathtaking. I remember the thud when he latched onto the sleeve, how the crowd gasped, how my heart was pounding in my chest. That moment lit a fire inside me that no one could put out. I was hooked. I turned to my mom, eyes wide, and told her right then and there: “I needed, not wanted but needed German Shepherd! I often wonder what my life would look like today if she wouldn’t
have taken me over to see what was going on
So began four long years of me begging. Every. Single. Day. I promised everything a kid could promise. I’d feed it, walk it, train it. I’d wake up early. I’d never ask for anything again. I made Power Point presentations. I left sticky notes on the fridge. I may or may not have written dramatic diary entries and conveniently left them open for my mom to “accidentally” find. It became more than a dream, it became a mission.
Then, one afternoon in October of 2016, it finally happened! My mom told me to get in the car. No explanation. No hints. Just a casual, “Get in. Let’s go.” I tried to guess where we were headed, rattling off possibilities in the back seat, but she gave me nothing. We drove for what felt like forever until we pulled into a driveway with a big house fenced yard, and a kennel, there they were German Shepherds. My stomach did a backflip. We got out, and a woman came to greet us. She smiled and chatted with my mom for a bit, then glanced down at me and said, “I think someone's a bit excited.” I tried to play it cool, but my hands were shaking. Then they brought her out. She was 8 weeks old, with huge ears and big floppy paws she hadn’t quite grown into yet. Her coat was jet black, and her eyes deep, serious, and intelligent locked onto mine like she already knew me. She walked right up, sniffed my hand, licked my face and sat beside me as if to say,
Well? What took you guys so long? That was the moment. The begging, waiting, hoping, and dreaming had all led to her. I knew, in that instant, that this wasn’t the end of something, but it was just the beginning. Kaiya was a beautiful black West German working-line German Shepherd. She was everything I had ever dreamed of loyal, smart, driven, and absolutely stunning. Of course, in the ironic way life sometimes plays
out, she ended up bonding more with my mom than with me, but that’s just how dogs are sometimes they choose you, not the other way around. Regardless, she was my first German Shepherd. The dog I had spent years dreaming about and begging for. The one I had practically willed into existence.
Kaiya PPD
When I was 13 years old, I was in a really dark place. School was miserable, people that were supposed to be friends treated me horribly, and I felt completely alone. I was depressed, unmotivated, and didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. I thought I was hiding it well, pretending everything was okay, but one person saw right through me my mom. She always does! She noticed the signs no one else did and tried everything to help me feel better. Nothing seemed to work, but my mom is the kind of person who never gives up! One day, she came home from work and said, “Get ready, we’re going somewhere.” No matter how many times I asked, she refused to tell me where we were going. Yet again she surprised me with another German Shepherd puppy, and she was fully prepared for whatever was going to happen that day.
Eventually, we pulled up to a house I didn’t recognize. I thought we were just visiting a friend of hers like we have done so many times before in the past. Before I could even process what was happening a German Shepherd came running up to greet us tail
wagging, tongue hanging out, and full of energy. His name was Ranger, I didn't know it at the time, but he was the Sire of the litter we were about to see. I was still completely clueless as to what we were doing until we walked inside and saw a litter of nine German Shepherd puppies full of life. They were playing and tumbling over one another, and that’s when it finally hit me. We were there to pick a puppy! And not just any puppy. We were the first ones there so we had first pick of the litter (after the breeder, of course). I picked up a few of them, trying to see if any felt right. One of the males caught my eye at first, but he wasn’t interested in us at all he had his own plans and wandered off. Meanwhile, one of the female pups with a pink collar
wouldn’t leave my side. She was bouncing around with the others but constantly circling back to me. Wherever I went, she followed and she wouldn’t leave me alone. Every time I moved she was there. I finally bent down and picked her up, she nuzzled into me like she belonged there. It was a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time, it came rushing in and in that moment something inside shifted. We just clicked, and it was like
everything changed. That was it. That was my girl. She was the one I wanted. It wasn't just about choosing a puppy anymore it truly felt like she had choose me, and It was love at first sight! On February 9th, 2021 both my mom, and the puppy with a pink collar changed my life forever. The little puppy called “pink collar” officially became Pyper. She walked into my life and quietly began to piece it back together. Ever since that day Pyper has been by my side, not just as a companion, but a lifeline!
She is a sable Working Line and Show Line German Shepherd. Originally, she was supposed to be trained as a personal protection dog, but within six months of bringing her home she started doing something remarkable! She started naturally alerting me to changes in my heart rate & behavior something I hadn’t trained her to do. She just knew. She started responding to me in ways that were calm, consistent, and
incredibly intuitive. All things I didn’t even realize I needed help with until she was already helping. It wasclear that she wasn’t meant for protection work, she was meant for something else entirely. That’s when we shifted gears completely. We stopped all protection training & immediately started her journey as a service dog instead, and she was absolutely amazing at it! Pyper picked it up so quickly and excelled in her training.
By the time she was 1 year and 9 months old, she was a fully trained service dog. We have gone through so many things together, from visiting local grocery stores, exploring amusement parks, flea markets, yard sales and even flying solo together down to Florida. No matter where we go, Pyper takes everything in stride. Her calm, intelligent, and steady presence became the anchor I didn’t even know I needed. She didn’t just change my life, she saved it!
Pyper
Von WestLynn's Lasting Legacy SD, CGCA, CGCU, TKA, VHMA
In October of 2024, my grandma told me something that stuck with me. She said, “If you don’t get Pyper’s health tests done and start your line from her, you’re going to regret it forever.” At the time, I just laughed and said “okay whatever Grandma”, but her words kept echoing in my head. When I got home that night, I went and ordered Pyper’s genetic panel. I waited nervously for 2 weeks, hoping for good news and thankfully everything came back perfect. I then scheduled an appointment for her OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) testing at our vet and held my breath once again. When the results came back, they too came back with flying colors. That’s when I started seriously looking for a health-tested, and titled male to breed her to. I eventually found the perfect match: SG1 USCA 2019 Fest Kiefer Reward IGP-1, BH, KKL-1, also known as Reket. He is an incredible dog, and I am beyond grateful to Morgan Oberlin for giving me the opportunity to use him for the start of my program.
Pyper’s first and only litter made their grand entrance into the world on May 21st, 2025. She blessed us with 8 handsome boys and thankfully 2 absolutely gorgeous little girls. This litter was incredibly special to me, not only because it’s Pyper’s one and only litter, but because it marked the beginning of something special and kick started my program.
Avarie, the Red Sable female, is going to training for her BH and IGP-1 in April 2026. I am beyond excited and so thankful to the breeder who agreed to take her on and train her for me. She will be missed, but thankfully she is staying in Michigan—about two hours away—and we plan to visit her often.
Alexandra, the jet black female, is training to be Pyper’s successor when Pyper eventually retires—which, at this point, shows no signs of happening anytime soon. Alex is the sweetest girl; she is completely obsessed with my dad and they are the best of friends. She loves the kids, is docile, calm, and has the most gentle temperament.
Maximus, the Red Sable male, is an opinionated boy who is maturing nicely. He will be our future stud if he earns his working titles and passes all of his health testing. Max holds a very special place in my heart—he is the perfect mix of his sire and dam and comes from my very first litter. I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes as he grows and develops into a working dog with drive, intelligence, and heart.
Helena was my first imported dog and has had a forever home with us since the day she arrived. She is stunning, and despite everything she has been through, her gentle temperament and sweet soul remain unwavering. When I first brought Helena home, she had clearly endured neglect and abuse, weighing less than 52 pounds and showing fear, especially around men.
To put her size into perspective, Helena is only half an inch shorter than Pyper, Pyper stands around 24 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weighs 82 pounds. Helena’s dramatic transformation since then highlights the care, nutrition, and love she has received, allowing her to grow into the strong, healthy, and balanced dog she is today.
Since joining our family, Helena has blossomed into a confident, affectionate, and well-balanced dog. She loves everyone she meets, receives compliments wherever we go, and is a true testament to resilience and the power of proper care and socialization.
Helena’s health testing and titles have proven accurate, and she continues to be an integral part of our program. Her temperament, strength, and beauty are a cornerstone for the foundation of our breeding program, and we are committed to providing her with a lifetime of love, care, and security.
Helena
V1, SG1 Hela Von Angsthof BH, IGP-1, KKL, CGC, CGCA, CGCU
Pyper truly saved me. She’s been more than just a dog, she has been my best friend, my support system, my companion and my lifeline! I owe her everything! No matter how hard I try, I know I’ll never be able to repay her for everything she has done & continues to do for me, but I will spend the rest of her life trying.
This is just the beginning of our story. My passion, knowledge, and love for the German Shepherd breed has only grown deeper. And It all started with my grandma, my mom, a movie about a Chihuahua, one
unforgettable dog show in 2012, and 6 amazing German Shepherds.
Hi my name is Kayla Fisher, and I am the person behind
Von WestLynn German Shepherds. If you’ve made it
this far thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed our story
and continue to follow our journey!
Thank you to everyone that has helped me get this far you have not gone unnoticed!
