Where It All Started

My journey with dogs began long before Von WestLynn ever had a name. My grandmother has bred Shetland Sheepdogs since 1993, and through her, I was introduced to the dog world at a very young age. I grew up surrounded by Shelties and learned early what it meant to show, groom, bathe, condition, and properly care for dogs. That foundation gave me invaluable experience and a deep respect for ethical breeding, structure, temperament, and the responsibility that comes with producing dogs thoughtfully and ethically.

While Shelties were my introduction to the dog world and will forever hold a special place in my heart, they were never my true passion. Don't get me wrong I love them, and I love showing & grooming, but I never felt the roaring fire in my chest with Shelties the way I would later feel with German Shepherds. If it weren’t for Shelties, none of what came next would have ever happened.

Now, you might laugh, but my love for German Shepherds actually started with Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Yes, the movie about a tiny Chihuahua. The first time I watched it, I was completely captivated, not by the Chihuahua, but by Delgado, the German Shepherd. He was brave, noble, intense, and incredibly beautiful. There was just something about him that sparked something deep inside me. At the time, I didn’t fully understand it, but that spark would later turn into a burning passion.

That passion truly ignited years later at an all-breed dog show somewhere in Michigan in 2012.

I was there with my grandma, who was showing two of her Shelties, and my mom, who had somehow gotten roped into helping wrangle dogs, crates, grooming supplies, and everything in between. I was mostly there for the thrill of it all, wandering around and soaking everything in. Dog shows are chaotic in the best way. Clippers buzzing, handlers rushing by with perfectly groomed dogs, the smell of hot dogs (the edible kind), and grooming products lingering in the air. It’s overwhelming, exciting, and honestly magical.

At some point that afternoon, I noticed a crowd gathering. People were oohing and aahing, dogs were barking, and there was an electric buzz in the air. Naturally, being curious, and well 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.

A man was giving a presentation about military and police dogs how they’re trained, what they do in real-life situations, and how they’re selected. I was already intrigued, but then they brought out a dog unlike any I had ever seen before: a black sable, working-line male German Shepherd. He was powerful, muscular, intense, and completely focused. His ears were up, his eyes locked onto his handler, as if he were reading his handler’s mind.

His handler gave a command and, in an instant, the dog took off toward a decoy dressed in protective gear. The decoy shouted and flailed, pretending to be a threat. The German Shepherd hit him like a missile, fast, controlled, confident. Not wild or out of control, but purposeful. It wasn’t scary. It was breathtaking. I remember the sound of the impact when the dog bit the sleeve, the crowd gasping, my heart pounding in my chest. That moment lit a fire inside me that no one could ever put out.

I turned to my mom, eyes wide, and told her right then and there that I needed a German Shepherd—not wanted, but needed.

I often wonder what my life would look like today if she hadn’t taken me over to see what was going on.

That single moment was made possible because I was there at a dog show with my mom and grandma. It laid the foundation for everything that followed after it. The German Shepherd Dog embodies everything I value: sound structure, stable and reliable temperaments, intelligence, versatility, strong nerves, and a natural willingness to work alongside their people. They are deeply loyal, highly trainable, exceptional with children when properly bred and raised, and capable of seamlessly shifting between serious work and loving family life.

German Shepherds excel in nearly every discipline they are given the opportunity to pursue. They thrive in protection sports, police and military work, service and therapy roles, search and rescue, tracking, detection, obedience, and as devoted companions. Their ability to think, problem-solve, and remain clear-headed under pressure is unmatched. They are not just beautiful dogs, they are purposeful, capable, and dependable partners, bred to serve and to protect with confidence and control.

That belief is the foundation of Von WestLynn German Shepherds and drives my commitment to preservation breeding, extensive health testing, correct structure, sound temperaments, and maintaining the true working ability of the breed. My goal is to produce German Shepherd Dogs that can excel in work, service, sport, and active family homes, dogs that are not only impressive to look at, but trustworthy, stable, and versatile in real-world settings.

I am deeply grateful for where I started. Without Shelties, without dog shows, and without my mom and my grandma, I never would have witnessed that first bitework demonstration—and I never would have found the breed that truly set my soul on fire.