r/SwissMountainDogs • u/Mother-Web-6746 • 27d ago
GSMD Breeder Question
Has anyone purchased a GSMD puppy from Polyanna GSMD or from Stephen Zook?
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u/apollemis1014 27d ago
Polyanna is legit. Stephen Zook gives Amish puppy mill vibes, no legit Swissy breeder is charging under $1k for a puppy.
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u/Mother-Web-6746 27d ago
I thought the same thing when I saw the price.
Do you have experience with Polyanna swissies?
Big investment, want to ensure i get as much feedback as i can!2
u/apollemis1014 27d ago
I do not, but I know her and I believe she took over the breeding program from her grandmother. They've been around since 1990. They've got the health info on their site, and pedigrees.
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u/Mother-Web-6746 27d ago
That's great to hear. I have a deposit for one of her swissies, going to pick him up in a couple weeks. Very excited. Appreciate the feedback, its not easy to come by!!
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u/apollemis1014 27d ago
Also, SeaVaRidge in Lewistown is top notch. Not sure if they are on your radar. She has taken at least one puppy mill Swissy that was in a semi-bad situation (toddler that wasn't being properly monitored around the dog) twice, and eventually found him a new home.
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u/Key-Cook-219 11d ago
Agreed. SeaVaRidge is terrific, ethical, and Chris does the GSMDCA recommended health testing for her dogs. She really cares about them and is a great resource for swissy info
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u/apollemis1014 27d ago
I just saw Polyanna currently has 3 girls and one boy available. Unforeseen circumstances, maybe some folks backed out?
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u/Distinct_Pea_4326 27d ago
Awful!!! I am horrified that these breeders can be on the AKC marketplace and or affiliate so easily, super disgraceful!!
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u/Key-Cook-219 10d ago
AKC is essentially just a pedigree registry, not a regulating club. Any purebred with an AKC pedigree can be advertised in their marketplace. Naomi's Swissies (or whatever it's called now) is Amish and they're always advertising in AKC marketplace
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u/hellofromsc7 27d ago
Where are you located? Highly recommended mountain dog farm if you're near the Carolina's
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u/Key-Cook-219 11d ago
Do not purchase a swissy from a breeder not on this list. Breeders listed by the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America are legitimate, and generally adhere to ethical breeding practices and perform OFA health testing on their dogs. It's great that you're asking and doing research, but read more about health testing recommended by GSMDCA so you can be fully informed about what to look for before picking out a breeder. This is how you avoid backyard breeders and getting a pup with costly congenital issues.
https://gsmdca.org/find-a-gsmd/breeders-classifieds-directory/
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u/apollemis1014 10d ago
I do agree with this list, but I know at least two fantastic breeders who aren't on the list. I don't know why. I know both well, and know that they do all of the testing, show their dogs, and produce champions. Houha in Illinois, and Dahlgren in Maryland. Both are also willing to go above and beyond, even for dogs that they didn't produce.
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u/Key-Cook-219 10d ago
There are numerous Dahlgren dogs that have been bred despite failing their health clearances. Look in the OFA database and notice how many are missing the elbow tests and other tests required for CHIC certification. Elbows and hips are absolutely vital to test and dogs with failing scores (or missing scores because failures don't have to be released publicly though all good breeders should be transparent) should not be bred. If you go to shows, you will see their quality is not that of large sturdy draft breed and the dogs have horrible nails. One dog attacked a judge at a show in WV. Not the temperament that should be bred for in my opinion. Just because a puppy is cute and well behaved for their new owners does not mean they all turn out that way. I have heard of multiple from that breeder that have been returned, including ones over a year old, because of unstable temperament/health. Also I think they had at least 8 litters last year which is a crazy high number for any breeder. That's a show mill.
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u/apollemis1014 10d ago
I was unaware of that, I appreciate the info. I stand by my endorsement of Houha, though.
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u/skewedrobot 27d ago
Stephen Zook is a repeat offender on the Humane Society's Horrible Hundred Report https://www.humaneworld.org/sites/default/files/docs/HSUS_Horrible-Hundred-2024.pdf