About Starry Night German Shepherd Dogs
The Starry Night Philosophy
At Starry Night German Shepherd Dogs LLC, we understand that a dog is a cherished member of your family, not just a pet. We specialize in long coat German Shepherd Dogs, celebrated for their stunning appearance, alongside the breed's renowned traits of unwavering loyalty, profound courage, high trainability, and desire to work. We strive to improve our genetic lines, and in turn, the GSD breed. We also provide a nurturing environment for the puppies, with play, puzzles, experiences, balance work and basic obedience to help ease the puppy's transition and continued development in its new home. We provide exceptional potential in every dog and equip our families with the necessary resources to maximize that potential.
Our Mission
To produce exceptional GSDs through careful, health-focused breeding. Our goal is a GSD with the health, temperament and trainability to seamlessly join your family, providing a positive experience and lifelong memories for you and your children.
How We Achieve Our Mission
We pour our hearts into every aspect of breeding: care and welfare of the dam, purposeful selection of a stud, rigorous health screening (veterinary exams, blood testing, genetic, x-rayed OFA hip and elbow certifications), top notch reproductive veterinary care, excellent nutrition of the mother - especially during gestation and post whelping, and early puppy socialization and basic training so you can welcome a confident, loving and beautiful friend into your life.
Life Long Support
We are also here as a coach, sounding board, trouble-shooter and resource for the life of the dog. We partner with experts in the area and abroad...other breeders, veterinarians, trainers, nutrition specialists, wellness resources, injury rehabilitation centers ... to maximize our dog's health, behavior and longevity, and pass our resources on to our Starry Night family members.
Where We Thrive
Our microfarm, located in the picturesque Virginia wine country, is a wonderful setting for raising exceptional long coat German Shepherds. On several acres in western Loudoun County, our dogs grow up and encounter squirrels, farm animals and cats on a daily basis, while also spending time in farm and big box stores, outdoor dining areas, on the Appalachian Trail and in and around the Shenandoah River.
Socialization
What helps set our puppies apart is their extensive socialization: they regularly interact with our BnB guests and benefit from the Puppy Culture program, including early neurological stimulation, scent games and problem solving puzzles. We attend events where there are unique sights, sounds and smells, where they can encounter and interact with people of many cultures and ages. This unique blend of farm life and dedicated enrichment produces healthy, intelligent, and confident German Shepherds, ready to become a cherished member of your family, protector and the occasional sounding board.
"Owner's Manual"
We help our Starry Night families from day one by providing an extensive 3 ring binder of medical history, genetics, registration, microchip, nutrition, training and other resources for each puppy.
Working with a wonderful local trainer, we are able to coordinate basic puppy training board & train at a discounted rate for our families.
Well, Now What Do I Do?
If I only had an owner's manual...
Every puppy from Starry Night goes home with a comprehensive and personalized guide for your new companion. The organized, tabbed, and page-protected 3-ring binder provides a comprehensive resource you’ll find yourself referring to repeatedly.
From a signed copy of the purchase contract to the complete vaccination and grooming history, "The Book" is a complete record and reference library:
Pedigree & Health Documentation: It includes detailed pedigree information, genetic testing results for both the sire and dam, and copies of their official OFA hip and elbow certifications, all accompanied by explanations of what these critical tests signify.
Veterinary & Care History: You’ll find the original shot records, a signed copy of the veterinarian’s thorough puppy exam report, and a detailed history of all routine care, from nail clippings and deworming to the microchip registration details (plus extra labels for your convenience).
Essential Training & Health Information: The binder is packed with practical advice, including the official AKC breed standard, information on crate training and potty training, the full UC Davis study on early spay/neuter for large breeds, and a detailed section on canine nutrition that many owners find cuts through the confusion.
Safety & Fun: We include vital safety advice, a curated list of recommended toys and leashes, and even recipes for the Starry Night dogs' favorite homemade treats.
Veterinarians are regularly impressed. We’ve had several owners share that when their vet saw the binder, they asked to review it and commented they had never seen anything so comprehensive from a breeder. This binder is a testament to our commitment: when we say we're in it for the life of the dog, we mean it. The exceptional care and thought we put into this resource is possible because we intentionally limit ourselves to just 1–2 litters per year, allowing us to go the extra mile for every single family.
