We are a family of 8 in Arizona with a long love of dogs, especially German Shepherd Dogs.
Our journey with German Shepherds began long before we ever had children of our own. In fact, it started with our very first dog, Maddie. Maddie's mother was a Border Collie, and her father was a German Shepherd. At the time, we thought the Border Collie traits were the ones we loved most. Looking back, we realized it was the German Shepherd in her that had truly captured our hearts.
Over the years, we welcomed different dogs into our lives, but we always found ourselves drawn back to German Shepherds. Their intelligence, loyalty, versatility, and deep connection with their families made them unlike any other breed we had experienced. For nearly twenty years of marriage, there has almost always been a German Shepherd sharing our home and daily life.
One of the most unexpected chapters of our story began when we came across a local post about a loose German Shepherd running through the area. People were afraid of him, but he never bothered anyone. He was too smart and too fast to be caught. Because there was a possibility he had come from a nearby reservation, animal control would not pick him up.
Eventually, we were able to trap him and bring him home safely. Once he was out of survival mode, we discovered an incredibly well-mannered dog with excellent training and a calm, steady temperament. We named him Rex. Despite extensive efforts, no owner was ever located.
At the time, we had planned to have our female, Greta, spayed once she reached maturity. The month of her scheduled appointment happened to be the same month we trapped Rex.
Before we knew it, Rex and Greta surprised us all.
Greta went on to have a litter of fourteen puppies.
That unexpected litter led us down a path of learning far more about dogs than we ever imagined. Over the past few years, we've spent countless hours studying temperament, training, genetics, nutrition, puppy development, and responsible dog placement. We continue to learn and grow with every dog that becomes part of our family.
Today, our dogs are first and foremost family companions. They live with us, interact with our children, welcome visitors, participate in household activities, and experience the everyday rhythms of family life. They are not kennel dogs—they are members of our family.
Many of the dogs featured on this website come from that original litter. Finding the right homes for them has always been more important to us than simply finding homes. We created this website to share their stories, help others learn more about our dogs, and connect with families who appreciate the intelligence, loyalty, and companionship that make German Shepherd Dogs such a remarkable breed. Many of these dogs spent their puppyhood chasing one another beneath the citrus trees in our backyard—making Citrus Grove not just a name, but part of their story.
Our Story
Life at Citrus Grove
Our dogs are part of our daily lives, participating in family routines, outdoor adventures, playtime, training, and life beneath the citrus trees.
What Matters to Us
Finding the Right Fit
Finding the right home is always more important to us than simply finding a home.
Lifelong Learning
We continue to learn about temperament, training, nutrition, and canine development with every dog that becomes part of our family.
Love for the Breed
Our appreciation for German Shepherd Dogs continues to grow with each passing year.
