Alta-Tollhaus North
Meet the breeder
I'm Merrick M., the breeder behind Alta-Tollhaus North located in Ingham County, MI. We offer top-quality German Shepherds from West German show lines. Ours is a versatile, focused program striving to produce dogs that can excel in various venues and that make wonderful, loving family companions. We devote our time, energy, and efforts to each litter to ensure our puppies are properly socialized from the moment they are born and prepared to excel in their forever homes.
Q. & A. with Merrick
Why did you start breeding?
A consistent love for the German Shepherd breed and dog training encouraged the beginning of Alta-Tollhaus North. We work in partnership with Alta-Tollhaus German Shepherds to ensure our dogs are as healthy and high-quality as possible. We truly love our puppies and know you will, too!What makes your program special?
Alta-Tollhaus North is committed to only breeding dogs that meet the strict guidelines for quality that we have deemed appropriate to improving this wonderful breed. All of our dogs are from West German show lines have an SV stamp from Germany, and have a show rating of V or VA. We are very dedicated to what we do and what we are trying to achieve as breeders.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home and a kennel on my property.
Getting a puppy from Merrick
Merrick has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
Connect with Merrick to learn more details about pricing.
Contract & health guarantee
Merrick may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Merrick offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Merrick directly.
Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more
What’s included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Merrick.
Breeder’s location
Meet in Ingham County, MI
More about Merrick
Club memberships
Merrick is a member of United Schutzhund Club of America.
Merrick has been a member of Good Dog for almost 5 years
Merrick was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2021.
Merrick is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Alta-Tollhaus North meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Health of breeding dogs and puppies
- Puppy environment and enrichment
- Buyer education and policies
Parent dogs
Baya, mom
German Shepherd
About Baya
Baya is a female German Shepherd. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Merrick decided to make her part of their program. Merrick has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Excellent level
Alta-Tollhaus North reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for German Shepherds.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Patellar Luxation
Knee testing reduces the chance of passing down Patellar Luxation, which results in the kneecap becoming displaced or dislocated and can cause mild to severe joint pain.
Temperament Test, Dentition
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A)
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
