



I'm Demetri M., the breeder behind Desert Shadow Springers located in Phoenix, AZ. Springers have been in my family nearly a century—and by my side my whole life. W/ 30+ years of hands-on experience, I raise pups with a focus on health, temperament, and intelligence. All dogs are great, but theres no better breed for companionship, joy, and loyalty than an English Springer Spaniel.

Why did you start breeding?
What makes your program special?
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Where do your breeding dogs live?

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.
Prima Donna
Female
Diva
Female
Remi
Male
Jackpot
Male
Winchester
Male
Remington
Male
Cammo
Male
Payson
Female
Hopper (aka River)
Male
Pepper (aka Dewey)
Male
Doc (formerly known as Rio)
Male
Poppy (formerly Pima)
Female
Jasper (aka Phoenix)
Male
Chipper (previously known as Duncan)
Male
Cooper
Male
Pepper
Female
Travis
Male
Maple
Female
Finn
Male
Sawyer
Male
Demetri 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.

"Includes guarantee, Dews/Docking, Vet Exams, 1st/2nd shots, Deworming, ENS, Socialization, care package (microfiber towel w/ moms scent, toys, purina starter kit, AKC reg. & our cont'd support. Deposits are generally non-refundable, except in rare cases (e.g., gender not available based on waitlist position). May be transferred to a future litter."
Demetri 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 Demetri 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 Demetri directly.
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Demetri.
Meet in Phoenix, AZ
5621 miles away
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Meet at Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (formerly Williams AFB)
5620 miles away
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Meet in Sedona, AZ
5536 miles away
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Demetri has been a member of Good Dog for 10 months
Demetri was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2025.

Desert Shadow Springers meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:

Demetri M.
Clean whelping boxes are important to avoid parasites and to keep your house from smelling like a litter box but clean boxes never stay clean for long .. they are professional mess makers. 15 minutes after placing them back in the whelping box and the puppy pads/newspapers will be saturated and shredded to pieces lol. Then you put new ones in and they immediately all have to go pee again. It’s never ending.


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Warm enough today to let the puppies experience the outside world.. their world just got a whole lot bigger and they’re not sure how they feel about it just yet. Hope they appreciate all the trouble it took to get that winder lawn ready for them.. (instead of a dormant Bermuda lawn that’s no fun to play on).


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Arguably the most adorable stage is this stage when they are first learning to walk, run, and do dog things (like growl and bark). It makes you wonder what exactly they dream about before they’ve experienced life because it sure looks like they are running and jumping and barking sometimes.


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Happy new year! Pups are starting the weening process and they are discovering their voices to let me know how they feel about it lol.


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Gruel time then bedtime… for a couple hours. I sure do miss sleeping.


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Almost 3 weeks old. Adorable little monsters.


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
2 weeks old as of Monday… they grow like weeds


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
Scout: “Where the heck did they all come from.. did I do that?!” Josie:”yes, you did that and yet I have to do all the work!” Scout: “Can I play with them?! Please please please can I play with them?!” Josie: “If you even think about going in that box I’ll bite it off. Once they’re out of the box, they’re yours and I’m done” (What you can’t hear is the almost inaudible growl Josie does when scout peeks in the box.. she thinks I don’t hear it and she knows when I do she gets in trouble). 🤣


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
It’s now confirmed by our vet via ultrasound that Josephine is indeed pregnant. We wanted to confirm that it wasn’t a false pregnancy. The vet had a hard time seeing due to Josephine’s excitement meeting new people but she said she saw at least 4 pups and there’s likely more. Both of our previous litters she had 5 males and two females (14 pups all together). Puppies are due around 12/8/25 give or take a couple days!


Scout and Josephine's litter

Demetri M.
It’s always a bittersweet feeling when the pups leave the pack. In my opinion, it’s one of the hardest parts of breeding. We bring these pups into the world and care for them around the clock for over 10 weeks. It’s impossible not to form a bond with each and every one of them. The night before the first pup goes home is especially tough. Watching them all sleep together one last time—with mom and dad beside them—knowing they have no idea that this will be their last night as a complete pack… it breaks my heart every time. Most of them will never see each other, or us, again. Even after doing this for a while, it never gets easier. I’m not afraid to admit that I still have to fight back tears with every goodby… a battle I frequently lose. All we can do is trust that we’ve chosen the right families and homes for them. Good Dog has certainly helped make that easier. We said goodbye to five of our pups last week, and the remaining two are scheduled for pickup by Wednesday. The nest will be empty, and the house will feel a little too quiet. To those of you who’ve sent photos and videos—thank you. We truly appreciate the updates. Please know that you’re never bothering us. We love seeing how our pups are doing and how loved they are. We’re always here for you and for them. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything


Scout and Josephine's litter
English Springer Spaniel
About Scout
Scout is the epitome of the English Springer Spaniel—sweet-tempered, eager to please, and endlessly loyal. He’s a devoted sidekick who thrives on praise and connection, always ready to perform in hopes of earning your attention. One of the first things people notice—aside from his affectionate nature—is his stunning coat: thick, straight, and still puppy-soft. His natural instincts are exceptional, making training both enjoyable and rewarding. Scout’s first litter produced happy, healthy, thriving pups, and he’s truly proven himself to be an all-star sire. Watching him with his puppies is heart-melting—he’s playful, gentle, and incredibly patient with all their antics. Scout is registered with the AKC.
Good health testing
English Springer Spaniel
About Josephine
Josephine (Josie) is the undeniable boss of the house—wickedly smart, confidently independent, yet deeply affectionate when it counts. She has one of the best noses I’ve ever seen on a dog. And yes, I know everyone says that—but not every dog locates a ball placed on top of a ladder and then climbs the ladder to retrieve it, completely unprompted (I have the video to prove it!). Josie is a total people-dog. At the park, she makes a point of greeting every human there, paying little mind to the other dogs. As a mother, she has been exceptional—attentive, nurturing, and calm. Every one of her puppies has gone to a loving home, and their new families consistently share how healthy, smart, and well-adjusted their pups are. They have all said they couldn’t imagine a better addition to their lives and have commented about how smart and instinctive they are in the field (One of them stating he's "never had a better bird dog!").
Good level
Desert Shadow Springers 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 English Springer Spaniels.
DNA Disease Panel
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).
Hear what other owners say about working with Demetri to bring home their puppies.

Debbie W.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
Desert Shadows Springers is the best! Beautiful website and logo! Demetri is the best breeder I have worked with, I had a springer years ago. Demetri loves the breed and knows his stuff. He is open to helping all along the way. I’m sure we will stay in touch! His dogs and puppies are beautiful.
Jarrad W.
Verified owner · July 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Demetri at Desert Shadow Springers. From the very beginning, he was honest, helpful, and incredibly responsive with answering all of our questions with care and patience. What meant the most to us were the weekly updates, videos, and pictures he sent of our puppy. It truly felt like we were part of the journey and didn’t miss out on those precious early days. When we went to meet our puppy, we got to see the whole family—mom, dad, and the entire litter. Every single puppy was absolutely beautiful, and honestly, you couldn’t go wrong no matter which one you chose. The love and care Demetri puts into raising them was clear, as well has his passion for the breed. Our puppy has been amazing!! He has such a sweet temperament, and we’re already completely in love with him. In fact, we had such a positive experience that my parents ended up getting a puppy from the same litter too! So now the two brothers get to have frequent play dates. We’re so grateful for the experience and would recommend Demetri and Desert Shadow Springers to anyone looking for a happy, healthy, and well-loved springer spaniel pup. Thank you, Demetri!

Ryann G.
Verified owner · Feb. 2026
We had such a great experience with Demetri at Desert Shadow Springers. He was easy to communicate with, very responsive, and you can tell he really cares about his dogs. After we reserved Cooper, he sent regular pictures and videos, and allowed let us meet Cooper before bringing him home. Demetri was very accommodating the whole time. We would absolutely recommend Desert Shadow Springers.

Kat W.
Verified owner · July 2025
We are so happy with our sweet little pup Pepper. Demetri was very helpful and knowledgeable about English Springer Spaniels and kept us updated as the pups were doing before it was time to pick them up. He is a beautiful little guy and is happy and thriving. Thank you to Demetri and Desert Shadow Springers for our little Pepper!
Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.