Omega Shepherds

Picked up my puppy in 2004. When Harley was 5 1/2 years old, he yelped when I barely pushed on his left hip.

After a trip to the vet, xrays, labwork, etc. it was determined he had hip dysplasia in his left hip, a bad right knee, and problems with his spine. My vet assured me the hip dysplasia was something he was born with. The reason he didn't display symptoms earlier was because he was born with it and learned to live with the pain at an early age.

It had nothing to do with food or nutrients. In addition, he had other internal issues with his spleen and bowels. In June 2018 he lost his ability to walk, a combination of his hip dysplasia and spinal degeneration. I lost him in September.

Absolutely devastating. This breeder is not a responsible breeder.

I did not bother to contact the breeder because my pets are family and I am committed to their care for their entire life. I just wanted to put my story out there.

I bought a puppy from Omega Shepherds and as the pup reached 1 year old, she started limping on rear. Come to find out she has hip dysplasia in both hips. We paid 10K for double

titanium hip replacement and called Julie and Leah Anderson. They said nothing like that had ever happened with their dogs before and promptly sent me another puppy. Unfortunately out

of the same Sire, Luke Vom Gold-Berg #DN0870****. By the time this sweet girl was 6 months old she started limping badly on her front end, her front feet were facing east/west and she was

having problems baring weight on her front end. She has deformed elbows and shoulder. Now i have a fortune invested into two sick puppies.

I ordered a puppy from Omega Shepherds. I got a discount because the tail was more curled.

I asked them to send a picture of the puppy first but Leah said that she just looks like her mom. Being VERY niave, I said ok. We received the pup and it had a completely deformed tail. When the vet examined her, he told us she had some male and some female parts.

Internally, she was completely deformed.

We had to put her down. We did not have a good experience dealing with Omega on this.

We got a very expensive shepherd from Omega and when i took her to the vet he informed me that i couldn't show her because of swayed back and severe overbite. I decided to have her fixed and after the vet let me know she had excessive bleeding that is indicative of inbreeding.

I did chat with Omega about this and they told me that i could bring her back for another dog but this was months after we got her. Kami had lots of emotional issues and we decided to give her to a friend with a ranch a few years ago. She is only around 4 years old and her owner judt called us devastated because he just discovered she has an enlarged heart.

This makes me angry on so many levels.

We spent like a thousand dollars for a dog that has had health issues from the beginning and now Mark is losing his best friend.

I've had two German Shepherds from Omega Shepherd over past 8 years. Both outstanding dogs.

No problems. Leah has been wonderful to work with. I recommended them to a friend who also had an outstanding dog. My son had one German Shepherd who was very hard to control.

Very frenetic. Couldn't walk on a leash. Would run away if given a chance. they were busy young parents working with three small children and didn't have the time to work with her as maybe they could have.

I worked with her. Gave her love, discipline, and exercise. Totally transformed. 180 degrees different.

Obedient and calm.

Great dog. Back with my grandkids and they love her to death

Montana German Shepherd /Belgian Malinois Rescue will no longer take into rescue, any Omega Shepherds from MT. All the dogs we have gotten in have had major health issues.

Pannus, thyroid, hips, heart murmurs, and even double ears on one ear, yup that is right folks, I have photos to prove it from 2 different dogs . . . I have had also many phone complaints from people that have purchased a puppy or dog from this kennel.

People Please, Please, Please, Please, Please do your homework and check out this kennel before you purchase a dog from these people.

research, research research, research, research, research, research research research before you buy!!! .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

We purchased our German Shepherd puppy in May 2007 from Omega Shepherds, without reviewing prior online complaints. I should have known there was a problem from the beginning when the contract stated there was only a guarantee IF we purchased an expensive vitamin supplement for one year that Omega Shepherds is the distributor for! This is not stated on the website.

When our new puppy had blood in her first stool with us, I called Julie of Omega Shepherds who incredibly claimed there were no parasites in Montana so our puppy was not given the typical dewormers. Our puppy DID have parasites and was treated appropriately by our vet.

Our dog was also diagnosed with HIP DYSPLASIA at 3 years of age when she started limping. I was naïve and did not realize I needed to view X-rays and that they had misrepresented the hip dysplasia certification. Her back legs also point outward in an abnormal position. I recently discovered there are other Omega Shepherds with this east-west leg orientation.

She was also diagnosed with PANNUS and requires daily steroid eye drops. I have since noted online that many Omega Shepherds develop this debilitating eye disease.

Starting at around 9 months of age she developed SEVERE ALLERGIES. Even with a grain-free diet, multiple dietary elimination trials and environmental allergy shots she continued to gnaw mercilessly at her anus and lick her paws until they were raw and bleeding or infected. We are unable to lower her daily steroid medication so she is STEROID DEPENDENT and she subsequently became HYPOTHYROID requiring daily thyroid medication.

Earlier this year she developed SKIN CANCER on her tail.

Our vet calls her our "million dollar dog" for the cost of all of her ailments which we recognize is due to the IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDING PRACTICES of Omega Shepherds.

We love our dog but it is heart-breaking that this breeder is producing such sick, compromised dogs. I hope this review helps someone else avoid Omega Shepherds like the plague. More than the financial aspect, their irresponsible breeding and selling practices have caused us tremendous heartache with what our wonderful dog has had to endure.

We are a very active, professional family that had three fantastic GDS's prior to making the mistake of working with Omega. We had vetted several breeders, spent quite a bit of time corresponding and speaking with Julie and Leah and eventually chose a pup.

Immediately after we had the pup at home, their attitude(s) did a complete 180. Although we are very familiar with the breed (which makes this all the more painful), we did have a quick initial question or two. Leah became permanently unavailable, and Julie was suddenly very hard to reach both via phone and email. Again, we were just attempting to get a question or two answered regarding our new pup.

The dog's temperment and physical characteristics are not remotely close to what we were told to expect. After another $3K+ worth of training things have improved - a little. For the record, we are NOT high maintenance, or fellow breeders with an axe to grind.

Just very dissatisfied customers. Do what you like, but we would categorically never work with Omega again.

I have my second german shepherd from "Omega Shepherds" julie and leah anderson in helena montana amd he has a heart murmur umbelical hernia eats and lays in his poo and *** so we are washing him everyday no break and this was the same thing with our first puppy WHICH WAS A DWARF!!! he is now in a new home he wa born feburary 12th by dax and artemis of the omega shepherds he is currently 24 pounds!

Has had prior promlems including seizures and inteligence he as well needed baths daily i am outraged for 20+ years leah and julie anderson have been produing mutated dogs! I recently had to take my new pup born march 26th from dax and bree to the vet because he did not eat for 2 days!! This happened before and he is on antibiotics and leah and julie have the nerve to blame my living conditions for his health!! AND AT THE VET THERE WAS A LADY from missoula and her 5 and a half old german shepherd has a bad heart valve , bad thyroid, allergies and more!!!

ALL MY PUPS HAD COCCIDIA AN INTESTINAL PARASIT an they simply gave me albon! And vitamins!

We need to all band together and stop this puppy mill once and for all i have the montana german sheherd rescue on my side and i am building a case which is seiously building fast with i believe i have 5 others so please contact me at entity602@***.com or on here for my phone number because if we all dont band together this 20+ year old kennel with continue to steal and con other poor familys like me and others going thru hardship with the anumals they love so please please! Get in contact with me this needs to stop one way or another thru lawsuit or state power!

We bought two German Shepherds from Omega Shepherds. They are approximately two years apart in age.

Both have severe hip problems. In fact, my veterinarian was so upset that he called the breeders at Omega Shepherds. There only response was "we have never had any hip problem" and he promptly told them they were lying. Have you read their guarantee?

What a joke. There is no guarantee at all but most importantly, they are breeding dogs into a lifetime of pain. Never, never, never consider buying an animal from these unethical breeders. So sad for our dogs and also all the others that have these genetic problems.

Note that Omege Shepherds provides no certification of hips, eyes, etc.

Quite honesty their breeding program results only in tragedies.

I purchased my German shepherd from Omega Shepherds In February 2009. Within the first few days I noticed my puppy would make a very odd gurgly noise in her throat, it sounded as though she was preparing to vomit. When my puppy was making this noise her throat also would appear to be extending out, it reminded me of a frog when they puff out their throat. I contacted the breeder and explained my observations and inquired as to whether there were any issues with other littermates or the mother or father of my puppy. They denied any health issues with their puppies.

In the coming weeks the issue became more apparent and would cause my puppy more issues after she was eating. After several tests (to include x-rays and a barium swallow test I was informed my puppy had a severe case of esophageal dysphagia. The veterinarian explained that this issues was sometimes seen in a much older dog but had never been observed in a puppy. The vet further explained the concerns I noted (the throaty, extending throat, and issues after eating) was a result of this condition. In essence my puppy had a lack esophagus muscle which is what allows a dog to push their food down from their mouth to the stomach. This also leads to issue with digestion, vomiting, possible choking on food, and bloat issues. Due to the fact that we were dealing with such a young puppy the prognosis was not good. I was informed in older dogs a surgery can be done which is basically a surgical scraping of the dogs esophagus which then forms scar tissue and helps tighten up and decreases the looseness of the esophagus. This procedure was not an easy fix as in older dogs it sometimes has to be repeated after time. I was informed a dog suffering from this condition will require lifelong care to help in the ingestion and proper digestion of food and water. (such care was needed to help make up for what the esophagus was not doing which was pushing down and holding down the food, elevated feedings, soft food, and limited amounts of food and water at a time.)

The veterinarian informed me the puppy would have a very poor quality of life and could likely choke on its own food and water if not always supervised. I called the breeder after learning such terrible news and after she adamantly denied any health issues with her dogs her answer was to have the puppy put down. My daughter had already begun to bond with the dog and I could not bring myself to euthanize such a young puppy that could have a chance at life. The next night I was up all night with my puppy and realized the condition she was suffering from was not only problematic but caused her to suffer. I came to this realization after she was done eating and she was having difficulty getting the food down. You could see a bulge in her esophagus where the food was stuck and would not push down into her stomach. She appeared to be in pain and was restless and uncomfortable. She was pacing uncontrollably, panting, and attempting to vomit repeatedly. I frantically called the vet and was informed this was to be expected due to her diagnosis and if the puppy was having such difficulties the incidents and issues would only increase with time. When I spoke to the breeder her answer was again to euthanize the dog and she would "replace" her with a new puppy. I consulted with my vet the following day and determined the puppy had such a severe case of dysphagia that euthanasia was the "best option." (This was a traumatic and emotional decision but it was either this or allow the puppy to suffer and possibly die from choking at anytime.)

Although the breeder did "replace" my puppy with one from another litter she was difficult to work with. It was obvious the recent events had caused me and my daughter to be emotionally drained and she still refused to bring the new puppy to me (approximately 4 hours away). I explained I did not believe I should have to drive the 4 hours again since I had just made the trip less than 3 weeks prior to pick up my sick and now euthanized puppy. I explained I had a young child and was unable to make another trip to pick up the puppy. She refused to make the trip. .

After receiving my new puppy I immediately took her to the vet for a check. At the check-up I was informed the puppy had a severe overbite which would cause her issues in the future. The vet informed me this was a major defect and would require her bottom canines to be shaved down to prevent them from protruding into the roof of her mouth.

When I called the breeder to explain the recent discovery at my vet she again denied any such issues with her puppies. I asked what the odds were that I would have gotten the only 2 puppies with health issues.....of which were from 2 separate litters. The breeder's only answer to this was to offer to exchange my puppy for yet another. I explained this was the 2nd puppy I had received from her with health issues and was certain another puppy would only have further issues. She refused to return my money. I further explained that the recent veterinarian visits with the previous sick puppy had cost me over $500 on top of the $1500 I had just paid for the puppy. The breeder eventually agreed to return $500 of my money but under the agreement that my new puppy would not be allowed to be registered and would have to be spayed. As I was only interested in a family pet this was easy for me to agree to. I had to make other arrangements for the puppy to be brought back to me as the breeder still refused to bring her to me.

My "puppy" is now 2 years old is a part of family and is very much loved but there are ongoing issues. Her bottom canines were shaved down and are approximately half the size they should be. She has difficulty eating and drinking due to the gap between her upper and lower jaw. She also has a significant limp in her right front leg, which started over 6months ago and will continue to cause her pain and issues throughout the rest of her life. At such a young age she should not be suffering from any such ailments and I only hope she will not have further health issues to endure.

When I bought my puppy from Omega Shepherds I was misinformed and apparently improperly researched their puppies and breeding standards. I believed by paying such a high dollar amount for such a breed I would be able to limit the health issues and be guaranteed a pure and true shepherd, in character, appearance, and health. I am saddened that they continue to breed dogs that they then sell to families that become attached and must deal with the financial and emotional strain of having a dog with such poor health and breeding standards.