About Me

Hello, and welcome to ERBEKEES Keeshonden. I would like to take a moment to share my story, my passion for the Keeshond breed, and the philosophy behind my breeding program.

My name is Jodi Erbe, founder and owner of ERBEKEES KEESHONDEN, a dedicated Keeshond breeding program located in Fayetteville, Tennessee. For nearly two decades, I have focused on producing healthy, beautiful, well-socialized Keeshonden with exceptional temperaments for families across the United States. My breeding program is built on four core principles: health, temperament, transparency, and lifelong support.

My love for animals began long before I became a breeder. Growing up, I was surrounded by cattle, horses, chickens, geese, pigs, goats, and many different dog breeds. Caring for animals was simply a way of life, and those early experiences shaped my deep appreciation for responsible animal husbandry and the special bond between people and their pets.

My journey with Keeshonden began in 1991 when I purchased my first Keeshond, Keeffer, as a Christmas gift for my young sons. At the time, I knew very little about the breed, but it didn't take long for Keeffer to capture our hearts. His beautiful appearance, loving personality, intelligence, and devotion to our family made an unforgettable impression on me. From that moment forward, I fell in love with the breed and have owned only Keeshonden ever since.

Over the years, that love evolved into a passion for preserving and improving the breed through responsible breeding practices. What started as admiration for one special dog eventually became a lifelong commitment to producing healthy, well-adjusted Keeshonden that enrich the lives of the families who welcome them into their homes.

In June of 2016, we relocated to Fayetteville, Tennessee, to create a more customized environment for our growing breeding program. Nestled in the rolling farmland of Southern Middle Tennessee, Fayetteville offers the peaceful country setting that allows our dogs to thrive while remaining conveniently located about an hour from both Nashville, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama.

As our program continued to grow, we invested in a brand-new facility in the fall of 2020 designed specifically for responsible Keeshond breeding. Our adult dogs enjoy spacious indoor and outdoor living areas, while our nursery—located directly off our home—provides a safe, warm, and closely monitored environment for mothers and puppies. We have also expanded our outdoor exercise yards and added covered kennel areas to ensure our dogs remain comfortable regardless of weather conditions. I am continually working to improve our facilities and breeding program while carefully selecting new breeding dogs that meet the high standards I have established for ERBEKEES.

One of the things that distinguishes ERBEKEES from many breeding programs is my unwavering commitment to health testing and transparency. I firmly believe that responsible breeding begins with healthy parents. Every breeding dog in my program undergoes the recommended health testing for the breed, including evaluations through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). All health testing results are publicly available and can be independently verified through the OFA database. No dog is used in my breeding program unless it has successfully passed the required health clearances.

As an AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. breeder, I am committed to maintaining the highest standards of health, education, accountability, responsibility, and tradition. Health testing is not an optional enhancement in my program—it is a fundamental requirement and the foundation upon which every breeding decision is made.

Throughout my years as a breeder, I have observed that breeders often fall into two general categories: companion breeders and show breeders. While many companion breeders genuinely care about their dogs, some breed without comprehensive health testing or without carefully evaluating genetics and structure. On the other hand, many show breeders produce exceptional dogs but may not always focus on making those bloodlines accessible to companion homes.

My goal has always been to bridge that gap.

I have long admired the beauty, structure, and quality found in well-bred show Keeshonden. Through careful selection of breeding dogs from strong, health-tested show lines, I strive to bring that same quality to families seeking a companion. My mission is to provide families with Keeshonden that possess not only outstanding temperaments but also the beauty, structure, and sound genetics that come from generations of thoughtful breeding and health testing.

What truly distinguishes ERBEKEES, however, extends beyond the dogs themselves. My program is built around education, accessibility, and transparency. I openly discuss topics that many breeders avoid, including health testing, breeding practices, puppy development, deposits, waiting lists, pricing, transportation options, and breeder responsibilities. I believe prospective puppy owners deserve honest information so they can make informed decisions when choosing a breeder.

This commitment to transparency has helped create a strong community of ERBEKEES families throughout the country. Over the years, I have had the privilege of placing puppies with hundreds of wonderful families, many of whom remain in contact long after bringing their puppy home. Some families have returned for a second or even third ERBEKEES puppy, which is one of the greatest compliments I can receive as a breeder.

Client reviews consistently highlight the qualities that matter most to me: responsive communication, healthy and well-socialized puppies, honesty, extensive puppy updates, clean facilities, and ongoing support after puppies go home. I am proud to maintain a perfect 5.0-star rating on Google with over 100 reviews from ERBEKEES families who have welcomed one of my puppies into their homes. I take great pride in being available to answer questions, provide guidance, and support my puppy owners throughout the lifetime of their dog.

My commitment to every puppy extends far beyond the day they leave my home. I firmly believe that breeders have a lifelong responsibility to the dogs they produce. For that reason, I will always take back any ERBEKEES dog at any point in its life if circumstances change and a family can no longer provide care. Because of this commitment, I occasionally have adult Keeshonden or retiring females available for placement. If you are interested in providing a loving home for an older Keeshond, I encourage you to contact me for information about future availability.

Today, ERBEKEES is recognized as a professional, companion-focused breeding program dedicated to producing healthy, family-oriented Keeshonden with exceptional temperaments and breed quality. While I appreciate the accomplishments of the show ring, my greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that the puppies I raise become beloved members of families across the country.

At its core, ERBEKEES is about more than breeding dogs. It is about preserving a breed I love, educating puppy buyers, supporting families, and producing companions that bring joy, loyalty, and unconditional love into the lives of the people who welcome them home.

I am grateful for every family that places their trust in me, and I remain committed to the same principles that inspired me when Keeffer first entered our lives more than three decades ago:

Health first. Temperament always. Transparency in everything. Devoted companions for life.

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For more information please listen to my podcast “WHY ERBEKEES”

https://youtu.be/mlYN49WpPp8?si=_eAnzV2xNi-K-tz1

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Thank you for visiting my website. If I can help you in your search for a Keeshond puppy, please reach out.