Bandogs - Bull Lurchers - working Crosses

Why choose a savant bred dog?

Today, the majority of breed types are seldom maintained by measures of performance. As dog breeders continue to become influenced by the show ring - an emphasis on meeting conformation standards has surpassed the need to preserve breed specific abilities. Judges are no longer observing how a breed standard serves as the blueprint which allows a dog to excel in the jobs for which it was created.

While we can appreciate how the conformation show educates and exposes canine enthusiasts to a variety of breeds - we can’t help but feel a sense of discouragement as Kennel Clubs have become mere beauty pageants, rather than exhibitions which celebrate and honor breed heritage. We aim to perpetuate what made the dog valued in the first place. We recognize that without the preservation of breed specific abilities through avenues which acknowledge, test, and fortify breed types - we’ll experience the dilution of just what makes a working dog, a working dog.

Times have changed - and within the last 200 years, the keeping of dogs as companion animals has become a relatively new phenomenon. With the onset of the industrial revolution and intensive agriculture, many of the breeds used to hunt, guard, protect or fight to maintain the livelihoods of family farms or homesteads have all but disappeared.

Society’s demand on the dog has changed; despite the desire to own the biggest, “baddest”, exotic or most popular working types. People admire the aesthetic, liking the “idea” of a working dog, compared to the burden of truly owning one. We see no fault in this, as a dog who has been bred true to type is a large undertaking (particularly if one lacks the knowledge and experience). If you are not prepared for the lifestyle change that our dogs demand, please find another breeder. We breed for a small population who requires more from their dogs than a “look”.

It’s generally accepted that dogs evolved alongside man, and were eventually expected to work to earn their keep. We believe that the symbiotic relationship was rooted in their ability to complete a job. As a result, only the best were bred - passing on their unique evolutionary histories and solidifying many of the landraces and breed types we see today. Their strengths are rooted in their abilities, and their abilities dictate who they are. We value these dogs, as they tend to bring “a little extra” to the table in regards to intensity, grit, seriousness and confidence.

SavantK9 admires the working dog spirit - one steeped in tradition, forged through hardship, and enhanced through generations of selective breeding. We seek to perpetuate the dog who represents history’s very best. Our dogs live to work, and we are committed to producing the type and character capable of living up to breed expectations.

We aim to create dogs with the health, drive, stability, and mental clarity to handle the task at hand. Our dogs will ONLY be placed in experienced/working homes. We screen potential clients carefully, take our vetting process seriously, and none of our dogs are sold for any illegal purposes. 

We offer lifetime breeder support, and guarantee our dogs are free from congenital health defects for the first 2 years.  We breed for the discriminating canine enthusiast. If you demand more from your dog, get in contact with us.

About us

Our appreciation for the working dog began overseas. While living abroad I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe a society’s strong reliance on dogs for utilitarian purposes - be it working cattle stations in the outback, wild game hunting, or protecting homesteads throughout the scrublands of Australia. These experiences allowed me to compare canine usage between Australia and the United States. I was fortunate to work closely with a number of deep generation crosses and breed types maintained by families for decades.  It was an appreciation for this “Aussie Style” of dog, that led SavantK9 to import and recreate these successful breed types here in the US. 

Our Dogs

Our dogs are typically bred to be high strung, and of strong temperament. This requires handlers who are familiar with a level of canine psychology and animal behavior to manage them responsibly. These are working animals who require homes who respect, understand, and are capable of meeting their needs. Our dogs are stable, balanced, safe, and predictable with family; but will always require appropriate socialization and competent management. A heavy hand is not needed, but a firm, fair, and consistent one is. You must be honest with your handling capabilities. Recognize that these are not “dog park dogs” and many will have an engrained genetic disposition to enjoy and create conflict.

We demand more from our dogs. We demand more from our competition. We demand more from potential owners. Looking the part is half the battle. By understanding our philosophy, you begin to understand our stock.

Our Mission

We specialize in producing working molossers, bandogs, and bull lurchers. We believe that breed type influences ability; and depending on your needs, we can work with you to determine what dog best suits your lifestyle. We produce family companion guardians, specialized game hunters, and a few things in between. We fortify our dog’s abilities by using quality stock and incorporating proven blood wherever we can. We place dogs in homes where they will be worked and with owners willing to provide us with open and honest feedback. We set out to build a better dog - and we value client insight. By working together, we can improve the state of the working dog.

The Brand

The SavantK9 Brand is simply the culmination of working dog enthusiasts, experiences, historical traditions, and a vision towards the future. We recognize the strengths found in multiple breeds, and strive to create our own ideal working type dog. We breed for ourselves first and foremost, but believe that well educated canine enthusiasts with a genuine appreciation and interest in what we produce, are more than welcome to own one of our unique productions. Many of our crosses can meet a variety of demands, and we are happy to work closely with clients to aid in selection as well as training. We want to see you and the dog succeed, and by doing so we safeguard and enhance our productions.

Join us on our journey, and own a piece of history. Our emhpasis on performance selection is about recognizing not only what the dog can do, but how well they produce. By valuing the dog infront of us, we can invest the time, training, and resources to bring the very best out of them. By demanding more, we breed better. SavantK9

"in my dogs i find comfort and companionship. In me they find duty and purpose."

- mike mCconnery

Reach out to us

Want a puppy? Have questions? Looking to share insight? Need a dog trainer? We work to build a better dog. We value the community we serve. Please feel free to shoot us a message, we’d love to hear from you.