“Legacy” is not a slogan to us.
It is the record of decisions made correctly, under pressure, over
time.
Legacy is built through selection, correction, and restraint. Through dogs chosen for disposition and working clarity, shaped by a breeding history that began in the late 1980s with working German Shepherd Dogs, continued through Belgian Malinois, and for the past 18 years has been dedicated exclusively to the Dutch Shepherd. Not trend-driven. Not volume-driven. Standard-driven.
This program was built during formative years of the breed’s working consolidation in the United States. It was built in sport fields, training fields, federation rooms, and long before the breed carried market visibility.
You are not purchasing a puppy. You are entering a structure whose standards have already influenced working direction, evaluation systems, and institutional roles within the breed.
Legacy is not preserved by volume or popularity.
It is preserved by restraint.
Those who understand the difference will recognize it immediately.
Foundational Contributions
This section documents our structural contributions and institutional roles that shaped the working Dutch Shepherd during its consolidation period in the United States and internationally. These roles were not honorary. They were operational.
President, World Dutch Shepherd Federation (WDSF)
Les Flores served as the Founding President and was later re-elected unanimously. He currently serves in that role. He also held the positions of Vice President and Latin American and Spanish-Speaking Liaison, expanding participation across Spanish-speaking countries and strengthening the federation’s international working structure.
Early FCI-Standard Working Dutch Shepherd Program and Breed Consolidation in the United States
Les and Dara established an early FCI working-standard Dutch Shepherd program during the registry’s formative period in the United States, helping shape structured breed presence, working integrity, and long-term consolidation as national direction was being defined.
Co-Founders, Working Dutch Shepherd Association (WDSA)
Les and Dara co-founded the Working Dutch Shepherd Association (WDSA), establishing an early national structure dedicated to preserving and advancing the working Dutch Shepherd in the United States during the breed’s consolidation period.
National Training Director, DVG America
Les served as Regional and National Training Director, overseeing working standards and restructuring the protection helper certification program to elevate adaptability, safety, and functional performance. The revised framework strengthened helper development across regions and reinforced standards-based protection work.
Structured Dutch Shepherd Puppy Development System
Les and Dara developed and formalized a breed-specific early development system integrating digestive stability, neurological conditioning, environmental exposure, drive communication, and individualized evaluation at a time when such integrated frameworks were uncommon within U.S. Dutch Shepherd programs. This structure remains foundational to our placement standards and long-term performance outcomes.
Further Information
More detailed information about our program, experience, and contributions to the working Dutch Shepherd breed and the broader working dog world is made available after applications are accepted into the program.
WORK IN PRACTICE
Where Our Dogs Are Working
Selected examples of dogs from our program in active roles across sport, service, and operational environments.
View Working Roles