Upcoming Litter: Tali & Memphis
Litter planned for Fall 2023. Please contact Shepherd’s Way if you are interested in more information or wish to be added to our mailing list for updates.
Description of the Dam
Peaslee’s Talisman (Tali) is affectionate, intelligent, resilient, and enthusiastic in her approach to life. She is happy working livestock (sheep, goats, ducks), hunting for mice in the barn, lounging on the couch watching Netflix, or accompanying me on road trips. Sweet-natured and curious, she gets along well with other dogs. Our agility teacher describes her as “very patient” – which is perfect for me! Tali has advanced level herding titles (HRD IIIs & HTAD IIIs) and earned several “high in class” awards in her first barn hunt trial this summer – she is self taught! She keeps an eye on our property, dispatching mice & voles and running off coyotes and hawks.
Tali is 3 1/2 years old, medium size (21″ and 38#) & very athletic, with a feminine build and features. Her hips are OFA good, eyes normal (2023 exam) and she is clear for all the genetic disorders included on the Embark panel (196). Tali is loosely linebred on my foundation female, Peaslee’s Brighton, with a genetic COI of 5%. She is registered with United Kennel Club.
Description of Sire
Snowy Rivers’ Majestic Memphis is a friendly, easy-going and athletic dog. He has exceptional social skills and a kind, biddable nature. He lives on a ranch in Oregon and assists with farm chores as well as helping out as a demo dog in his owner’s dog-training classes. He also works as a therapy dog in a local assisted living facility. Memphis helps rid the property of squirrels, rodents, and runs off coyotes and hawks. He loves to retrieve and will carry an empty feed bag or feed container when out doing chores. Memphis has solid natural herding instincts and a strong desire to work in partnership with his owner. He enjoys training, participating in barn hunt, scent work, parkour, and readily learning tricks.
At 9 years of age, Memphis has a moderate build, 22″ and 53 lbs, with a broad head and thick ruff. His hips are OFA good and Embark panel clear for MDR-1, CEA, PRA-prcd and DM. Memphis is linebred on the cross between Snowy River Sadie Lady & Porter’s Cyrus Jim. He is registered with United Kennel Club.
Planned Litter
I expect puppies from Tali and Memphis to be very social, athletic, and quick to learn. They should be suitable for active family homes, dog sports, and as farm helpers. The estimated genetic COI for this match is 5% and the generation interval is 6 1/2 years. Both parents are sound, healthy dogs and we expect the puppies to be as well. Coat colors expected are sable, seal and black (all with white markings).
These puppies will be closely related to my October 2022 litter, out of Shire (Tali’s mom) and Memphis. Those puppies are thriving in a variety of different roles; as a group they are very social, sweet natured, and extremely intelligent.
Photo Gallery (click on arrows to scroll through photos)
Tali’s First Herding Clinic
Tali’s first experience herding sheep at Fido’s Farm in Washington; Tali is one year old in this video. Please ignore me… I hate seeing myself on video!
Memphis’s Intro to Sheep
Memphis’s first experience herding sheep at Brigands Hide-out in Washington.
Litter Pedigree
Genetic COI = 5%
| Sire Snowy Rivers Majestic Memphis OFA good |
Sire Blue Camas Will DI=0.43/0.43 |
Sire Glimmercroft Blaze DI=0.37/0.32 |
Sire Glimmercroft Tanner |
| Dam Z-Best Haylie |
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| Dam Trailblazer’s Bess DI = 0.41/0.41 |
Sire Porter’s Cyrus Jim |
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| Dam Snowy River’s Sadie Lady |
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| Dam Snowy Rivers Little Sydney DI = 0.32/0.32 |
Sire Porter’s Cyrus Jim PennHIP= 0.27/0.27 |
Sire Dunn’s Duke II |
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| Dam Ward’s Duchess |
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| Dam Snowy Rivers Sadie Lady PennHIP = 0.32/0.36 |
Sire Vetaly’s Caesar |
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| Dam Mardiham’s Lillie |
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| Dam Peaslee’s Talisman OFA good |
Sire Shepherd’s Way Levi OFA good |
Sire Thomas’ Char-gin Dersam Boston PennHIP= 0.25/0/25 |
Sire Dersam’s Sparkplug OFA good |
| Dam Dersam-Dollard’s Ginger OFA excellent |
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| Dam HTCH Peaslee’s Honey OFA good |
Sire Partlow’s Bud II OFA good |
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| Dam Peaslee’s Brighton OFA fair |
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| Dam Peaslee’s Elanor Proudfoot OFA good |
Sire Banks’ Cody Boy OFA good |
Sire Biberstine’s Shep |
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| Dam Cook’s Annie |
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| Dam HTCH Peaslee’s Sunshine Daydream OFA good |
Sire Jarratt’s Dallas OFA fair |
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| Dam Peaslee’s Penelope Ravenpaw OFA excellent |
Puppy Placement Process
Frequently Asked Questions
When will puppies be available?
Puppies are generally physically and emotionally ready to go to their new home at 8 – 9 weeks of age. Gestation in dogs is 9 weeks meaning that puppies are available approximately 4 months after the breeding date.
How are your puppies raised?
Puppies are raised in my home so they are handled and exposed to household activities from day one. As the weeks go by, new experiences are introduced so that by the time puppies are ready to go to their new home they will have learned about new people, life indoors and out, navigating obstacles, traveling in cars and crates, and the sights, smells, sounds and activities that go along with modern life. Puppies receive master -level coaching on canine communication and manners from the resident canine pack.
How do you determine placements?
Sorting out puppy placements takes time and patience: the longer we wait before determining placements, the more information we will have about each puppy’s individual personality and needs. I do not make puppy assignments at birth.
I will post regular, often daily, descriptions and photo & video updates over the first 8 weeks so that prospective owners can follow the puppies’ development. As puppies approach 8 weeks, they will have a vet exam and I will develop a profile describing each pup.
I will go through all the information I have received from prospective owners, your plans and preferences, and use those to make a recommendation as to which pup I believe has the best chance of success in your home — and then we talk it over. My experience is that this process, incorporating information from owners and observations over the first 8 weeks of puppies, provides the best foundation for successful placements.
What conditions apply to placements?
My interest in these dogs does not end when they leave my home. Puppies are placed with the understanding that I am available as a resource for the life of the dog. Likewise, I hope to place puppies with people who appreciate my desire for feedback and updates on how each dog is doing over time.
I will take a dog back at any age, for any reason; if a dog from my breeding needs to be re-homed, I will be part of the process.
How much do dogs cost?
The major expenses to consider when getting a dog include food, veterinary expenses (vaccinations, heartworm preventives and annual check-ups), and supplies such as a crate, fencing, leash and collar. Additional costs like training classes, or boarding when you travel, should be factored in as well. The average monthly cost for owning a dog varies but budgeting from $50 – $150 per month, depending on your particular needs, can provide a starting point.
The price of puppies varies as well, from several hundred dollars for a shelter adoption to many thousands for dogs of certain breeds. The average price for an English Shepherd puppy is probably $500-800 (based on my experience). I generally use a sliding scale for pricing, taking into account individual circumstances.
How do I apply for a puppy?
The process for applying for a puppy from Shepherd’s Way:
- Send me a brief introductory message, either by email or via Facebook.
- Return a short questionnaire that I will send you (it may take me a few days to get back to you).
- Then we talk!
I do not take formal reservations or request deposits for puppies not yet born. I do maintain a list of people who are interested in getting a pup, however, and send out updates so that when puppies arrive we can begin the process of determining whether there is a puppy that will be a good fit for you.
