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.

Shire and Memphis

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

Memphis

Memphis and his mom & half-brother

Memphis trotting

Tali

Memphis ready to help with chores

Memphis and his mom, Connie

Tali jumping creek

Tali

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
Dam
Trailblazer’s Bess
DI = 0.41/0.41
Sire
Porter’s Cyrus Jim
Dam
Snowy River’s Sadie Lady
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
Dam
Ward’s Duchess
Dam
Snowy Rivers Sadie Lady
PennHIP = 0.32/0.36
Sire
Vetaly’s Caesar
Dam
Mardiham’s Lillie
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
Dam
HTCH Peaslee’s Honey
OFA good
Sire
Partlow’s Bud II
OFA good
Dam
Peaslee’s Brighton
OFA fair
Dam
Peaslee’s Elanor Proudfoot
OFA good
Sire
Banks’ Cody Boy
OFA good
Sire
Biberstine’s Shep
Dam
Cook’s Annie
Dam
HTCH Peaslee’s Sunshine Daydream
OFA good
Sire
Jarratt’s Dallas
OFA fair
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:

  1. Send me a brief introductory message, either by email or via Facebook.
  2. Return a short questionnaire that I will send you (it may take me a few days to get back to you).
  3. 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.

What to expect: birth to 8 weeks

There are entire books on this subject, here are just a few highlights of life with puppies over the first 8 weeks.

First week

  • Pups will double in size.
  • Their eyes and ears are closed.
  • Puppies with white markings often have a pink nose – the black pigment will fill in gradually over the next few months.
  • Mother settles into puppy care – feeding and cleaning are a major focus.
  • We enrich environment, with scents and textures, and handle pups throughout the day to stimulate brain development.

10 days - 3 weeks

  • Eyes and ears open, pups start exploring
  • Pups start displaying baby “dog” behaviors like barking, playing (adorable)
  • Add toys, different surfaces to navigate, to puppy pen
  • Puppy pen in main area of home so pups experience normal household activities

Weeks 3 - 5

Puppies are entering Prime Time for socialization now — they are fully mobile, senses all online; they are relatively fearless and recover quickly from mildly stressful experiences.  Exposure to new things helps build their mental and physical strength and resilience… so:

 

  • Puppy world expands… they venture outdoors, start meeting new people
  • Puppies start seeking out “potty place” away from sleeping area
  • Introduce new toys, sounds, obstacles to conquer
  • Around 4 weeks, begin gradual weaning

Week 5

Field trips are a key part of our schedule during the second month.  Puppies at this age are still protected by antibodies acquired from their mother, minimizing risk of infection, and they are sponges soaking up new experiences:

 

  • Car rides in crate.
  • Field trips, including the traditional duck round-up.
  • Each new experience results in increasing puppy swagger.

Week 6

AKA, Shark Week…

 

  • Practice doing the puppy shuffle (walking with puppy attached to shoelaces) and raising barriers to contain clever puppies
  • Mother happily shares babysitting with family members
  • Mother teaches communication and manners

Week 7

Puppy shenanigans increase as their bodies grow and their abilities expand exponentially — they can climb (x-pens are basically ladders), run fast, and their coordination improves rapidly.  Thankfully, puppies are highly social, they want to be with you & with each other; tapping on their dinner dish will bring them running… it does not take a master trainer to build an outstanding “recall”!

 

  • Refine containment strategies…
  • One-on-one puppy time each day
  • Vet visit

Week 8

Helping puppies develop their ability to move — to control their body (all 4 feet!), to confidently navigate all kinds of surfaces and balance on moving obstacles — is an essential foundation for all future training.  Thankfully it is also incredibly fun and entertaining.  Set up an interesting challenge, provide simple instructions (demo dogs are invaluable), make it worth their while, and enjoy!

 

  • Fun with the floating board
  • Continue one-on-one time with individual pups away from group
  • Finalize puppy profiles (observations, exams) & placements

Contact Shepherd’s Way

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