Steady and Star's litter is growing by leaps and bounds, changing almost daily. Each pup is really starting to show their character, their attention to details, and their approach to the world around them. This time I'll work backward in birth order, with a short description and a photo of each of the 11 pups. Midnight was the last born, a sweet female who is not pushed around by any of the other pups. She is not instigating tussles, but will stand her ground when others

Saturday marked four weeks since the "Shepherd's Star" (another term is "Even Star") litter was born. Our litter names were chosen based on these names for the planet Venus in the sky at twilight, being a steady, constant point of navigation, over the ages. With Star as our retiring matron, and Steady as our up and coming sire, a combination of both ideas seemed appropriate. Litter names reflect the heavens (gale/galaxy, Vesper/venus, etc) as well as constant, steady type

Here we are in the puppies' 4th week since birth. I see tiny teeth when they yawn or tussle, tails are wagging, play is happening, fierce growls and sharp barks are replacing the tiny noises that were building up to this. Goat milk is a daily supplement, and tonight they will taste their first "real" dog food. As they mill around after nursing, they have been eagerly sniffing the kibble in Star's food bowl, so it is time. This will be canned puppy "mousse", which we are t

The pups are changing, almost hour by hour. Trundling became walking, gumming became play fighting, tiny yips are taking shape to be bratty barks, howls, and fierce baby growls. Here are the girls Tara, first born. A lovely shaded sable, with an independent first-born type personality. Our third born pup is Gale. She makes us laugh with her noisy antics. Even for the photo -op, she was trying out howls and yowls, very intent on making an impression. The next girl, born

So fun to see shiny glints of reflection as tiny eyes begin to open. Here is the "Evening Star" litter, named for both the constant, steadfast nature of their sire "Steady", but also a nod to mama Star's legacy as she retires from breeding. The Even Star or Evening Star was known as a guiding light, a point for navigation, and "pointing the way" The Evening Star refers to the planet Venus, which appears at twilight as a constant bright signal to both sailors, and in ancient

Day one for the Head Start program. :) Yes, I am shamelessly stealing that term from the public school system... (free services for children from age 1-5... breakfasts and lunch at school, that sort of program) All of the puppies are gaining weight, per day, but a few are chunkers and a few are still clamoring for more or grumbling just a bit when nursing is over. With large litters in the past, I have not needed to supplement with a bottle, but I thought I would try, given S

Mama Star resting on the morning of their due date. All were born before the end (or just AT the end) of August 8. :) Steady definitely stamped his mark on these babies!!! #1: Born at 3:40 PM. Shaded sable female, wide blaze, white toes, no white on tail tip, no rear dew claws. #2: Born at 4:01 PM, black male, distinguishable from later black males by having slightly more white on his front toes. No blaze, white chin, white front paws, no rear dew claws. #3: Born 4:11 PM.

August 8, 2026. The litter arrives!!! 11 puppies total, with the last one born on the dot at midnight. It is a very dark litter compared to the Irish white markings we are accustomed to. Different shades of brown, and seal, are showing now that the puppies are dry. Some of the nearly black pups look like baby panthers. Six females, five males. Most with minimal white. A very beautiful, intriguing litter with "Steady" stamped all over it. Happy retirement Mama Star!

August 5: The vet pointed out 10 definite pups and possibly an 11th. In the month between July 8's ultrasound appointment and today, Star has put on exactly 10 pounds. Star is outside right now in the side yard, lying on the cool brick walkway, not barking to come in. The puppy whelping area next to our bed is all set up. So, it seems that we are getting very close. Sometimes large litters come a day or two earlier than smaller litters, and Star and her mother Taffy both

The countdown has begun for a very special event in our community. Around August 9, we expect the arrival of nine or ten little ones, marking a beautiful transition: Star’s last litter and Steady’s first. This moment carries a mix of emotions and excitement, as it celebrates both an ending and a new beginning. A recent ultrasound confirmed what we hoped for, filling us with joy and anticipation. This blog post shares everything you need to know about this upcoming litter, the

We have a potential litter due in August... Confirmation will occur in mid-July, and then we'll REALLY start planning. Star's retirement litter and Steady's first litter should be a good one. He and Star make an outstanding team here on the farm. Star rarely is annoyed with Steady, and he is continually taking his cues and learning more from her. They chase vultures and hawks out of "our" airspace together, dig varmints out of woodpiles, and patrol the perimeter on our d

Yesterday, Remy was the hero. It is not a story for animal lovers. But it IS a story for those who recognize the value of a farm dog doing a farm dog's job. Remy has alerted to possums on the second floor, from the scent that he could detect, coming down through the old hay chute. Yesterday, he was standing under the old grain vent in the barn ceiling, alert and barking that same signature bark... We had to go to the opposite end of the first floor, open a door, go up rickety

A little story about a farm dog who has had some beginning training as an agility dog, and how the teamwork that both of us have learned paid off, in a normal farm job... a chicken round-up as a huge storm rolled in. Steady is our first dog to take classes in Tricks, and then Agility. It's mainly so that I have something different than "just" farm work for him, sort of an enrichment class for him and for me to enjoy together. We get to bond as a team while we work through an

First Posted September 2025 When Star had her litter with Remy, in summer of 2022, we knew that one female pup would stay. Trixie was the one, intended to be Jeff's dog and also to continue our breeding program into the next generation. She matured to be a beauty, tall and graceful, gorgeous sable coloring, very in tune with our farm and especially the tree rodents (don't say the word "squirrel" out loud...). She shaped up to be Jeff's constant companion, with great Embark re

Here is a little about Star, since she has informed me that she will not be making her appearance on the red carpet as people come to...

At the point of visits and before placement decisions in any litter, I hope I can ask for your grace because this is topic is on my heart at this point with each litter born on our farm. When we first start talking about applications, and an upcoming litter, I am upfront about not placing puppies based on markings or on color, but on temperament. The markings of a dog might not make for a lifetime placement. The temperament of a dog will factor in so much more, in any place

The first puppy adventure was had by Miss Starla (not any sort of official name, it is just what I exclaimed when I found her). Mama Star...