Puppies possible, in August!

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 daily walks. Star has the patience to sit and quietly survey the property for squirrels, while Steady is usually moving and checking things out. It's a good mix of youth and experience.

Star is a homebody who loves her family but is hesitant with those outside of her inner circle. Part of this is because she did not get off the farm much as a pup. She was a crazy-smart pup like her daughter Sunni, a bit less exuberant than Sunni, but still, very active and very quick. Star took STAR Puppy class and passed, and almost passed Canine Good Citizen (I knew she would likely not pass the 3 minutes when I would be out of sight, and... we had a meeting to keep our Lutheran high school open that night, which took precedence). I had thoughts about agility classes for Star, but our farm was in full swing at that point and time off the farm was not as possible. She is completely tuned in to me, or to the jobs on the farm. The reason she was the chosen pup to stay was her beautiful eye focus and being so attuned to everything that her people were doing. (She would peer in the back door, while the rest of the litter played in the yard, for example).

Steady's chronicles have been posted on our Dykstra's Evening Song English Shepherds facebook page since he arrived in August of 2024. He is active, athletic, and he has confidence that Star typically does not show. His type of English Shepherd is different than what we've had here before, and he is quick to make friends, happy to be off the farm, and equally happy to be the chore partner. His personality is very bold, compared to our other ES. He is intelligent, quick to learn, and eager to be with his people. Accomplishments off the farm have been intentional on for his time away from the "pack" and for bonding with me... STAR puppy class, Tricks class to intermediate level, Agility 1 and now Agility 2, and Canine Good Citizen. Steady has done a few Fun Runs at fast CAT events, and gotten better with each try. He is a very well balanced, "steady" sort of dog, but is also still a big puppy at heart with loads of energy.

I'd expect pups from these two to be incredibly smart, in tune with people, a mix of shy or outgoing with healthy socialization a real bonus for all, and probably as quick to learn and as energetic as Sunni tends to be.

I don't expect any couch potato puppies in this pairing. They would need a job, or a running partner, intentional daily activity and possibly agility or other intentional training, if not on a farm with work to do.

Both adults are incredibly loving and in tune with their people.

Color and markings are last on my list for placing pups, but Embark suggests that it could be 1/4 black puppies (it seems that they do not differentiate between black and "seal", which is Star's color), 1/4 shaded sable puppies, 1/4 black with black mask (Steady has a black mask over black and tan features), and 1/4 shaded sable with black mask.

Steady's pedigree was intentionally concentrated on Chesney ancestors (grand, great-grand, great-great-grand and great-great-great grand) and Star does have Chesney on the Taffy side of her pedigree as well (great grand, great-great grand). Steady's breeder is Caleb Cunningham and Star was from our 2017 Evening Song litter.

Registered names of parents (UKC and ESCR) are Covenant of Reveille and Evening Song Starry Night. Both are Embark clear, and both have PennHip scores in the .30 range (excellent)

If there is interest in a pup from this litter, please print the information sheet and application form, and return the application form to us at eveningsongenglishshepherds@gmail.com