Daisy Hill Fiber Farm

If you've following the blog you know that we've been expecting PUPPIES!  And today they have come out to introduce themselves.  We're very excited, and can't wait to watch them mature and grow... and will let you be part of that experience as well.

Iden, the dam (Mom) of this litter is a Seal/White English Shepherd, 2 years old.  She is a stocky, smaller ES and the big boss of the place.  She is my agility and chore companion and would drive herself to the mailbox if I didn't hide the keys.

Justus, the sire (Dad) of this litter is a Sable/White NBT (natural bob tail) English Shepherd, 1 year old.  He is slim and tall, and he is just now going through his teenage times.  Think a 14-16 year old male, pushing his limits, growing into his gawky body, and finding out who he really is.  He has a wonderful sense of humor developing, and is friendly to everyone, dog or human.

Our family planning didn't work as we had hoped.  This litter was "planned" for next year at this time.  Circumstances got away from us and we are having it earlier than anticipated.  We have determined that our small home isn't big enough for a stud dog and intact females, and Justus will be going off to get "tutored" in the very near future.  So this will be our only litter by these two dogs.  Puppies are available... contact us for more information.  We are currently planning on keeping one of the females for ourselves...

A quick description of the English Shepherd.  It is often referred to as the Farmers Best Kept Secret.  They are the farm collie of old.  Though originally bred to work on small farms they are a versatile breed that lends itself to chores, farmwork, agility, and suburban family pet.  They are not a breed for owners that can not set boundarys.  They are rule oriented, and if you don't give them YOUR rules, they will make their own.  They love to have a job and are known for their herding abilties, but also their protection and hunting abilities as well.  When socialized they are great with children and other pets.  Often referred to as the "Border Collie with an Off Switch"  they can be going warp speed one minute, and relax at your feet for a nap the next.  Though certain colorations are often mistaken for Border Collies, and they do share aspects of the same family tree... they have a completely different herding style and outlook on life.  English SHepherds are upright, "quiet eye" herders, and once you see one manage stock you see the difference right away.  They do not herd from prey drive as the Border Collie does, but rather out of order and a desire to please their person.  Where a Border Collie would herd stock without a human present (over and over throughout the day, endangering its charges) an English Shepherd  would watch over them in a protector mode until asked to do differently.  They also reason well, so if a fence or gate should be open and stock were to wander, the sense of order of the ES would often cause them to return the stock to their field and hold them there until help arrived.  These abilities transfer themselves over into family life in marvelous ways as well.

English Shepherds are not recognized by the AKC.  They are recognized by a national breed club and the UKC.  Because the dog is bred for its personality and ability, rather than a set standard for appearance, different breeding lines may differ in size and look.  For further breed information check out http://www.englishshepherd.org/.

Drum roll please....

New puppies!  Hot off the... hmmm, lets skip that.  These guys aren't even 6 hours old here.  They all seem hail and hearty and have had their first meal.  Mom is being very attentive, and is very tired.

Puppy #1  A clear sable MALE with a full tail.

Puppy #2  A clear sable FEMALE with a full tail

Puppy #3  A seal/white MALE with a short NBT

Puppy #4  A shaded sable FEMALE with a slightly longer NBT

Puppy #5  A Seal/White MALE with a slightly longer NBT

Puppy #6  A clear sable MALE with a full tail

Puppy #7  A seal/white MALE with a short NBT

Puppy #8  A clear sable FEMALE with a slightly longer NBT

As they grow I'll add additional photos letting you see their markings and personalities a bit more clearly.

And a family photo of the exhausted Mom and her brood.

Well in years past I've watched other peoples puppy pictures progress and I have to say that I never truely valued the effort involved.  My hats off to you puppy photographers out there!  You'd think, and you'd be wrong, that if their eyes aren't open that they cooperate with photo opps.  I don't know if next weeks will be easier once they have opened up their eyes, or if the difficulty level will continue to mount as the puppies grow and become more mobile.  YIKES!

So here are the little ones.  And if you find an error in my identification of one or two of the clear sables I will admit to needing to take better notes while I am taking the photos.  It took me an undisclosed silly amount of time to try to match up the markings to the preliminary photos.  Of course made more difficult because the little pups were feeling their most contrary today and if I stood in one spot they inveribly turned the opposite direction.  If I stood in that spot - they turned the other way.  For blind little meatloafs they had great instinct on how to be the least cooperative.  Sue 0, Puppies 1.

We'll start with a group shot - taken by me because the pups arrranged themselves this way completely on their own.  Amazing really...

And the individual pups:

Puppy #1, Clear Sable Male with a full tail

Puppy #2, Clear Sable Female with a full tail

Puppy #3, Seal/White Male wih a short NBT

Puppy #4, Shaded Sable female with a slightly longer NBT

Puppy #5, Seal/White Male with a slightly longer NBT

Puppy #6, Clear Sable Male with a full tail

Puppy #7, Seal/White Male with a short NBT

Puppy #8, Clear Sable Female with a slightly longer NBT

Standby for new photos in a week.  Check out the Current Blog for some interesting photos of Justus, sire to this litter.  He's become the parent of a sickly lamb - showing some fine maternal instincts (yes, maternal).

Our little meatloafs are growing into chunky little fruitcakes now.  Solid, tank like puppies.  They now are very vocal having learned to bark, growl and whine.  Granted little squeaky barks, but certainly enough to wake a person up at 4AM.  Ask me why I know that...  But here are more photos.  Better identified this time around.  Promise!

Puppy #1 Clear Sable Male with a full tail

Pup #2 Clear Sable Female with a full tail

Pup #3 Seal Male with a short NBT

Pup #4 Shaded Sable Female with a slightly longer NBT

Pup #5 Seal Male with a slightly longer NBT

Pup #6 Clear Sable Male with a full tail

Pup #7 Seal Male with short NBT

Pup #8 Clear Sable femal with slightly longer NBT

And yes, they are becoming even CUTER with each passing week!  Seperate personalities are starting to peek out too.  So much fun.