It all began...

I am a Shiloh Shepherd, breed quality puppy. That may not mean much to someone who doesn't know how amazing we are so I will help you fall in love.

I came to my new family because of my sister's tragic ending to her short life. So this journey is in memory of my sister, Lucia.

It all started about a year ago when my human parents began their search for another dog but not just any dog--they wanted a large, protective, intelligent dog that loved everyone it should but was smarter than the average four-legged kid. That's how they found the Shiloh Shepherds www.shilohshepherds.org. We Shilohs are a rather new (1974) breed and our founder, Tina Barber, has made sure we are the smartest, biggest, best, healthiest Shepherds on the planet. Boy, it's a big responsibility to be so perfect!

My family found my sister, Lucia, at Riverwind Shilohs www.riverwindshilohs.com, visited with the breeder, met Katie, (Lucia's Mom) and placed their order right then and there to be added to the list for one of Katie and Big Jake's (Lucia's Dad) puppies.



Katie is a beautiful sable plush coat

and Big Jake is a black, smooth coat.

Well, you don't just pick-a-puppy by the way. The breeder wants to know everything about what your human family is looking for so they can match up the perfect puppy (not that all of us aren't perfect) to the perfect family. When the puppies are eight weeks old, the breeder and a helper conduct an LER (Litter Evaluation Report) to determine temperament and conformation. It's a very hard test for us little guys. I mean really, we have to run through a maze, play with a tug, follow the leader (or not) and run back and forth so the humans can fill out some papers! Anyway, after all that, a very intense and sometimes lengthy process takes place where each puppy is placed with the right human family. It's kind of like winning the lottery. You don't know how much you're going to win but you definitely hit the jackpot. Lucia went home with her new humans and that's exactly who she wanted to be with (and they were very happy about it, too). Our human Dad and Mom also brought Grandogma (who makes some kind of fabulous cookies) and she held her all the way home. (I understand she wasn't nearly as good about the trip as I was but that's later).

Lucia tried to fit right in and was welcomed home by Agnies of Pississi ,the Bagle (Beagle/Bassett) and Juneau, the Akita/Eskimo bad boy of the house. Juneau had no patience or desire to like the new addition and let Lucia know it from the git go. Agnies, who never had fur children of her own, became the instant doting, protective Mommy. Several weeks after Lucia arrived, Juneau became sick--he was fourteen years old and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. It was pretty hard on Mom, Dad and Agnies but Lucia stepped right up and helped them through it. Puppies are like that--who can be too sad for too long when a puppy has the heart of an angel and the energy of a Tasmanian Devil.

Lucia and Agnies were quite the co-conspirators from what I hear. When Mom forgot there was a puppy around, they reminded her not to forget again with their ingenuity and sheer brilliance! It's exhausting tearing into a 25 lb. bag of birdseed and spreading it around just so.










When Lucia was five months old, tragedy struck. There are some pretty stupid and/or evil humans in this world and without all the gory details, someone poisoned her and she died. A necropsy from the veterinary school at the university determined her death was caused by ingestion of rodenticide; i.e., D-Con. If anyone reading this uses rat poison, please stop and use traps only--your poison rodents can travel to your neighbors and kill their pets.

Of course, Mom, Dad and the entire family were devastated. They immediately started a search for another Shiloh. They knew their lives were changed because of Lucia and were determined to never be without another one. If you believe in Karma, then keep reading. If you don't, we're sorry.

Solace Shilohs www.solaceshilohs.com is another wonderful Shiloh breeder in the state of Washington. It so happened that several litters were being born and would be available around Halloween (that's where I come in). Mom and Dad put their money where their mouths were and got on the waiting list. When my dog-Mom, Pica






and dog-Dad, Zeke







did their thing, a whole lot of us came into this world. Mom and Dad flew to Seattle and after the LER, I spent the night at their bed and breakfast. I was exhausted but I still had time to show-off and play with my new toys.









I cried all night so Mom (and Dad) lay in the floor with their hands in my crate to let me know everything was going to be just fine. The next day, I flew home with Mom and Dad and that's where MY story begins.