Meet Ailagh!

Introducing the newest addition to our English Shepherd pack… Highland Glenn’s Blackrock Ailagh!

Ailagh is a stunningly beautiful Black & Tan with minor white who came to us by way of her owner/breeder whose life circumstances changed dramatically. She needed to find a home for Ailagh in which she could blossom contentedly. Interestingly enough, we had hoped to get a female from Ailagh’s litter (knowing the cross with Liam’s lines would be a good one) but decided to keep one of our puppies. Isn’t it funny how things happen? 

We are simply tickled pink to have her! Ailagh (pronounced AY-la) and Fahey met last fall, hitting if off right away. Well they are the best of mates now! Ailagh is Naturally Reared like our dogs so will expand our line of Naturally Reared English Shepherds.

Let me tell you the story about her name, and there is a story! She came to us named “Aella”, which is Greek and means “whirlwind”. We thought it important for her to keep her name, but you all know how we love Scottish/Irish Gaelic names. We wanted her to have one too, while somehow staying true to her original name. It just so happens the way her Greek name is pronounced could be given a Gaelic spelling without changing the pronunciation. Much like parents who make up names for their children, we made up a Gaelic name for her! This also means there isn’t an actual meaning to the name “Ailagh”, so we’ll attach the meaning of her Greek name to it- whirlwind. And she has taken us by storm! 

  

It is said that it takes four generations of Naturally Reared dogs to wipe the DNA-slate as it were clean of damage. With the addition of Ailagh we are well on our way!

Stop to Smell the Roses

The seventh of the 8 Laws of Health is… REST. In our hectic society rest is not something we usually get enough of. Aside from sleep (which most are deprived of anyway), we don’t even think of regular rest as a necessary activity. 

Yes, an activity which we must plan for. If we over-do, our body will unequivocally tell us there’s no choice in the matter for a spell! Isn’t it wonderfully relaxing to sit before the warm glow of a fire on a cold day sipping a hot beverage, maybe reading a favorite book? Or outside on a summer day listening to the birds sing with a glass of iced herbal tea in hand? Regularly allowing time to engage in rest will help a person keep healthy!

The same applies to our dogs. Although they may get more rest than they is good for them because of their family’s busy lifestyle, here I am specifically thinking of resting the digestive system. Believe it or not, digestion for any being is the hardest work it does. The canine carnivore has the wonderful ability to gently detoxify when allowed to rest from digestion. We may Naturally Rear our dogs and live in a rural setting, but there are many negative influences we have no control over – various air pollutants, radiation, EMF’s, etc. – and these are increased many-fold for those living in urban areas.

How does one give their dog a break from digestion? As usual, take a lesson from their wild cousins. They do not eat every single day. When a large kill is made they eat to their hearts content for a few days and then nothing while hunting for the next meal. A wolf sanctuary in western Washington practices a fasting time with their resident carnivores. For us at home this is accomplished by giving a Fast Day once each week.

Some dogs may seem too hungry for a complete Fast, or their active lifestyle may burn a lot of calories. So on Fast Days we give whole raw eggs with raw milk, or just one of those items. In any case, when we first put this into practice we saw some interesting results - their coats became shinier and there was less gunk in the corner of their eyes. Rather than suppress the elimination of toxins, we want to support the body’s innate healing ability.

Take a rest from the ‘noise’ of modern appliances and electronics. These can interfere with biorhythms and the ability to get deep rest. Some people and animals are highly sensitive to them, experiencing any number of health issues that seriously affect quality of life. 

One caution: cats are “obligate” carnivores which in part means they need to eat meat every day, so do not fast your cat. It could lead to organ damage.

We hope you will experiment with offering a Fast Day to see how resting the digestive system may help your dog!

2013 English Shepherd Litter Planned

We are now accepting Applications.

~ ~ Don't Miss This Opportunity! ~ ~

These Puppies will be amazing additions for a few select homes.
If you would like to be considered as a family for one of our rare Naturally Reared English Shepherds, please Contact Us to request a Puppy Application.


~ All Puppies Are Sold With A Contract ~

Our Breeding Philosophy and Puppy Placement Policies are a bit different than most. We ask that you please read them, as well as our Natural Rearing Program, Raising Pups, and Dog Care Standards.


~ Have questions? We're happy to answer them! ~

THE PARENTS

    

Greer

Liam

Highland Glenn’s du Prairie Liam x Glimmercroft Greer

Liam and Greer are both Naturally Reared. They are affectionate companions, eager to please, social in public, dutiful guardians of home with moderate energy/drive, versatile, good structure, and working traits with various livestock. They produce sweet tempered puppies that are strong and well-balanced in structure, very bright, with great working instincts and moderate-to-high energy/drive; wonderful for either working or active companion homes.

Lines: Anderson, Merz, Butcher, Shininger, Wilson

Green Hills of Home

Our highland mountain home is taking on the quintessential fresh green hue of spring with the leafing out of trees and shrubs, to the new shoots of native grasses and sweeping hay fields. Wildlife and livestock have already begun nibbling on the sweet, succulent grass. By my observation, a few of the Eight Laws of Health can be applied to lowly grass: NUTRITION, WATER, SUN, AIR, and REST.

Nutrition: this is obvious is relation to herbivores and omnivores. Even carnivores periodically imbibe for digestion and self-medication, seeking out certain grasses and plants to fill their needs… instinctively. Water: the fresh morning dew or new fallen raindrops collected on each blade of grass clean a dogs coat while rolling on it as they often do; Sun: chlorophyll provided by photosynthesis thanks to the sun may provide benefits to skin and coat as it does when taken internally; Air: the characteristic scent of cut or crushed grass may stir “life-is-good” feelings;  Rest: oh, how delightful it is on a warm day to snooze in the shade on a soft cushion of cool grass! And what about the grounding influence of simply being outside in direct contact with the earth?

Who would’ve thought humble little blades of grass could offer so many healthful benefits! Low in stature and often overlooked, perhaps, but lowly in importance, never.

On the Breeze

This time we’ll focus on the sixth naturopathic Law of Health… AIR. It’s a given that every living creature needs fresh air daily, even though air pollution is a problem. Even the air quality within our homes, especially during winter, is a health hazard due to the off-gassing of chemical products used daily or just sitting in the cupboard. Now that gives one pause for thought!

Taking your dog to the park is a fine way to get both exercise and fresh air in a mentally stimulating environment. A favorite place of ours is a beach-front park on the Puget Sound – fresh salt air, clean rocky beach, cool waves lapping at the shore, and not too much chemically-treated grass to avoid walking on (we are mindful to avoid such exposure). Hiking trails are another option to enjoy fresh air together.

What does one do about the air inside the home? Go natural, of course! First, opening your windows briefly even on mild winter days is important. Next, kick the chemicals out of your house! Here is my personal list of non-toxic items for cleaning: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, salt, borax, and various organic essential oils like lemon, lavender, and juniper. With these basic inexpensive ingredients one can safely clean just about anything, and very effectively I might add.

Candles add charm and atmosphere yet are serious indoor health hazards. Paraffin is a petroleum by-product that releases carcinogens when burned. Vegetable based waxes like soy would be a better choice if not for the fact that they are most often laden with chemical fragrances and colorants. Instead opt for 100% pure beeswax candles, dye and fragrance-free (except for if scented with essential oils.) I adore the natural sweet honey scent of a beeswax candle! Burning beeswax actually cleans the air through the action of ions binding with dirt, allergens, and pollution, dropping them to the floor to be whisked away, no other natural wax can make that claim.

And for goodness sake, leave those “air fresheners” on the market shelf where they belong! An ultrasonic air diffuser used with therapeutic grade essential oils is a healthy, safe alternative. I also like to put a couple drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and place in the vacuum cleaner bag while vacuuming. It makes the whole house smell as fresh as a summers’ day! Wave goodbye to caustic dryer sheets by a simple switch to dryer balls made from recycled woolen garments. Or better yet hang your laundry on the line to dry by the sun, for free!

These ideas barely scratch the surface, but show how easy it is to take in and provide fresh air for your pets and family!