Some of my blog posts contain affiliate links to products that I may receive a commission on when purchases are made through these links. This is at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog.
I became a Dog Mama for the first time when I was 40 years old. Sure, there have always been dogs on the farm since I moved out here, but I didn’t feel like a true Dog Mama until we brought our sweet Dooker home in October of 2016.
Dooker was born “Green Boy” at Rocky Mountain Shilohs on August 11, 2016. He was one of 5 male and 4 female plush puppies born to the Atara and Koal litter. His name, of course, comes from one of our favourite wines and vineyards, Mollydooker Wines. We have such fond memories of visiting this vineyard in Australia and their wine has become a delightful treat for us on special occasions so Dooker seemed a fitting name.
I realize there are a lot of strong opinions out there regarding adopting versus buying a dog and I respect everyone’s personal decisions when it comes to becoming a pet owner. We understand the moral beliefs people hold regarding adopting a dog. We support animal shelters and are tremendously grateful for the amazing humans who rescue and foster animals. However, we were familiar with the Shiloh Shepherd breed because of a previous Shiloh on the farm that my brother-in-law lost a few years ago. We knew that this breed’s temperament and physical stature were exactly what we were looking for in a pet and farm dog. We also wanted the opportunity to train our dog as a puppy and bond with him as he grew.
Purchasing a dog from an ethical breeder was the right choice for our family and circumstance. We took time to research Shiloh Shepherd breeders and ensured that our dog would come from an ISSA breeder with an excellent reputation. That began our valued relationship with Vanessa at Guardian Kennels in Alberta and the highly anticipated arrival of our male puppy.
Circumstances resulted in Guardian not having a male for us at the time we were ready to bring a puppy home but we are so grateful that Vanessa was able to secure a male pup from the Atara/Koal litter at Rocky Mountain, another reputable breeder. Atara (Dooker’s mom) was born in the first litter of Jetta and Rocky at Guardian and Dooker was born to the second litter from the Atara/Koal pairing at Rocky Mountain producing pups that are confident, out-going and have great structure.
I can say that I was not prepared for the level of responsibility bringing home a puppy would entail. There were a few sleepless nights, frigid walks in the dead of winter, the biting phase and unrelenting efforts to train him. Thankfully, this phase is very short-lived and now, we have the most loving and loyal family member.
Shilohs became their own rare breed in 1991. They are based on the German Shepherd breed and also include other breeds such as Malamute. Shiloh Shepherds are known for their intelligence, empathy and excellent temperament. They are not at all aggressive but are known to be protective of their family and home.
These traits are what attracted us to the Shiloh Shepherd breed. While Dooker is not aggressive, he does a great job as our “head of security” on the farm simply as a result of his size and ferocious bark. However, he is truly a gentle giant and a wonderful companion to us and all of our visitors, big and small.
Dooker is awesome with kids. Our nephews have a blast playing with him when they visit the farm. He does like to hoard all of the toys for himself so fun versions of keep-away with the kids usually ensue. You can tell by the wagging of Dooker’s tail that he is having so much fun when the kids are out.
Shilohs are happiest when they are with their families and this is so true about our Dooker. He is most content when he is hanging out with us on the deck, doing chores with my husband or out for a walk with me.
I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined I would love a dog as much as I love Dooker. I have truly become one of those annoying Fur Mamas who can talk and talk about my dog ad nauseam. I now understand the notion of pets being family members. He has made our life on the farm complete. I can’t imagine our life without him.
Happy 3rd Birthday to our sweet, handsome boy. We look forward to many more years of enjoying this fun-loving pup’s companionship.
Thank you to Lil JB’s Pupcakes for the AWESOME Doggie Birthday cake for Dooker. We are so happy we discovered Lil JB’s Pupcakes because of Dooker’s food sensitivities. All of their products are wheat-free, natural and organic. Dooker LOVES their doggie treats and devoured his Peanut Butter and Apple Flavoured birthday cake with Potato Mash topping.
Dooker wants to celebrate his birthday by giving his furry friends a gift. Head over to Kona Leashes and receive 15% off on your purchase when you use the code KL15. For every purchase made, 1 lb of dog food is donated to animal shelters. How awesome is that? We love Dooker’s Kona Leash and are confident you’ll love their products too. It has a lifetime warranty and comes in a variety of colours.
