Hi Reader,
Happy May 1st! April has been quite a whirlwind here at the farm, and this past week especially has kept me on my toes. Usually, I'd share a detailed blog post with you, but after my 4 AM wake-up call this morning for an airport run, I'm keeping things a bit more casual today.
β
Speaking of that early morning, I was up before the roosters to take two of our 9-month-old pups, Daisy and Rose, to catch their flight to Connecticut! βοΈ The airport check-in process for dogs is quite involved (about 2 hours plus the hour each way driving time). Still, it's all worth it knowing they're heading to a wonderful home. π
β
These two sisters are joining their littermate, Betty, and another PPF pup, Cameron, who went to the same farm last October. Their new mom, April, has even reserved a fifth puppy from a future litter! It's not unusual for our clients to fall in love with our Maremmas and add more to their family - we have several folks with 4-5 of our dogs, and one family has added seven PPF Maremmas to their farm over the years!
β
April has been a busy month for puppy journeys. Nine-month-old Aspen went to his new California home earlier this month, where he'll be guarding goats and sheep for Dave and Barbara. Just two days ago, Lynda picked up nine-month-old Violet, who will protect goats, sheep, and alpacas (also in California).πππ¦
β
We also have siblings Willow and Romeo (10 months old), whom Noelle has purchased but will stay with us for additional training until June. We're happy to offer this extended training option when it works better for families' schedules or farm situationsβit's a great way to secure your perfect livestock guardian while giving yourself extra time to prepare.
β
I'm particularly excited to share that one of our Maremmas will soon be journeying to Hawaii! This requires a lot of extra preparation and paperwork, but it's thrilling to know one of our pups will get to live in paradise. πΈ We sent four goats to Hawaii in 2023, so sending a Maremma puppy there seems like the next chapter in our farm story. π
β
In other farm news, we welcomed a beautiful litter of 9 puppies on April 18th! Mom, Electra, is doing a wonderful job, and all the puppies are healthy and thriving. (These pups are already reserved - our waiting list fills quickly! We are taking reservations for the next litter now.)
On the goat side, kidding season has wrapped up with 57 adorable Mini Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf kids bouncing around the farm. This is smaller than our usual kid crop (we've had over 100 in recent years!), which has made for a slightly more manageable spring. These sweet babies are available for reservation now.β
β
I have some VERY exciting news to share with you all that will change our breeding program for the better in amazing ways, but I'm going to hold off until next week's email when I can give it the attention it deserves. Consider this your teaser to stay tuned! π₯³
β
Before signing off, I wanted to share a great podcast episode I listened to today about the controversy surrounding e-collars for dogs. As you know, I'm passionate about positive reinforcement training methods, and this discussion gives you a lot to think about, no matter where you fall in the debate on these devices. Take a listen:
βShaped by a Dog Episode #304: Why Dog Trainers Are So Dividedβ
β
Until next week (when I'll have that big announcement!),
Kim
β
P.S. If you're interested in our Mini Nubian or Nigerian Dwarf kids, don't wait too long to reach out - these adorable babies won't last long! You can see photos of the cuties here.β
β