218 Lopez Ave.
Port Angeles, WA 98362
strausshausshepherds@yahoo.com
360-457-8113
360-808-7949 (cell)

Thank you for your interest in a puppy from Strauss Haus Shepherds.  The following is some basic information on our dogs, and also our expectations of you should you choose one of our puppies.  In addition to the information in this letter, I would encourage you to view all the material at www.shilohshepherds.org especially the "learning center" link.  Please don't hesitate to call me (or email) with any questions.

Our Kennel:

I joined the Shiloh Shepherd family in November 1999. I purchased my first Shiloh Shepherd puppy, Sirius, in January 2000.  At first, I planned to have "just one", but after meeting the breed founder, Tina Barber, and attending her genetics seminar in June 2000, I was hooked on this breed.  We are now the proud parents of 3 ISSR Shiloh Shepherds: Sirius, Isis and Jessie.

I immediately began my studies with the O.S.S. (Original Shiloh Shepherd) Academy, so I could become a V.I.B. (Very Important Breeder) with the ISSR.  Even though I am now a licensed breeder, my studies will continue as long as I have one of these magnificent animals.

Our first litter at Strauss Haus Shepherds will be with Jessie and Sirius:

Sirius is our Sonja/Artus son.  Sonja is a Goldie/Bear daughter.  Artus was added to the Shiloh Shepherd bloodlines in 1999   and was specially selected in Germany, by the breed founder, Tina Barber. 

Sirius is a dark gray sable plush, with huge bone. He is 27 ½ " tall and 108# (but looks heavier due to his bone structure).  He has excellent movement, an awesome temperament, high drive, confidence, amazing intelligence, and is extremely flashy in the show ring.  (Sirius is Champion Pointed).  The judges have all commented on his great temperament and "show off" personality. 

Sirius loves people and especially children.  Sirius (from Artus) comes from a strong working yet family oriented background.

Sirius will be re-x-rayed for OFA upon turning 4 years of age.  He has also been thyroid tested and OFA Heart cleared.  He passed his temperament test with flying colors.  He is rated a "medium-hard". 

Sirius has received his adult registration papers with the ISSR as a Breeding quality champion pointed NB1 Shiloh Shepherd. 

Jessie is our Goldie/Orbit daughter.  Goldie is a JNK's Molly Our Tribute to Shane/JNK's Ramblin Rugger daughter, and Orbit is the most recent outcross selected by the breed founder.

Jessie is a golden sable smooth.  She is 26 ½" tall, and 80 lbs. Jessie is full sister to Venus and Buffy (of New Zion), Udo, Majestic, and NS bCH Angus, the first 5 star Shiloh (who has sired many of the recent litters at New Zion).

Jessie has a "medium" to "medium-hard" temperament, is energetic, full of drive, smart, obedient and protective.

Jessie had her preliminary hip x-rays done at 12 months, and OFA certification (of Good) at 2 years.  Her elbows were also certified normal at 2 years of age.  She has had her heart certified and thyroid tested-both normal.

Jessie has received her permanent adult ISSR registration papers as a Champion pointed Breeding quality NB1. Jessie was shown in Canada in 2001 and 2002, and at Homecoming in New York in 2002.  Jessie is not quite as outgoing in the ring as Sirius, but only because she doesn't blatantly flirt with the judges, like he does. She is quite showy though and has beautiful movement.
 

Artus (Sirius's sire) is a solid black plush. He is from imported Alt Deutcher Shaeferhunde lines  in Germany.  He is 27 ½ " and 117 lbs.  He passes along the drive and intelligence seen in the NB1 progeny.  He also comes from a long line of good hips, very good health, working aptitudes, and heavy bone.  The first generation Artus pups are often smaller sized (with huge bone) but gain back size in the second generation. (NB2's) Artus is the highest still breeding ROM stud.

NS bCH Sonja (Sirius's dam) is a Goldie/Bear daughter, and full sister to Suka, bCH Maranantha, and Dylan (the largest living  ISSR Shiloh).  Sonja is a reddish-brown sable plush, and is 26 ½  and 90 lbs.  She is owned by Highlander Shepherds, as is her mother Goldie.

Orbit (Jessie's sire) is a solid white smooth coat out of Hoofprint Farm in Canada.  His breeder, Joanne Chayni, has an incredible breeding program (focusing on health, temperament, hips and working ability) much like that of Tina Barber's Shiloh Shepherd Kennels.  "JC" has maintained several decades worth of detailed genetic information, thus having acceptable data for ISSR requirements, which is why Tina chose Orbit as our most recent outcross in 2000.  Orbit passes on drive, intelligence, working dog ability, great health, exceptional size and good hips.  Hoofprint Farm is also famous for their working progeny.

Goldie (Jessie's dam and Sirius's granddam) is a golden sable plush and is 27 1/2" and 93#.  Because Goldie will have a lot of influence on our litter, I would like to share a little more information about her. 

Dylan (Sonja's brother)	Dalemuns  (3/4 brother)	Majestic  (Jessie's full brother)

She has been bred by New Zion Shilohs to a variety of males and has always managed to produce some of the largest Shiloh Shepherds known within this breed!  Her brother (Ray's Bear) was the largest Shiloh on record for nearly a decade, only to be challenged by her son Dylan!  Goldie is out of Molly (full sister to the original Wolfin Sasquatch) and Rugger, one of the 3 largest smooth coated Shilohs ever to exist!  The other ones being his first cousins Goliath and London. 

Sasquatch at 1 year	Rugger  at 2 years	Goliath at 10 years	London at 9 years

Goldie passes on her good hips, great temperaments, and that super size that folks always seem to associate with the real Shilohs.

Both Tina and Lisa Barber predict great things from our "Double New Blood" litter: Huge size, good hips, great temperaments, working ability, high drives, intelligence, and excellent health due to the new blood on both sides, and due to Goldie's influence on our litter. We are planning our first Jessie/Sirius litter in 2004. (We are VERY excited)!  We expect both smooth and plush coats in a variety of sable colors. 

Our temperaments will range between medium-soft and medium-hard.  Most of these puppies will thrive in homes with active families, yet there may be one or two "mellow" puppies in this litter too.

The litter will be registered as Double NB2 (2nd Generation Double New Blood).  As per SSDCA pricing guidelines for ISSR Shiloh Shepherds, pet quality puppies will be priced at $2,000.  Breeding Quality puppies will be sold on co-ownership only for $2,500.  (An extra $1,000 will be charged for fully guaranteed Show puppies).

When it is confirmed Jessie is pregnant, we will be contacting those of you who have inquired about our puppies.  At that time, we request that a deposit be made on your puppy.  (We will discuss that when the time comes).  The deposit will be $400 with the balance due at the litter evaluation.  (Note:  Your deposit will be refunded in full, following the litter evaluation, if you decide the perfect puppy is not in our litter).  No puppy will leave Strauss Haus Shepherds until final payment has been received. 

When our puppies are between 7 and 8 weeks old, the breed founder, Tina Barber, will fly from New York to perform the LER (Litter Evaluation Report) on our litter.  This will determine temperament and conformation of each puppy.  These tests will also tell us which puppies will go as Show/Breeding quality and which ones will be sold as pets.  No puppies will leave Strauss Haus Shepherds until the LER has been completed. 

If you have put a deposit on a puppy, you will be invited to attend the LER.  (The process usually takes 2 entire afternoons.)  The puppies will be ready to go to their new homes once the LER is completed.  The LER manual is available at www.shilohshepherds.info/lerManualPart1.htm  The booklet explains the whole LER process in detail and is extremely informative!

 Requirements:

We have very important feeding and socialization requirements for our puppies and adult dogs.  Please contact us to for a copy of our Nutritional/Socialization agreement, and the Spay/Neuter contract for non-upgradeable pets. 

Prior to purchasing a puppy from Strauss Haus Shepherds, we ask that your join the SSDCA (Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America) and maintain membership for at least a year.  We would also like you to join our local chapter, NWSSA, for Washington, Oregon, and Canada  area Shiloh owners, and "to be" owners.  Included in this packet is the SSDCA membership form.  For membership in our local chapter (NWSSA), please contact Pam Dymond-Weed at 206-542-3555.  If you are not in our local area, please contact me so I can find the chapter closest to you.

We also ask that you join the Shiloh Shepherds Friends list. This is an email forum of about 400 Shiloh owners, soon-to-be owners plus the breed founder, Tina Barber. Great information about our breed is shared there.

All puppies purchased from our kennel MUST be registered with the ISSR.  This is a 2 step process.  Prior to 6 months of age, you will receive from the ISSR an application for temporary registration.  You will need to follow the instructions provided, including naming your puppy, sending in 2 photos of your puppy, the blue/yellow ISSR paper, and the $25 registration fee.

Prior to 14 months, you will receive a temporary registration certificate.  By 14 months oof age, you will need to permanently register your puppy.  This part consists of sending in a copy of your temporary certificate, a $50 permanent registration fee, preliminary OFA hip certification, temperament test (or CGC) and 4 photos.

Registration is a requirement for new owners, as the information on your puppy is very important to the future of this breed.  Thank you again for your interest in Shiloh Shepherds.  Please call me (or email) with any questions you may have.

Jessica Strauss

Strauss Haus Shepherds