Great News!

All pups have passed their health checks, received their first shots and were microchipped yesterday!

Mary Ann Marcellus 

Voted one of the top 5 German Shepherd Breeders in Alberta (2022)

For those who don’t believe!

 Here's six of my dogs in the kitchen while I make dinner. For those who don't believe my dogs are house dogs!

 Cruz, Gypsy, Gaia, Fey,Trinity and Hawk

Mary Ann Marcellus 

Voted one of the top 5 German Shepherd Breeders in Alberta (2022)

People often ask me...

People often ask me "How do you get anything done with these adorable puppies around"?  The sad truth is, I spend approximately 98% of my time cleaning, feeding, washing dishes, getting supplies, answering phone calls, answering emails, giving vitamins, doing laundry, entertaining puppy owners or potential puppy clients, washing floors, taking photographs, vet visits, microchipping, updating my blog and Facebook and caring for all the other dogs.  I rarely just get to sit and enjoy my puppies.  

But when I do get to sit and enjoy them, it makes all the work worthwhile!

Another "Right of Passage"!

The puppies have several "rights of passage" in the 8 weeks they are here.  The first is going from the whelping box to an x-pen (exercise pen).  The next is expanding their territory from the x-pen to using the whole room.  And the last is moving out to the puppy building!  It is here they can really stretch their muscles and learn balance, depth perception and social norms.

 The puppy building is approximately 24'X36' building built specifically for the pups.  It has lots of windows for sunshine, open areas to build muscles, a speaker system to learn about new noises (sound effects), electricity for lights and heat for those dark and cold days/nights, a Mom area so she can escape from the little ones when she needs a break, and a doggie door that opens onto a covered deck for more sunshine and fresh air,  It also has a litter box with shavings so they are pretty much area trained by the time they go home!  That is a definite bonus!

Oh ya!  And a crate so Mom can teach them it's a great place to sleep.  Mom is so important at this stage.  Although she has pretty much weaned them, she is crucial in teaching them life lessons!

Puppies Practicing Walking - I Love This Time in Their Lives!

 This is my absolute favourite time for the puppies!  They are 3 weeks old and very unsteady on their feet!  Plus!  They don't have any teeth yet!  A definite bonus when introducing them to children!  These are Gaia's puppies and if you'll notice, there's a few stuffed toys in the whelping box for stimulation.  They are at the stage when they now know there is something outside of themselves.  The acknowledge their littermates and actually starting trying to play with each other.  So fun to watch!  They also recognize me for the first time!

Gaia Puppies 2 weeks old - a few available for adoption

Mr Grey - Black

Mr Brown - Sable

Mr Blue - Black

Miss Pink - Black

Miss Yellow - Sable

Mr Light Blue - Black

Ms Purple - Black

 

The Blessings of Freedom!

 

This is Gaia and Hawk, heading for... the North Pole?  As you can see, they certainly have no intention of slowing down or making sure we are close behind.  How can I allow them their freedom to run and play as fast as they can go without worry?  E-collars.  Yes, I use ecollars.  And why wouldn't I if I can let me dogs have the freedom they deserve?  

If you are against ecollars, I would ask that you would research them.  But don't go to people who know nothing about dogs or how to train them!  Look up the most accomplished trainers in the world and learn from them!  e.g. THE TRUTH ABOUT E-COLLARS IN DOG TRAINING || Ivan Balabanov debunks the myths surrounding e-collars           Ivan Balabanov who has won 14 National Championships and 2 WORLD Championships.  Look how happy his dogs are!  Look how happy MY dogs are!  Any tool can be mis-used.  It's the people who use the tool incorrectly who cause the problems. I LOVE that all my dogs can enjoy life without having to be on a 4-6 foot leash the rest of their lives.  If I said cars are bad because people drive too fast and cause accidents and death, would you condemn the car, or the person driving.  Same goes for the e-collar.  

Can you trust your dog to come back EVERY time?  I can.  I don't think they heard me the first time I called.  Did I use the ecollar?  No.  I increased the volume of my voice.  As a matter of fact, I hardly use the ecollars at all.  Once the dog is trained, he's trained.  But if he forgets momentarily, a low stimulation will remind him to come back.  And I'm talking 6/100.  Below is a picture of a Momma moose and her yearling calf, about 400 yards from where this video was taken.  Imagine the potentially awful scene of dogs going after a baby moose and Momma is close by.  Death could have incurred on both the dogs side and the baby moose side.  But it didn't.  Thanks to the ecollar.  Not that I used it.  I saw the moose, I called the dogs (there were 3 with me that day) and we headed in another direction.  No big deal.

I've seldom mentioned the use of ecollars previous to this.  I've never wanted the hassle of dealing with uneducated people.  But I've come to realize, if the people who use the collars correctly, don't educate the people, who will?  

Those who know me and know my dogs, can verify that each and every one of my dogs are cared for and loved like family.  No expense spared.  They deserve the freedom that an ecollar provides.  So before you attack me, educate yourself.  And if you are having problems with recall (or other things) maybe, just maybe, consider PROPERLY using an ecollar for your dog and give him/her the freedom he/she deserves.

PS.  If you have legitimate questions with no attitude, I will be happy to answer.  If you do nothing but attack me without doing your research, you will be ignored.

Gaia’s DNA Certificate

Here is a link to Gaia's DNA results.  She is 100% clear of over 200 DNA genetic problems of which 11 are predisposed to the German Shepherd Dog breed.

Click here  -> Gaia's DNA results

Some of my welcoming committee!