About our Program
and Puppies

Here at Nocturnal Farms, we believe the key to breeding a great dog is looking at the "whole picture". Through rigorous health testing, temperament assessments, and studying the conformation (structure) of our dogs and pairings, we strive to breed the best that the Shiloh Shepherd has to offer.  

Our puppies are raised in home using the Early Neurological Stimulation program called "Puppy Culture", and also introduced to friends and family, as well as dog friendly cats and dogs. We also start the crate and potty training process to the best of the puppies' abilities. This careful socialization process helps build well-balanced puppies ready to go to their new, loving homes. At 7-8 weeks, they go through a temperament test and are evaluated for conformation of the Shiloh Shepherd breed standard. This allows us to help pick the best match for the puppy and their future home.

In order to raise successful puppies (and dogs!), it takes involvement from everyone! In order to continue to improve the Shiloh Shepherd as breed, we have health testing requirements that need to be accomplished so we can get a "whole health" picture. This allows us to make the best possible decisions for the dogs we produce, as well for the breed as a whole. Some of the requirements we have are as follows:

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• Holter testing between 7 and 9 months of age to rule out any abnormal heart rhythms (holter rental and testing fees included in the price).

• X-rays for OFA Hip and Elbow and/or PennHIP (both preferred) at time of Spay/Neuter, or as outlined for Breed Quality Puppies.

• Highly Preferred: 

        Echocardiogram performed by a board certified cardiologist and sent to OFA. This can help detect any structural abnormalities of the heart like Subaortic Stenosis (SAS).

        When getting blood drawn for any procedures, having thyroid testing sent to and OFA approved testing site, and testing for Serum Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI), an enzyme that is produced to help digest fats, a low level can be an indicator of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

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In return, you'll have our support throughout the puppies' lives with any questions you may have. Our puppies come home with their first round of vaccinations and deworming, genetic health testing and examination by our veterinarian, as well as microchipped through AKC Reunite. We remain as a permanent secondary contact on the microchip as a backup, if something were to happen. Each litter will have its own Facebook group, so everyone can keep in touch, post photos, and ask any questions. We encourage all our puppy owners to join those groups, as well as our main Facebook page where we share all our updates!

It starts with filling out our Puppy Application! followed with an interview and conversations helps us get to know you, your family and what you're looking for in your next puppy. We recognize the importance of matching the puppy's personality and temperament to the lifestyle of the family they're joining. We do everything possible to make sure your new puppy is best fit for you!

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Once you fill out the application, we'll reach out to discuss our plans, and interested individuals will be placed on a list. Being placed on our list does not guarantee a puppy. Once the litter is born, we will reach out again to confirm your place on the list, send out a copy of our puppy contract, and will require a $500 wait list holding-fee to secure your place on the list with that current litter. This holding-fee will be applied toward your payment. There is no guarantee that any given litter will produce the puppy you're looking for. That being said, we can transfer this fee over to the next litter if we do not have a puppy that best suits your needs. Our program is currently small, with one male and one female, so we may only have one litter a year. 

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At 7-8 weeks of age, our litters go through LER testing, a temperament and conformation evaluation, where we test the response of the puppies under specific situations to determine their temperaments (soft/medium-soft/medium/medium-hard/hard) and how they react to different stimuli. We then evaluate their structure according to the Shiloh Shepherd standard. This gives us a list of the positive and negatives in the puppy's structure, and further helps us determine if the puppy is considered Breeding, Pet "Upgradable", and Pet qualities. This is described more in-depth below.

Puppies are ready to go home at 8 weeks of age, no sooner. Final payment is due before your puppy is to go home, and arrangements must be made ahead of time for the pickup of your puppy. We do not ship puppies. 

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*Puppy Pricing: $3600: This includes Genetic testing through Embark and though UC Davis for our breed's Genetic Diversity Program and Parentage Match, first round of vaccinations and deworming, 30 days health insurance coverage through TruPanion, and microchip through AKC Reunite. All documentation for these tests and clearances will be provided to puppy owners with the puppies when they go home. Our puppies also come with a Health Guarantee outlined in our puppy contract.

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Breed Quality: On evaluation by 8 weeks, these puppies are determined to be the best representative of the Shiloh Shepherd breed. These dogs are the future of the breed and should be taken out and shown! We do have additional requirements for Breed Quality puppies, this can be discussed during the interview process. Priority will be given to those who will meet these requirements, as these dogs are crucial to our program and the breed.

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Pet "Upgradeable": On evaluation by 8 weeks, these puppies are considered to be great representatives of the breed, but may have a minor "fault" that may not be the "most correct" according to the breed standard (ie. a more shallow stop, too wide or tall ears, tail carriage), but possess the potential to develop into a dog that would be suited for the show ring and/or breed quality upon further development and assessment.

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Pet Quality: On evaluation by 8 weeks, these puppies are found to have minor faults that Nocturnal Farm and/or the evaluator have assessed. Although they may not be destined for the show ring, they still have so much potential to bring to their families. We still encourage owners to go out and showcase these dogs in other ways, be it "out on the town", exploring, dog sports, or being the best friend a dog can be. 

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**Variations in puppy "quality" do not diminish their potential as wonderful companions. The differences lie in how well the meet the conformational standards set by the TSSR and our breed club, not because the puppy themselves are "broken" or "faulty". We Shiloh Shepherd breeders choose those who possess the exceptional qualities that exemplify the breed in order to make sure the breed moves forward in both health and structure. While each pairing selection we make at Nocturnal Farm Shilohs is to produce exceptional representatives of the breed, some puppies may have faults, but this doesn't make them any less of an amazing companion.