Montana Boys

Let’s celebrate our two Montana Moonshadow Boys today, starting with the puppy formerly known as Titan and now known as Pippin, Pip, and/or Pippy — take your choice!

Sandhano shares, “He was the smallest of the 2 litters!  He is now 83 pounds and so smart and happy. 

He loves snow, to go on hikes and absolutely loves to play with his companion dogs, Flo and June. 

Thank you so much!”

One of the benefits of having litters is all the wonderful people we get to know — like Sandhano and her family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIPPIN!!!! We hope to see you all soon.

Aother wonderful addition to our family is Megan and her crew in Bozeman. Like me, Megan is a UC Berkeley graduate and so we were practically related even before she had Merlin (fka Metis). She sends us this update:

“Merlin has been a wonderful addition to our home and it's very difficult to imagine our life without him. He is the friendliest dog with an awesome smile…

He equally loves people and other dogs, and has the most epic nap positions…

The curly hair on his back often elicits curious comments and questions and he is quite easy to spot in a group of Berners. He is quite reliable off-leash and has very nice on-leash manners. He often insists on carrying his leash in his mouth on his walk. We are working on helping him quell his excitement and overexuberance as that can be a bit intimidating from a 90 lb dog for some people.

Merlin loves his food and has been very responsive in his training. Our family jokes that we would never hear Merlin say "Oh, no thank you" when it comes to food. Unlike his mom, Merlin is drawn to and loves water. He loves splashing in creeks (even when it's nearly freezing!) and the kiddie pool with his human siblings. Merlin also loves to intensely smell things. While out on a walk or hike, he may take up to 2-3 minutes carefully smelling something in one spot. It makes me wonder about all the amazing information that dogs can absorb using their sense of smell.

Merlin loves to go on adventures with his family and he has often encouraged his sometimes reluctant 5 year old brother and sister to get outside. Now that it is winter in Montana, he is overjoyed with the snow and cold weather. In fresh snow he can often be found jumping around, shoving his nose into it and digging into it with his whole body. He often comes back to the house looking like a "Snow Bear." 

His enthusiasm and sheer love of it makes us laugh and brings us so much joy.

Our whole family is so grateful for the experience of raising this amazing puppy and we look forward to as many years as possible with this lovable giant.”

Thank you, Megan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERLIN!!

And Happy Saturday to all.

Moonshadows -- It's Your Birthday!

The Moonshadows were created for this moment…

But first, a little context is in order.

Daisy is the mom of the Moonshadows (and Wildflowers) — her dad is Holden (CH Kaibab’s Holden On To The Moon AXP OAP BN RN ANDD DD JHD-s TKA). This is a photo of Holden with Harper B — they are littermates.

Holden is the Big Guy! Grandpa of the Moonshadows and Wildflowers

Holden started his life here in Montana as one of the H Moon Litter, and spent the rest of his well-loved life with Toby in Pennsylvania.

The parents of that H Moon Litter were so special — Terri Zimmerman’s Zed (Zoey’s littermate) and our Sydney. Two wonderful and beloved dogs. This is Zed and Sydney with Harper B for Baby…

Zed and Sydney are the great-grandparents of the Wildflowers and Moonshadows

The Moon part of the H Moon Litter was in honor of their grandmother, the most perfect Mrs. Maize (CH Kaibab’s Anasazi Corn Moon UD AX AXJ TD VCD2 OAP OJP NF NFP RE DD BDD CGC, 2000 - 2012).

Maize and H Moon puppy, Lainey

Holden had to leave Toby, breaking her already broken heart into even more pieces, and while nobody will ever replace him, Daisy — his daughter — could send a small Moonshadow back to reflect all that Holden is, was, and always will be.

Here is the rest of the story from Toby — and the start of our Moonshadow Birthday Updates…

“The day Mary-Ann shared with me that she planned on one more breeding of Daisy, was filled with so many mixed emotions. My broken heart was lifted by the thought of having a piece of my Holden, my heart dog, back, but I also worried how Clark would feel about a puppy coming into our lives.

FYI: Clark is Daisy’s littermate!

He really seemed to like being an only child. When Holden left us, it was a loss that followed on the heels of 2 other gutting losses and a very difficult year. Every day was a big struggle for me to just keep moving forward. Clark, always in the shadow of his daddy Holden, just knew what he had to do...I do think to some degree he saved my life. He helped fill that hole in my heart and reminded me everyday that he was here for me.

With each passing day of Daisy's pregnancy, I grew more excited with anticipation of our new family member, wavering back and forth between a girl and a boy. After 2 big-time mama's boys, I felt ready for a girl. The day M-A shared the litter theme with me I couldn't stop crying — Moonshadows — what better way to honor Holden. Wow.

When M-A and Daisy conveniently planned the Moonshadow's entrance into this world for a day off for me, I was lucky enough to be present via Zoom-so exciting! As each newly delivered puppy was brought in to M-A and puppy delivery helper extraordinaire, Suzanne, I was ticking off the male /female count. The ticks were growing in the male column, while there were none in the female column! I remember having the thought that what if they are ALL boys? Ok, we'll take a boy even though I was starting to gather things in pink. Then there they were....2 girls, but 8 boys!!! Ok, good! I obsessed over daily updates, Zoom calls and texts while wondering just how in the heck M-A was doing it...10 + 10!

They were all perfect babies, but my heart rested on Ariel...soon to become Margie Moonshadow —Kaibab's Margie Moonshadow Holden My Heart. A whirlwind, one day trip with Jack Crifasi, Ellen Miller and Jasen Duncan to Bozeman airport for a parking lot puppy pick-up was a crazy day, but so exciting. Margie came home, Uncle brother Clark was instantly in love, and I realized he needed her as much as I did.

It's been a super fun year...Margie instantly learned all about Coffee With Clark which came to include Mornings with Margie.

She came to work with me for her first 6 months and quickly became everyone's sweetheart. She's the friendliest, most lovable and cuddly puppy I've ever had.

It was pretty obvious early on that she had the Kaibab smarts and her first title, AKC Novice Trick Dog, came at 5.5 months. She has since added the AKC CGC title and a World Cynosport Rally Intro title.

I'm so looking forward to what's ahead, but no matter what that is, Clark and I have a big piece of our hearts back and we can't thank Mary-Ann and Daisy enough for giving that to us.”

Margie Moonshadow is also a reflection of my love and appreciation for Toby. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Margie Moonshadow! You are another Super Hero. Good Work, Sweet Baby.

And because we needed to make Margie, there are nine other Moonshadows celebrating their birthday today as well — and all week on blog. YAY and Happy Birthday to all of them.