My Story

We purchased our farm property over 7 years ago. I wasn't new to country living or farming, but I was new to doing it differently. With my own property, I committed to learning a better way.

In the past, I have worked and managed petting-zoo type places. I have also owned many varieties of my own farm animals and pet-type animals. I did it all "conventionally", learning from the pros with eagerness. I've been a horse trainer, a farrier, a equine riding instructor, a barn manager, a dog boarding kennel manager, a vet clinic kennel manager, and a dog groomer.

My love for dogs started early: as a teen, I volunteered several days a week at the local Humane Society. Later, I scrolled through newspapers to rescue dogs with "bad behaviors". I would retrain them so they could function well in a home, then I'd rehome them. Later,  I added rescue dogs for our family. And after that, I became a breeder of Australian Shepherds. I love raising the puppies with a lot of stimulation. They receive a lot of different experiences, so that they can go to their new families with confidence.

I've raised three litters and from the beginning, I was fully committed to doing everything in a way that honors our Creator. I researched to learn the very best nutrition and I adjusted as I went, always adjusting to better food; more pure and more raw.

I knew that causing pain to puppies or any other animal did not need to happen, no matter how much our current registry "leadership" try to brainwash the people. I decided that dewclaws and tails will not be removed. These removals are done with no pain medications and without solid cause. When people try to explain that Australian Shepherds are a working breed and need to have their tails and dewclaws removed, I puzzle myself over the lack of reasoning ability in our society at large. Take a look at so many other working breeds of dogs who have long tails and dewclaws, they keep on working with those tails and dewclaws. I'm not a newbie either. I've only been an official breeder for four years, but I have worked on ranches with my past dogs at my side, moving horses, cattle, and pigs from one place to another. My dogs have received injury in their work, but the injuries never justify removal of puppy parts with or without pain relief. And if we are talking about preventing a dog from future injury, we'd have to remove the head and shoulders of those cattle dogs since that is where they get kicked, when they do get kicked. Australian Shepherds though, when used for herding are usually used to move sheep. It's just not even worth talking about the safety there, our dogs are just fine with the sheep.

When selecting my female Australian Shepherd, I purposely wanted an unregistered dog. I didn't like what registries where doing to dogs' standards and I wanted no part of it. But since then, I've come to appreciate registry. I like that registry and pedigree tracks the heritage of dogs. I am seeing that there are indeed reasonable breeders with registered dogs, who work actively to make positive changes for the breed. I have decided that I am no longer against registry, but I can be part of them to support positive changes for our dogs. I now own a registered Australian Shepherd, a registered Miniature American Shepherd (AKCs name for miniature Australian Shepherd), a registered coated American Hairless Terrier.. Twizzle has tested all clear in genetic health panel. She has appropriate conformation for an Australian Shepherd, and is from a long line of purebreds who weren't registered due to her breeder's beliefs. I would like this lovely female to have recorded lines for the future of this breed.

We have become a chemical free farm. This means no vaccinations, no chemical based treatments. I will use traditional medicine if I ever come upon an issue where there is no known natural alternative. I'm absolutely impressed with some medicines! So I would never let an animal suffer or even live life less than optimal, if there is a medication/etc to help the animal thrive! Also, pain medication is definitely needed at times! But over the years, we have learned so many natural ways that help animals thrive, that we are currently using no chemical treatments at all. It's been incredible witnessing the hardiness of naturally raised animals. They are more resistant to parasites, protozoa, and viruses, for example. Being naturally minded, also means keeping baby animals with their mothers without forced weaning. Our puppies have always self weaned at 8 weeks. They stay with us one more week, then they go to their new homes at 9 weeks of age. Farm life is so peaceful when young animals are left to wean from their mothers on their own schedule without interference.

Little Bear Swamp Farm Currently has a loveable pack of six dogs, a flock of layer ducks, two guinea fowl that we hope will multiply, and three dairy goats.