LITTER ANNOUNCEMENTS
PUPPIES AND BREEDING PHILOSOPHY
CURRENT NEWS
The Moon Litter was born 4/22/22 consisting of just one male through no fault of Toruk or Zlata. Both dogs proved fertile and excellent producers. The single puppy will be staying at Starry Night. At this time, the scheduled August 2022 rebreed of this pairing has been cancelled. Details of the reason behind this and the singleton litter will be posted here soon as a way to shine a light on how a well planned breeding can go very wrong.
THE PAIRING OVERVIEW:
The BRT gene pool is relatively small because this is still considered a young and rare breed. Within the breed, autosomal variants are very prevalent, as is hip and elbow dysplasia. These factors alone, limit breeding choices. Then, traits and breeding goals are factored in, narrowing choices even further. Finally, considerations like logistics come into play.
Zlata, the dam, is a carrier of one very prevalent variant, HU, and a carrier of a less prevalent variant, PRCD-PRA. This means studs must be clear (non-carriers) of both of these variants so the litter cannot be affected, only clear or carriers themselves. HU - clear males, alone, reduce breeding options by more than half.
After carrier status, my criteria is a male that has achieved his grand championship in conformation and has some performance training/titles. I also want a male I can meet in person, get my hands on him to feel his substance, structure, and coat, as well as assess his overall health and temperament. With this being Zlata’s first litter, I wanted a male already proven with litters, ideally 2 generations. I wanted the option for a natural breeding. This means, logistically, I wanted to find a male where this was all possible.
Zlata is having her first litter at nearly 5 years old, which is on the older side. This delay was caused mostly by losing a year of competition to COVID. The competition goals were needed to prove her worthiness as a brood bitch. Breeding an unproven female at an older age, which can reduce fertility, means a natural breeding has the best chance to result in a litter.
Taking all of this in consideration, I was so fortunate to have come to a breeding agreement with the gorgeous, proven male, Toruk. Not only does he have the temperament I value, he has some great BRT traits that he has consistently reproduced in his multiple litters. One being a gorgeous, big head, with good width and planes, something that should improve Zlata’s average head and muzzle. Toruk's progeny range from AKC Grand Champions to Search and Rescue. Both Toruk and Zlata are big boned and have good substance. Both are balanced with good, powerful movement. They both are fully genetically tested through Embark with public profiles. Both have normal elbows and good hips, as evaluated by OFA. Toruk has proven himself in the conformation ring through to a bronze grand championship, has qualifying runs in Rally, is a certified service dog, and has trained in IPO. These accomplishments demonstrate his versatility. He sired this litter just short of his 10th birthday which shows his health, vitality, and longevity. The additional ingredient in this pairing is the reputation and valuable mentorship from Toruk’s kennel, Sparta Black Russian Terriers. Emily and Jean Ann are excellent ambassadors of the breed and prove their dogs on the biggest stages. Puppy buyers not only get a carefully planned, health-tested, and socialized puppy, but benefit from the support and mentorship Starry Night has received from Sparta.
We are excited about this litter! I have spent time with Toruk on a few occasions and have bonded with him. His is the ultimate gentleman and I am thrilled to have his genes in this litter. Our hope is that these puppies are at least the best of their parents if not improvements in type and structure, and that they will bring success, health, and joy to their families. See more about Toruk here.
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THE LITTER PEDIGREE:
MOON LITTER NOMOGRAPH (Vaccination Schedule)
STARRY NIGHT PUPPIES
I am a small hobby breeder that does not have puppies often. Even when I am expecting a litter, I encourage you to talk to several breeders to help you decide the best fit. Purchasing a carefully, responsibly bred Black Russian Terrier from a reputable, preservation breeder, is a relationship you will enter into for the life of your dog and possibly beyond. It is important you like and trust your breeder.
I want every BRT and every BRT person/family to have a great experience, regardless where you get your puppy from. If it does not work out to get a Starry Night puppy due to timing, or any other reason, I can refer you to other breeders who I have experience with and have firsthand knowledge of their dogs and breeding goals/practices. To expand that list, I recommend breeders who, at a minimum, are active in the BRT community by currently showing/competing and are members of the national breed club, BRTCA. I may not have firsthand experience with all of these breeders, but these minimum levels of involvement are a good starting point when researching.
GENETICS
Starry Night puppies are Embark tested for health and carrier status. Full results are provided for each puppy.
They are also diversity tested to determine the diversity each puppy contributes to the breed as a whole. These results are publicly displayed on Betterbred.
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APTITUDE TESTING/EVALUATION
Puppies will be evaluated by outside breeders for structure and type. They will also receive aptitude testing by an outside evaluator to assess aptitude and temperament. Results of both evaluations will be provided to you. The aptitude testing will depend on the evaluator's preference but will be one of or combination of popular tests like Volhard, Avidog, etc.
ALTERATIONS
Puppies will have front dew claws left and rear (if any) removed. Tails will be left natural. My view is natural is better for the development and long term soundness of the dog. Though the AKC standard says front dew claws should be removed, many breeders are leaving them.
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SOCIALIZATION
Puppies will be introduced to grooming (bathing, blow drying, brushing, and clippers), ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and nail clipping. They will be introduced to outside potty training, walking on a leash and simple commands like “sit”. Age to go home will be approximately 10 weeks, depending on mother’s involvement and the litter’s collective social development. They will be introduced to loud sounds, including sudden loud sounds like gunshots, crowds, and traffic. You will be choosing your own call name to reinforce recall, but if you know the call name before your puppy comes home to you, I will be happy to start using it. Your puppy will be raised with Puppy Culture and Avidog (Good Dog) protocols. (I take breeder courses through Avidog (Good Dog) Records and progress videos will be posted weekly.
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AKC REGISTRATION
Your puppy will be registered with AKC with either a limited (non-breeding) or full registration (for conformation showing and breeding rights). Limited registration allows for entry into all AKC events with the exception of conformation which is for breeding stock evaluation only. Litters born to a dog with limited registration cannot by registered by the AKC. Most puppies are placed in homes with the AKC limited registration. Show/breeding prospects are placed in homes that are committed to conformation showing, some performance titling, health testing, and a future breeding arrangement with me (or other arrangement) if the dog proves worthy. Depending on the situation, I may choose to also co-own the show/breeding prospect and share expenses. Please note, a show/breeding prospect, is just that, a prospect. There cannot be a guarantee the puppy will grow up to be appropriate for breeding or even continue a show career.
NAMING
Your puppy’s registered name will be determined by me and carry the Starry Night kennel name. This is to maintain consistent naming conventions for dogs bred by me and to differentiate litters by litter theme. You will choose your puppy's call name. Tip: Names with 2 clear syllabus that can be pronounced easily and clearly often work best as call names. Also, if you have other dogs or pets, it is best to choose names that sound very different.
VACCINATIONS/WORMING
Puppies will have initial vaccinations and a recommended schedule for boosters will be provided. Worming will be done as needed. We don’t have heart worm or fleas in our area so I do not give treatments for these. We do have ticks but they are seasonal and in specific natural areas where the dam and puppies will not have access.
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I want to explain how I approach vaccination with the mother of your puppy and your puppy’s first vaccinations. Results of each litter's actual immunity timeline will be published on this site and be sent home with you. The dam’s titer levels for parvo, distemper and adenovirus are measured at the midpoint of her pregnancy. These titers verify the amount of antibodies she currently has and the timing of how her colostrum/milk will supply her puppies with her antibodies. At some point after birth, there will be a drop in these antibodies that pass from mother to puppy. At that time, the initial vaccination schedule will begin. If vaccinations are given while the puppies have strong maternal antibodies, the vaccine response may not occur or be strong enough to protect the puppy. (nomographs). Your puppy will come with an individualized vaccine schedule for you to continue once he/she comes home. Going forward, after the last booster, I highly recommend titers every 3 years to check immunity over routine vaccines. (AVMA) Your vet may not be on board with this. This newer research and view has just recently been incorporated into veterinary school curriculums. Also, pharmaceutical company funding backing some studies and clinics may challenge this to prevent loss of yearly vaccines revenue.
DIET
Puppies will be weaned to a raw diet (PMR). The specific diet will be provided to puppy buyers along with transition recommendations for homes that will not continue on raw.
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For my puppy families, a raw diet may not be practical for every lifestyle and budget. This way of feeding is only as good as the source of the meats and animal parts. Cheaply and mass-produced meat products are full of antibiotics, hormones, etc. The animals are fed poor diets resulting in poor quality meat and organs that are not good for your dog.
Dogs can thrive a number of types of diet and feeding must fit a family’s lifestyle and budget. There are ways to minimize some of the issues with kibble alone and single-brand pre-mades while still having a feeding style that works. I am happy to help families in finding the best solution for their puppy and for them.
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VET CHECK
Puppies will be vet checked prior to going to their homes and the results of that check will be available along with the veterinarian’s name and contact information. Your puppy contract will require you to also have your puppy checked by your veterinarian upon arrival to confirm its health to your satisfaction. Puppies will also be microchipped at this time.
TRAINING/TITLING
I ask that all puppies obtain at a minimum, a foundational title such as a CGC (Canine Good Citizen), TT (Temperament Test), FD (Farm Dog) TDN (Trick Dog Novice – if done at a show or class, not simply recorded at home), etc. This is to encourage a working communication, outside the home, between the owner and dog, and to encourage basic obedience that fosters good dog citizenship as well as increases safety. BRTs are big, strong, intelligent, working dogs that require a consistent, sometimes firm hand. As guarding dogs, they can become territorial or overly guardy if not consistently socialized outside of their immediate family and home. They cannot be left in a yard or crate, or on their own, without stimulation. It is crucial that they have a common language with their owner which is in essence, what training is. Training and working toward a title, even a foundational one, will go a long way in communication with your dog and create a well-adjusted outcome for your life together.
I will work with you to find training classes, especially if you are new to the working group and/or BRTs. BRTs require a particular approach to training that is different from say Golden Retrievers or the bully breeds, as examples on the spectrum. BRTs don't do well with repetition drills, or letting them discover the desired behavior as the primary training style. They are smart and if you show them what you want, they typically pick it up almost immediately and are happy they pleased you. They should not be trained with shock collars or otherwise punitive means to force behavior. Training is a communication based on logic and trust and something BRTs naturally excel in. They are big, strong, and can be bossy, especially as puppies, so this is where the firmness comes in. By firm, I mean consistent and clear, never overly harsh or punitive.
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THE CRATE
Your puppy will be introduced to the crate and will already associate it with their safe space. Providing a dog with a crate gives them a safe place to retreat to, to relax in, and to be safe in. Opponents to crating don't fully understand what they mean to a dog. They haven't thought through the situations a crate might be required in a dog's life such as the veterinary clinic, the groomer, a transporter, etc. If a dog has never been introduced to a crate, doing so for these occasions only may cause stress. Opponents project human emotions onto a den animal through their own associations with confinement, cages, or jails. Den animals, on the other hand, seek refuge and safety in confined spaces and have no association with crates as "cages" or "jails". Providing your dog with their own crate does not mean to abuse it and leave them in it so long as to deprive them of exercise, stimulation, and human interaction. It means to have it available for the dog to retreat to as they desire and a place to keep them safe while you are gone, especially for young dogs that can get themselves into trouble when left alone. Crated dogs tend to relax and not be overstimulated and react to things outside. They tend to be less nervous when you leave the house. Crating is necessary when attending events and often at training sessions. The crate is a gift you give your dog, not a punishment.
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PRICING
Responsibly, well-bred BRTs from preservation breeders who compete and fully health test their dogs fall in the range of $3500 - $4500 with delivery/shipping costs added. The Moon Litter is priced at $4000. Your contract will contain an itemized list of what is included. I do not anticipate taking deposits at this time. This could change depending on the size of the reservation list, the number of puppies in the litter, and the results of litter evaluation as it relates to puppy buyer preferences (gender, aptitudes, show, or pet). Full payment via verifiable funds is expected before a puppy is picked up or delivery is arranged.
LOCATION
Puppies are in northern Idaho. Options are to pick up at my home, meet in a central location, or pick up at your local airport. Your puppy may come by Alaska Airlines cargo or I will fly with the puppy and meet you at your airport. (my airfare is not passed on to you if in the U.S.)
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INQUIRIES
To inquire further, please contact me here initially. A questionnaire will be sent to parties interested in next steps or you can access it at the top of this page.