10/9/2026

Why Temperament Matters: Lessons from Search and Rescue Anyone who has tried to train a dog that simply lacks the temperament for a particular task knows how frustrating the experience can be. Conversely, when a dog has the right temperament, the same training can seem almost effortless. I learned this lesson many years ago when I began training my fi...

2/21/2026

A 2023 Psychology Today article sites two studies, each indicating that a child raised with pets during the first two years of life reduces the likelihood of asthma....

11/20/2025

From Lacy in Los Angeles, CA, "Arya is the most devoted, loving, attached girl to this family that we could ever hope or wish for. She is the constant guardian to my son and will not leave his side, whatever crazy adventure he gets up to. I thought that our older shepherd could not be more devoted to my son but I was wrong. Arya’s devotion has no limits - time disappears for her when they are outside together and she stays active with him until he’s ready to come back in. Our older girl quietly watches them through the windows with me, from inside. them."...

6/10/2015

This story is worth its own blog post. “Just wanted to tell you a little story about Koda our beloved boy. First we have a major bear problem here. They have over run the area, coming into our yards, tearing everything up almost every night. Well one night, I was sitting on the porch going through emails on my laptop. Koda of course at my side. Everyth...

4/18/2015

One of our primary goals at Candle Hill Shepherds is to provide the sort of dog to families,  that a burglar will run from but a child can hug. Having six children of our own, we consider the safety and protection of children to be of utmost concern.  There is great comfort as parents, knowing that someone will think twice before climbing into a child’...

8/23/2013

Pets can Enhance the Quality of Life in Many Ways By Dore Frances, IEC Coeur d’Alene Coeur d’Alene Press Letters to the Editor January 14, 2004 Pets can teach valuable lessons to children. Animals inside classrooms can help a child gain emotional independence. Pets can also help build a child’s self-esteem. Pets can teach adults lessons as well. ...