We can thank Covid-19 for helping us get started in what we do here! 

When Covid-19 hit, everyone seemed to panic, and in truth, so did we! We were concerned that the prices of things would rise higher than they already had and we longed to become more self-sufficient. So, we decided to get some chickens for meat and eggs. We had been raising hogs for about seven years at the time, so we had fresh meat, but no fresh eggs. 

Well, we got the chickens, however, having chickens also brought things that we did not want... that, was predators!! We had raccoons, opossums and foxes trying to get into the coop every night. After trying to keep them away on our own, we were still losing chickens at night. So we decided to get a dog. 

But not just any dog... a Great Pyrenees! 

In the summer of 2020, after a lot of research and prayer, and a six-hour, round-trip drive across the country side, we got Dixie, our first Great Pyrenees! Unfortunately, she got very car-sick on the drive back! We pulled over so she could do her business outside, ( I had borrowed my brother's car for this journey and he instructed me to not let anything happen to it, so that was my goal that day, haha) but seeing she was just a puppy, not leash trained yet, and a little scared, she didn't want to do her "business" when we stopped. Well, we regretted letting her back into the car so soon, because about 10 minutes down the road, Dixie decided to "let-it-go"... ALL OVER ... in the back of my brother's car, from both ends! As you can imagine, it was the biggest mess!! We determined in our minds that we would have to spend the rest of the drive home enduring the smell, even with the windows down. 

Then, like it was sent from Heaven, God put a Dollar General on the road side, in the middle of nowhere! I have never been more happy to see a Dollar General. We pulled over and were able to get Dixie and the back of the car as cleaned up as best we could! That is a memory that gets pulled out of the archives and makes for a fun conversation quite often; our first 3 hour experience with sweet Dixie! That is the only time Dixie has ever been car-sick! (Because we were unprepared, I now tell everyone who comes to get a puppy to bring cleaning supplies, just in case of an unexpected accident in the car!) 

My brother didn't have to ask what happened to the inside of his car, as he said the smell lingered for months. Thankfully, he wasn't too upset...

From the time she was 12 weeks old, until even now, Dixie has done the absolute best job at keeping the predators away! Over the course of time though, Dixie seemed to be lonely, (as she came from a litter of 8) so, we decided to get her a companion! When looking for another Great Pyrenees, my Mom said, "Because you love Dixie so much and she has been so good at keeping the predators away, maybe you should consider starting a business. You could get a boy and breed him with Dixie and spread the joy of owning a Great Pyrenees with others!" 

And that is exactly what I did! In the winter of 2022, I got Shasta! 

My first experience with Shasta was an amazing one! When I went to pick him out, he was a shy little guy. I couldn't decide between him or another brother. (As I said, he was very shy and kept his distance).  I knelt down between him and his other brothers and I prayed to myself, "Lord, bring me the boy you want me to have; whichever boy licks my hand first, is the one I will get."  Then as soon as I was done praying, shy little Shasta came over to me and began to lick my hand! I didn't think twice! I just scooped him up in my arms and brought him home.

And that is when Country Faith Pastures  was born!

Shasta grew up with Dixie, and for the first few months, because he was so young, he saw her as a "Mother figure." But that soon changed when he grew into himself! (Wink, wink) They were perfect companions for each other, and still are!  

When Dixie had her first litter of puppies in 2023, I loved it so much. Just the joy of puppies, seeing the excitement of the people who came to pick up their puppy and bring it home, and the privilege of getting to work with my dogs every day, makes my life so fulfilling! I was no stranger to breeding dogs and puppies as my older sister used to breed AKC Dachshunds from 2015-2020. So I was already experienced when it came to puppies. When my sister got married, she left her kennels to me, so that helped out when I decided to breed Great Pyrenees in 2021! Obviously Great Pyrenees are WAY bigger than Dachshunds, so some fixes and expansions needed to be made to accommodate my large breed dogs!    

I pray to Jesus before making any decisions about my dogs, even with starting the business. But whether it is about the best food option for them, a veterinary decision, fencing options, or when to breed them, I am always asking God for His guidance and to lead me by faith! That is where the "Faith" in Country Faith Pastures comes from, (and it helps that Faith is also my middle name!)

Since 2023, Country Faith Pastures, our "Modest Honest Business" has grown! We adopted Maizie and pray to expand even more in the coming years if it be God's will! Dogs are definitely my life, and I love it!  

So, I guess in an odd sort of way, Covid-19 and my Mom are what helped me discover my calling! Great Pyrenees are the best thing that has ever happened to me and my family's little farm! We can't imagine our life without these majestic dogs. 

I hope that you find the joy and love that a Great Pyrenees gives so unconditionally, just as we have! 

Thank you Dixie and Shasta, for starting it all and for bringing happiness to all who are (and have been) fortunate to have one of the puppies that Shasta has made. 

Thank you for reading!

~Isabella Faith