Bringing home a Sila Shepherd puppy is an exciting (and occasionally overwhelming) experience. These rare livestock guardian dogs are bred to be thoughtful, independent, and loyal protectors—but like all LGDs, they aren’t born knowing how to do the job. The first year is all about building trust, setting boundaries, and guiding your puppy toward becoming a reliable working partner or well-adjusted companion.
Here’s what to expect during each stage of your Sila’s first year and how to support them every step of the way.
0–3 Months: Early Impressions Matter
Your Sila puppy is learning more than you might realize during these early weeks. While much of this time should still be with the breeder, responsible socialization should already be underway.
What to focus on:
- Gentle exposure to livestock (at a distance), household sounds, and calm human interaction.
- Short, positive experiences with new sights and smells.
- Preventing bad habits like chasing, barking excessively, or pestering animals.
💡 Tip: Use calm praise and food rewards to reinforce calm behavior near livestock, and always supervise interactions closely.
3–6 Months: Curiosity, Caution, and Boundaries
Your pup is starting to explore the world with more confidence—but also a bit of skepticism. This is a key period for teaching them what’s normal and what isn’t on your property.
What to expect:
- Growing curiosity, testing boundaries.
- Natural wariness of new people or animals (this is normal for LGDs!).
- Teething and chewing—have appropriate outlets available.
What to work on:
- Supervised livestock interactions and redirection if your puppy gets too playful or pushy.
- Introducing routines: feeding, bedtime, patrol areas, and calm check-ins with you.
- Calm socialization: seeing new people without forced interaction.
💡 Tip: Set your pup up for success by using fencing or pens to control interactions and prevent negative behaviors from developing.
6–9 Months: Adolescence Begins
This is often the most challenging stage. Your Sila is big, confident, and full of opinions—but still not quite mature enough to be left unsupervised with stock.
What to expect:
- Boundary testing.
- Increased alertness and barking.
- Occasional defiance or stubbornness.
What to reinforce:
- Trustworthy behavior around animals.
- Calmness around guests and family members.
- Independence—allowing your pup to observe and think through problems.
💡 Tip: Praise calm observation. If your pup sees something unusual and watches without reacting, reward that thoughtful behavior!
9–12 Months: Emerging Maturity
By the end of the first year, many Sila Shepherds begin to settle into their guardian instincts. They may not be fully trustworthy alone with livestock yet, but you’ll start seeing glimpses of the dog they’re becoming.
What to support:
- Confidence in the field or around property.
- Calm, neutral reactions to familiar and unfamiliar stimuli.
- Appropriate alerting—barking at real threats but settling quickly.
Continue to manage closely, offering praise and gentle redirection when needed. This is also a good time to revisit socialization: bring your pup with you on walks, errands, or safe public visits to keep their human tolerance strong.
💡 Tip: Remember that most LGDs aren’t considered fully mature until age 2 or even 3. You’re still laying the foundation in year one.
Sila Shepherd Club of America 