Old Time Farm Shepherds

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Old Time Farm Shepherd Club of America
 

 
 

The mission of the Old Time Farm Shepherd Club of America is to promote the breed characteristics of the Old Time Farm Shepherd. To be registered, pups must pass the aptitude test at less than 8 weeks. While this allows them to be registered, it does not allow breeding privileges. Dogs winning a "breeding certificate" registration ONLY are allowed to be bred and the resulting offspring to be registered with the OTFSCA.



 

1.  Herding: herding by driving, these are NOT gathering dogs but driving dogs and must show some interest in driving stock.

2. Protection: these dogs bond to both family and livestock and are used for BOTH. These are to be an ALL-AROUND farm dog. These dogs are NOT to show over-aggression to visitors, neither are they to be overly friendly.

3. Hunting. Can be treeing, scenting or site. Generally show an instinct to track game. Good to track and alert for deer hunters.

 

 

Breed Standard:

       General appearance – When one first sees this dog they see a large calm dog. This breed is powerful, well muscled and calmly alert.  He is well balanced and longer than he is tall. His look is that of intelligence and devotion.  This breed comes in many different colors with any color being allowed. the emphasis of the breed is to be on working ability and bonding.

 

Character --- The Old Time Farm Shepherd is fearless and bold but not hostile.  He is self-confident, poised and quiet.  This dog is never nervous, but with a fierce loyalty to his charges. Quiet, calm and always present; he takes his job of flock, family and farm protection very seriously.  The Old Time Farm Shepherd is a dignified, loyal and devoted family companion dog. Even as a young puppy this breed shows the intense bonding needed for livestock guardian and family protection. It is necessary to purchase a young dog to bond for family and livestock protection; as the bonding is so intense that many older dogs will leave the new owner to travel miles to return to their first family or flock.

 

Head -- The Head of an OTFS is very broad and large sloping slightly from between the eyes down to the deep black nose. His head must rest on a large, short, thick neck and must be have a deep, powerful jaw. The OTFS immediately, even as a puppy, give the impression  of strength, courage and power.. 

 

Muzzle --- His muzzle should be large and thick, his lips are close fitting and deep.  The upper and lower jaws should be broad with his large teeth closing in a scissor bite.         

 

 

 

Eyes --- The eyes must be large and any color is acceptable. Only dogs that are free of collie eye anomaly or any other eye defect may be bred.

Ears --- His ears are set wide apart and set on the outside back edges of the skull.  The ears are wedge-shaped, erect, drop or rose. The ears give the appearance of a dog that is always alert.     

Forequarters --- The shoulders should be slightly sloping, wide apart, heavy and muscular without any tendency to looseness of shoulders.  The feet are large, heavy, round and slightly splayed or wide with well-arched toes.  His Leg bones are straight to his pasterns, which are short and strong being bent only slightly.   

 

Feet ---- The feet are very large and wide with compact toes, well-arched pads, thick and tough.  He is sure footed even when stalking. The imprints of this breeds feet are huge and spread out well to carry the heaviness of this dog. Double dewclaws on the hind legs are common.

 

Coat --- Shorter coats are common, however plush coats are acceptable. There is to be NO credit or deference made in this breed as to color or coat qualities.

 

Hindquarters ---The OTFS is broad and powerfully muscled through the thighs.  His stifles are moderately bent.  His hocks should be set wide apart.  Parallel when viewed from the rear.  The legs of the OTFS must indicate an unusual strength and tremendous propelling power.  Any indication of unsoundness in legs or feet standing or moving is to be considered a serious fault and never to be bred.

 

Tail ---There is to be no preference to the size, length or carriage of tail. Tail is to be upright when alert.

The tail should also never go under the body or between the legs.

 

Color and markings --- All colors are permitted.