Planting Little Trees
Tom D. Stodghill of Quinlan, Texas, and John and Pauline Blankenship of Murfreesboro, TN ran two of the most commercially successful breeding operations in the history of our English Shepherd breed. Stodghill famously bragged in one article about how he had shipped dogs to “All Fifty States.” And I’m confident that the Blankenship’s equaled his … Read more
I ♥ Puppy Hips
I know it sounds funny, but I’d like to take this opportunity to declare my love for puppy hips. Truthfully, there are few things I care about more than puppy hips. So much so that I wish I had a bumper sticker that read, “I ♥ Puppy Hips.” From the moment a puppy emerges at … Read more
A Lot of Dog
There is a lot of dog in these photos. These are Sugar (Natchez Trace Famous Shoes) and Shep (Natchez Trace Rebel Elegy). Sugar is by Rockhouse Hollow Remington out of Prater’s Lucy. Shep is by Sallee’s Rustie Jr. out of Sherling’s Jill. Shep is just six months old in these photos, but when these two … Read more
Prince of Goat Dogs
On most mornings, I release my goats out to browse freely across 40 acres of woodlands. When I’m ready to have the goats back in the barn lot, I set Shep out with the instruction to “Put them away.” Within a few minutes, my goats are back at home. He locates the herd and drives … Read more
State of the Bloodline Issue
American Farm Shepherds Illustrated 2022 June Vol. 2, Issue 2 Contents This issue of American Farm Shepherds Illustrated addresses the state of the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline. Breeder Incubator Program Status update on our Breeder Incubator Program. Canceled Canines An interview with an experienced ES breeder about the historical impact of the … Read more
2022 2nd Quarter Newsletter
The 2022 2nd quarter issue of the official Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association newsletter will be mailed in June. In the upcoming Vol. 2 Issue 2: Feature Story: “The Boy I Left In the Barn” is the story of a boy and his dog growing up in Tennessee during the breakout of the … Read more
Gravitas and Grit
Many of Shep’s and Sally’s ancestors[1]Shep and Sally are by Sallee’s Rustie Jr. out of Sherling’s Jill were drover’s dogs used by farmers and ranchers of the Southeast U.S. to drive stock through thick woods and over narrow mountain paths.[2]Walter Oglivie, “Pete The Mountain Dog,” English Shepherd Club of America’s Who’s Who Breeder Manual, pg … Read more
Virgil Grinder’s Adventures with My Dogs
Born during the mid-nineteenth century, Virgil Grinder lived an eventful life during a dangerous and violent period in the United States’ history. Starting with his youth in war-torn Appalachia, every step of Virgil Grinder’s lifelong fight for survival was aided by his gritty, loyal black and tan English Shepherd dogs. In the chapters of “Virgil … Read more