Goat Dogs

As a child, Major Jesse Ursery of Bellevue, Tennessee owned a black and tan English shepherd named Fan.  Among other things, Fan was a tree dog who accompanied the Ursery boys on squirrel and raccoon hunting expeditions.   Fan also drove the milk cows for John Ursery, the boys’ father.

As an adult, Major Ursery returned from the war with disability.  While staying in an Army hospital to recuperate, he read about Tom Stodghill and his black and tan English shepherd breeding program.  Mr Stodghill sold him a dog and cared for it until Major Ursery gained his release from hospital in November of 1950.

After setting up a farm in Arkansas with his wife, Major Ursery kept his English shepherds in with his goats, LGD style.  He states that his black and tan were fearless guardians who would protect his goats from man or beast.^[1]From Goat Dogs by Major Jesse Ursery, English Shepherd Club of America Who’s Who Breeder Manual, Pages 29-30. The letter is republished in The Book of Ole Shep Volume 1, page 16-17

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American Farm Shepherds Illustrated is the full-color newsletter published by the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association. In each quarterly issue you’ll find award-winning photography, historical research, and of course feature stories about these heroic dogs! Each printed issue also includes an up-to-date breeder directory, upcoming litter listings, and letters from members of the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd community. Subscribe Now to have American Farm Shepherds Illustrated delivered by U.S. Postal Mail directly to your mailbox each quarter.

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The Book of Ole Shep Volume 1 | Ole Shep’s Library

Tony Bierman