The Black and Tan English Shepherd Continuum – An Argument from Hypothesis

Purpose Within the English Shepherd Breed, there exists a continuum of “black and tan” dogs, which includes those with the coat color as well as those for which the black and tan markings indicate a certain type. However, to effectively manage the breed and preserve its genetic diversity, it is crucial to prioritize the latter … Read more

Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Breeder Survey

Black and Tan English Shepherd

As World War II progressed, farmers were being asked to produce more food with fewer workers. More and more young men were being drafted or enlisted in the military. The farm labor shortage became severe, especially for fruit and vegetable producers.  In the course of the war, 15 million men and women were called up … Read more

Black and Tan: The Real Thing

Black and Tan English Shepherd

The Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association strides to preserve a specific type of dog. We use three investigations as determining factors. Our first investigation is appearance and behavior (phenotype). We use the Blankenship Bloodline Standard as the barometer for this investigation. This same standard of the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd has … Read more

Countdown to Whelping Day

Black and Tan English Shepherd

The countdown to W-Day has begun here at Roanoke Creek Ranch. Vixen is about 2.5 weeks from a planned whelp. For her part, Vixen received her final pre-whelp worming using puppy-safe meds. She started sleeping in the climate-controlled whelping room with veteran Nurse-dog Josie, and half her diet is now Purina Pro Plan Puppy Formula. … Read more