Month: January 2023

Sonny Tucker McCarty

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

Sonny Tucker McCarty was born in West Virginia on New Year’s Eve of 2003.  He was bred by Jim McGowen of Carousel Farm and owned by Alan McCarty.   Mr. McGowen used STM at least seven times, breeding him each time to one of two sisters, Carousel’s Lisa and Carousel’s Magnolia (Meg).  STM is a member … Read more

Rusty’s Boys at the Herding Clinic

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Two of Rusty’s boys attended a Cathy Hartley herding clinic this weekend. By all accounts, Chase and Ruger represented our Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline well. Here’s a note from the clinic: You would have loved to have watched Chase and Ruger today at the herding clinic with Cathy Hartley!!!! It was Chase’s … Read more

Farm Dogs and Sub-compact Tractors

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

By six weeks of age, a dog from a traditional breeder of Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherds has been exposed to rifle fire, large diesel farming equipment, chainsaws, 4-5 varieties of livestock, and possibly a few wild animals. One can call any dog a farm dog, kind of like one wants to call a … Read more

Comanche Bluff Sassy Britches

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

This is the late Comanche Bluff Sassy Britches. Born 2004-01-25, Sassy Britches is of the important Hudson’s Lassie dam line, with maternal haplotype C2 C42/54/55. Sassy Britches had OFA Excellent hips, and she is an ancestor to several breeding quality females in use today, including my Vixen, John Sherling’s Meg, Larry Raulston’s Roxie Foley and … Read more

First Friend Fact #20

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

The pattern of rapid, horizontal tail wagging is one of domestic dogs’ most noticed behaviors. It begins at a very early age and continues as long as the dog lives, appearing most often in situations in which the dog is friendly and submissive. It has no other function than a social one, and in all respects is much like a human smile.

(Scott and Fuller 1974)

The Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd is a breed of working dog native to the United States. The English shepherd is an all-purpose farm dog capable of working with any species of livestock. Rural families have favored these dogs for generations due to their grit, loyalty, and desire to please. ES activities include hunting, tracking, search-and-rescue, agility, obedience, companionship, and guard dog duty.

As a Dog Breeder, Prepare to Succeed

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

High-volume breeding is a qualitative, not quantitative label.  It is not about the number of puppies being produced, although that is usually a factor.  High-volume is qualitative because it means a breeder does not have the knowledge, time or decency to give puppies the appropriate care during some or all of the critical development periods … Read more

What goes into an Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd?

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Why is it difficult for a retired urban professional in Portland to consistently breed dogs that are true to the ancestors bred by farmers of the southern Great Valley region? Because social influences, selection pressures and gene/environment interactions form the foundation of what makes an Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd what it is.

First Friend Fact #13

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

Dogs have approximately 30 calming signals they use to alleviate tension during interactions with humans and other dogs. The Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd is a breed of working dog native to the United States. The English shepherd is an all-purpose farm dog capable of working with any species of livestock. Rural families have … Read more