English Shepherds are a type of dog that developed in the rural areas of the Appalachian and Ozark regions of the United States. They were bred by early settlers for their versatility and ability to perform a wide variety of tasks on the farm, including herding livestock, guarding the property, and providing companionship. English Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and adaptability, and they remain popular among farmers and homesteaders today.
Within the English Shepherd Breed, there exists a continuum of “black and tan” dogs, including those with the coat color and 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 group – the old-fashioned black and tan dogs. Regardless of how they are labeled, preserving this group aligns with breed management theory (Sponenberg, Beranger, and Martin 2017) and ensures the continued health and vitality of the breed.
It is noteworthy that John and Pauline Blankenship were instrumental in shaping the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline. Over four decades, they bred dogs on their Rutherford County farm to perform a variety of tasks, including bringing in cows, herding sheep, catching and holding hogs, and loading livestock. The Blankenships’ dogs were prized for their versatility and were known as the world’s best all-purpose dog. They were also loyal companions and vigilant night watchmen. About the same time the Blankenships were breeding Old-fashioned Black and Tans, Tom Stodghill founded the English Shepherd Club of America in Texas. His grandfather used Black and Tan English Shepherds to work cattle in Rutherford County, where the Blankenships are from. Stodghill and the Blankenships traveled to rural counties in Tennessee to find new blood for their breeding programs. They discovered unregistered dogs with the same markings, behavior, and performance as the dogs they were breeding, which led them to believe that the dogs had been bred true down through the years. These dogs became the foundation of the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline, which was subsequently bred and shipped to all fifty states.
Today, the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline faces a population bottleneck. However, the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association, a Tennessee nonprofit corporation, is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the bloodline. We work to breed, register, and train these historic dogs while maintaining the integrity and uniqueness of the bloodline. The OBTESA Breeder Incubator program supports select breeders committed to revitalizing the bloodline by providing mentorship, resources, and quality breeding stock. For more information, visit www.obtesa.com.
