Who’s Got Liberty’s Balance?

Liberty began his training today as a scout type hiking dog. I selected Liberty because I believe he possesses a balanced set of traits that I value. He is people oriented. He passed the test for distractions and staying close to me on walks. He has a solid puppy recall from a significant distance, and … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "Who’s Got Liberty’s Balance?," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

Bloodline Standard of the Black and Tan English Shepherd

The Black and Tan English Shepherd is a medium-size, strongly built and active dog. They are affectionate, intelligent, naturally obedient, and eager to please.  They are not quarrelsome or possessive but are of great courage and extremely faithful. Black and Tan English Shepherds are not easily excitable and are usually dignified in manner. They … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "Bloodline Standard of the Black and Tan English Shepherd," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

What is the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association?

Black and Tan English Shepherd

The Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association exists to support the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodlines.  In support of the bloodlines’ preservation and proliferation, the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association: Maintains an online magazine Has self-published an e-book on the history of the bloodline Built a website for breeders to … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "What is the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association?," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

A Match for Man or Beast

There is a brief but important article titled A Match for Man or Beast published in the English Shepherd Club of America’s Who’s Who Breeder Manual on page 22. This article by Horace Curtis of Algood, Tennessee is only two-hundred and sixteen words in length, but Mr. Curtis has a direct and informative writing style that provides … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "A Match for Man or Beast," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

Puppies & Laundry Part 1

When Josie started digging at the vet fleece in her whelping box, I had a feeling that it was time.  It was the morning of September twenty-eighth.  We were a few days early by my calculation.  As a first-time breeder, her being early made me nervous.  On that same morning at 08:26, I logged that … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "Puppies & Laundry Part 1," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

My Types Of Hiking Dogs

Most days, I hike off trail with my dogs several times per day. With my adult dogs, hiking is a primary part of our relationship. In my experience, there are four types of hiking dogs.  I’m sure there are more, but mine fall into these categories. The Ranger Better get out the GPS collar, because … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "My Types Of Hiking Dogs," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

Sit Does Not Mean Sit: Giving Puppies a Voice with Mand Behaviors

Jane Messineo Lindquist borrowed the term “mand” from the human psychology lexicon. Mand training for nonverbal humans is a way of teaching them how to use gestures to ask for things, and that’s the simplest explanation—a mand behavior is a nonverbal way to ask for things and/or signal a need. Manding is the concept that … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "Sit Does Not Mean Sit: Giving Puppies a Voice with Mand Behaviors," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.

Restoring the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd

A strategy for preserving the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd If we continue to refer to the black and tan farm dogs of Middle Tennessee simply as black and tans, they will eventually become extinct. It may already be too late. The issue is that by calling them black and tans, a large amount … Read more

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Tony Bierman, "Restoring the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd," OBTESA, Accessed January 10, 2025, http://esbt.us/ee.