English Shepherd Farm Dogs
What Will You Do With the Light?
By the time I found grandpa, I had cried myself out of tears. As I recall, I was about eight years old at the time. Ever since I could remember, our dog Old Shep had been by my side. He was my constant companion, and my keeper. But at breakfast that morning, dad told me … Read more
Liberty at Nine Months
Natchez Trace Liberty[1]Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Liberty from front and both sides at eight months and twenty-nine days old. References[+] References ↑1 Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Liberty
Back on the Farm
Back as a kid on the farm in the 1940’s and 1950’s, dad always had at least one English shepherd to help him with the stock. I don’t remember exactly where we got those dogs, but I seem to recall somewhere down around Mufreesboro. Those dogs we had were black, with a tan spot above … Read more
Liberty Accelerates
If I had to use one word to describe Liberty[1]Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Liberty these past few weeks, it would have to be “acceleration”. If you had asked me in mid-May who my number one goat dog was, I would have said Sugar[2]Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Famous Shoes. And … Read more
Sugar and Vixen at the Waterin’ Hole
Sugar[1]Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Famous Shoes and Vixen[2]Biographical and Husbandry Details for Sherling’s Stone Cold Vixen love the creek. Especially Vixen, who swims like a fish. References[+] References ↑1 Biographical and Husbandry Details for Natchez Trace Famous Shoes ↑2 Biographical and Husbandry Details for Sherling’s Stone Cold Vixen
A Good Dog for Jared
In the summer of my twenty-fourth year, I earned my living by working as camp tender on a Montana sheep ranch. The great western ranges, unlike other sheep countries of the time, were devoid of sheep fence. As a result, we herded sheep every day of the year except during the winter when we kept … Read more
Down By The Creek
I turned eighteen in the spring of 1968. That was a controversial time in our country’s history. But my family has a long tradition of military service, so I enlisted in the U.S. Army on the very day of my majority. I was due to ship out to basic training in early June. By late … Read more
Uncle Pete’s Black and Tan English Shepherd Dogs
A year ago last January, I spent my mornings and evenings moving a herd of seventy-five yearling steers. I over-nighted the herd in my barn lot. But each morning, I would move them about a half-mile to a crimson clover pasture. Those steers would liked to have run me and my horse half to death. … Read more
The First Duke
I grew up on a farm in Appalachia. We were a small community that was still isolated even when I was growing up in the seventies. I cannot imagine they ever used dog breeders there. At least not as we know them now. I recall so many dogs in the area that looked pretty much … Read more
Tribute to Abby
Twelve years ago this past March, my husband Arlo came home with a six-week-old puppy. He had stopped off at a dairy farm in Liberty, North Carolina to make a delivery for work. There he found a litter of puppies who reminded him of the farm dogs his family had owned growing up in Tennessee. … Read more
Sugar, Vixen, Liberty and Josie
Here are Sugar, Vixen and Liberty out running with Josie this morning.
Liberty on the Goats
It was Liberty’s turn to tend the goats with me this morning. I feel like he’s coming along nicely for a boy his age.