First Friend Facts

First Friend Fact #132

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

“Zoomies” in dogs, scientifically known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), are sudden bursts of energy where a dog runs around wildly, often in circles or back and forth. While the exact cause of zoomies is not fully understood, it is generally believed to be a natural way for dogs to release pent-up energy, excitement, … Read more

First Friend Fact #83

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

Dogs have a unique “third eyelid” called the nictitating membrane. This transparent membrane is found in the inner corner of a dog’s eye and can slide across the eye for added protection or moisture. It helps to keep the eye clean and lubricated, while also shielding it from debris and injury. In some cases, the … Read more

First Friend Fact #69

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

Most standardized breeds can trace their origins back to earlier landrace populations. The process of standardizing breeds gained momentum with advancements in communication and transportation, although the timeline for this progress varied across different regions.

First Friend Fact #62

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

Sibling contribution, or the use of multiple full siblings in a breeding program, can be an important tool in breed management. When breeders use multiple full siblings, they increase the genetic diversity within their breeding program, which can help to reduce the likelihood of inbreeding and the potential for genetic disorders. Using siblings also allows … Read more

First Friend Fact #55

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

The bloodlines within a breed can be very important reservoirs of genetic variation, and managing these within the overall breed is important to long-term breed survival. (Sponenberg, Beranger, and Martin 2017)

First Friend Fact #41

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

The secret to a successful canine-human relationship is putting yourself into the mind, and senses, of the dog, to understand what motivates them, or terrifies them, or satisfies them. Ha and Campion 2018

First Friend Fact #34

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Black and Tan English Shepherd

The flawed reliance on wolf behavior to interpret dog behavior is called lupomorphism. While it is true that dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, that does not mean that dogs are descended from wolves. This is an important distinction. The evolutionary trajectories of wolves and dogs diverged when some of the wolf-dogs started hanging … 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.

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