Black and Tan English Shepherds
Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Association
The Black and Tan English Shepherd is a line of working dogs native to the United States. Considered one of the most versatile of all farm dogs, ESBT can hunt and track wild game, protect persons and property, and manage small, medium, or large livestock.
The English Shepherd is a true working dog that was developed in the United States as a farm dog to help with various tasks. Its ancestry traces back to British herding dogs brought to America by early settlers. Over time, the breed has evolved to be well-suited for the diverse needs of American farms.
Some of the breed’s key characteristics include:
Overall, the English Shepherd is a versatile and hardworking breed that excels in various tasks on the farm. Their intelligence, adaptability, and strong work ethic make them a valuable asset for farmers and ranchers alike.
We started keeping brush goats about eight years ago. We bought a male and a female, and grew the herd up to nine goats. They are our pets, each has a name. We’ve used them to clear underbrush, and I use them to to work my English shepherd’s dogs. Like any stock, there are regularly … Read more
Sugar took the goats over to the pasture for me this morning. If she would just close the gate behind them and fetch them a bucket of water, I wouldn’t have to do anything at all.
Today I live in Nashville where my eldest son is a prominent businessman. But this story begins thirty-one years ago. It was then that I married, in Jackson, Tennessee, as pretty a girl as that village had ever sheltered. She had been well brought up but had no fortune of her own to speak of. … Read more
Blankenship’s Old Fashion Type – Century Strain Natural Heelers – Black and Tan The Black and Tan English Shepherd is a medium sized, strongly-built, active dog. He is affectionate, intelligent, naturally obedient, not quarrelsome or possessive, but of great courage and extremely faithful. He is not easily excitable and is usually dignified in manner. A … Read more
A live and healthy delivery is guaranteed. On ordering a pup please state your NEAREST EXPRESS OFFICE and TELEPHONE NUMBER on the enclosed order blank card. All pups are wormed once or more and given Anti-Canine Distemper-Hepatitis-Leptospira Conicola Serum before shipping. Pups are shipped after weaning, usually 6 to 8 weeks. All shipments are AIR … Read more
Natural Heelers In reply to inquiries about our English Shepherds we are happy to give detailed information about our dogs. First of all we want to tell you that we are farmers, and have been farmers all our lives. Therefore, we have actual knowledge and experience in the type of dog best suited for an … Read more
Breeders of the World’s Best All-Purpose Dog and Man’s Best Friend English Shepherds Natural Heelers Duke of Winsor Exclusive Bloodline of Our Superior Foundation Breeding Stock Century Strain Natural Heelers Big enough to serve you – not too big to know you Mr. & Mrs. John Blankenship Telephone: Murfreesboro (615) 893-6184 Route One Christiana, Tennessee … Read more
There is perhaps no better source which clearly establishes the history and the phenotype of the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd foundational strain than the sales brochure of John and Pauline Blankenship. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship of Rutherford County, Tennessee bred black and tan “Century Strain” English Shepherds for decades.
First, it comes up a lot, so I think the subject of coat color deserves a brief mentioning. The observable signs of a foundational strain are not trivial, as they reflect the underlying genetic package and are consequently indicative of congruence and predictability. But confusion arises when individuals from composite strains appear similar to those … Read more
I was recently asked, “What exactly makes it a Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd?” When classifying members of a foundational strain within a landrace breed, three of the most conclusive tools we can use are genotype, phenotype and history. In isolation, any one of these three investigations can be inconclusive. But when all three … Read more
Back when I was in my early twenties, I went on a camping trip and made some friends. One night when we were sitting around the campfire, the discussion led to how many states there were in the United States. This was in the days before smart phones, so there was no way to lookup … Read more
We moved the goat herd from the pasture to the barnyard this morning. This used to be an unpredictable and stress-filled event that I was not sure would take twenty-minutes or an hour. One time, I even sustained a mild injury in the process. But thanks to my fifty-pound gold nugget, that just isn’t the … Read more
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
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
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