Glossary

Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd Glossary of Terms

0-9
8 Point Classification Model
A series of rational investigations used to gain reasonable confidence that a specific dog can be classified as an Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd. Read more…
A
ARF
The Animal Research foundation is a defunct registry which recorded several species of animals, including many dogs of the Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline.
B
Black and Tan
See Black and Tan Continuum
Black and Tan Continuum
Colloquially referred to as black and tans, the Black and Tan Continuum ranges from aesthetically black and tans dogs on one extreme to dogs which have been classified as part of the ESBT bloodline. Read more…
Blankenship Bloodline Standard
For decades, the Blankenships selected and bred their black and tan English Shepherd dogs against what is now called The Blankenship Bloodline Standard. Published here http://standard.blacktans.com
Blankenship Line
The Blankenship breeding program spanned four decades. John and Pauline Blankenship were master farmers, respected community leaders, and arguably the most prolific breeders of English Shepherds in the history of the breed. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship’s influence on the Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd cannot be overstated. It is difficult to find an Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd in existence today who’s lineage does not go back to the Blankenships’ dogs.
C
Catch dog
A catch dog is used in hunting to catch large animals, or in ranching to work unruly livestock. As hunters, catch dogs are contrasted with bay dogs who corner prey animals and alert their handler by barking or baying. As livestock dogs, catch dogs use their strength and determination to immobilize large animals so that they can be captured, or literally hogtied, by the dog’s handler. The practice of using catch dogs has been employed by stockmen, hunters, butchers and farmers since at least the days of ancient Rome.
Century Strain
In some articles and marketing materials, the Blankenships referred to their line of dogs as the Century Strain. See also Gold Nugget Strain, Blankenship Line.
Composite
See Multi-strain Composite
D
Diversity
Often there is a misunderstanding of what is meant by valuing diversity in the breed; the diversity valued is in non-essential (not breed-defining) traits, diversity does not mean “anything goes”.  A good English Shepherd should be a dog of solid character, capable of working stock, reliable with family members, loyal to their owner. It isn’t valuing diversity to brush aside those requirements.  The “nurturing” dog that can’t move your stock or the “alligator” dog that kills your stock are both lacking essential qualities. 
E
ESBT
English Shepherd Black and Tan is a bloodline of the English Shepherd breed which is named for its signature black and tan coat. Colloquially and collectively referred to as black and tans.
F
Farmcollie Movement
The farmcollie movement influenced the English Shepherd breed community via internet lists, AWFA, and the vocalness of its proponents.  Since this all coincided with the breed coming out of a pretty severe bottleneck, it skewed what was being bred and it influenced a lot of new breeders.  So now, black and tans are in a relatively more precarious place than some of the other parts of the breed. 
G
Gold Nugget Strain
In some articles and marketing materials, the Blankenships referred to their line of dogs as the Gold Nugget Strain. See also Century Strain, Blankenship Line.
H
I
IESR
The International English Shepherd Registry is a dog registry historically favored by many breeders of the Black and Tan English Shepherd bloodline.
J
K
L
Landrace
The genetic organization of most landraces resembles a short one-storey building made up of distinct foundation strains, with a second storey of composites built from specific combinations of foundation strains. (Sponenberg, et. al.)
M
Multi-strain Composite
Multi-strain composites are members of a landrace that have been built from specific combinations of foundation strains.
N
O
Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd
The Old-fashioned Black and Tan is a strain of the ESBT bloodline. See also ESBT.
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Print This Page Print This Page
Tony Bierman, "Glossary," OBTESA, Accessed March 19, 2024, http://esbt.us/1j.