"These are farm dogs that are not selected for trials, the disappearance of the small farms presents a particular problem when selecting for the correct balance of herding hunting and guardian traits that have resulted in this character that I have not found in any individual in any other breed."
I loved this! It's exactly what I've been known to believe and have experience with growing up and living on a farm my whole life, which will be 50 years this June.....sigh.
Elaine wrote:"This is not how I 'start' my English Shepherds. IMHO they take much longer to train properly, they work from devotion and rules, not merely commands. They are not a good breed for dog trainers to use to sell 'started' pups. My ES may be exceptional on my farm but not work for anyone else. (this is not true of ALL ESs but is true of a great many of them) They need to bond to their new owners and learn the rules and routines that are specific to their situation from day one."
Another very true, accurate statement! All of the farm dogs (mostly shepherd type but of course 'not registered') I grew up with all took to the rules and routine of what farm life(style) is all about. The livestock also knew the routine and were very familiar to the "family members" including the dog(s). I don't ever recall ever needing an aggressive "tough" herding type of dog in order to work with our livestock (cattle, hogs, chickens, horses). Of course I grew up with herefords in which they are known for their mild temperaments, maybe that's why my Dad liked them so much. I hear of the stories from my Dad (97 years young) of how Shep or Sport would keep the charging bull occupied long enough for him and his sisters to get out of the pasture. Or of the lady in the nursing home speak of the ES they had, that grabbed a hold of a bull by it's nose and hung on while the bull swung it around, but didn't let go of it's nose! (what a visual, huh?) But this ES did it to keep the bull away from the family's daughter that had wandered down the driveway and across the road, where this bull was. (It was the neighbor's bull). But these aren't "herding" instincts per se....these are the guardian instincts for to protect their family from harm, intruders, danger.
Elaine Wrote:"Today the BC is hardly in danger of dissappearing, but our ES, like our small farms is becoming scarcer every day."
I thank you for your acknowledgment. of the "farms becoming scarcer every day". : ) I do believe that the hobby farms will become the farms of yesteryear, though. People will eventually get tired of buying their meat not knowing what they are eating and start raising the few head of stock for their own freezer. The next problem will be to find the Butcher Shops that have dwindled away either by the lack of livestock in their area or the USDA/OSHA rules and regulations have made it hard for them to stay in business. We still have a Butcher in our little town of 1500 (Population) in which I get my raw bones from....free because it costs the butcher money to dispose of them if us dog owners didn't come and get them. Luckily he's got enough business (one of the few left in the area) to keep his doors open. But with the Bio-tech seed/grain that Europe won't buy b/c they don't know if it's safe to consume, our USDA is convinced it's not harmful. Well, this is another topic for another time.....
What can we,as English Shepherd breeders and owners do to preserve the qualities we cherish in this breed?"
I love the obed/agility classes but don't do any trials. At this point in my life I don't feel like I need to start taking my dogs around the country to attend trials, let alone I don't think I need to feed my blood pressure with the "excitement", like I used to when showing the horses. With this said, I feel that the exploitation of the ES is/may hurt the breed more than what it's worth. ?? I read of what some BC owners have written as to advertising the breed is not good, making the breed the best thing since sliced bread. (101 Dalmatians did for that breed; Lassie did for the collie; etc.) Maybe the reason the ES has sustained the hands of time is because they were the farmer's "best kept secret".
I believe that my unregistered ES, Duchess may have been from the same stock as one or some of the founding ES's. Duchess came from a breeder in Cedar Falls, IA in 1969. This breeder (I don't recall the name due to my young age..) had at least 6 breeding bitches and a couple males all of which were s/w's and my Duchess was a saddle sable. Duchess was a very easy tempered, loving dog but probably wasn't a "good herder" but she was one of the best farm dogs we had. I believe that some of the "unknown" bloodlines on the pedigrees could have been from this breeder since there is no paper trail, no way of knowing. Now what makes a good farm dog? One that herds or one that is a good all 'round dog?
Peg Egertsen
NW Iowa
Sasha (Well's Gypsy X Chopper)
Othello (Tillie X Blue)
