Stony Creek English Shepherds HERDING English Shepherds are natural low heelers, with strong herding instinct. They exhibit agility, stamina, and stout hearted perseverance and will use the amount of force necessary to accomplish the job. Their natural instincts enable them to work with a minimum of direction, however they can be trusted to not bother livestock when help is not needed. HUNTING English Shepherds are also valued for their tracking, hunting and treeing ability. Advertising brochures from the 1950s depict English Shepherds treeing squirrel, coon and possum, and note "English Shepherds will tree anything and everything." This may include, of course, your neighbor's cat! An industrious English Shepherd may not be satisfied with simply treeing critters -- he may decide to climb a tree or two himself! English Shepherd owners need to be aware of and make allowances for the many faceted drives their dogs inherit. AGILITY AND MORE With their blend of intelligence, athleticism, and trainability, English Shepherds excel at many of the newer dog sports. English Shepherds have succeeded at the highest levels of obedience and agility. They also make outstanding partners in Search and Rescue, and many English Shepherds are certified Therapy Dogs, visiting residents in nursing homes and hospitals. English Shepherds are truly all-purpose dogs, eager to work for their owners in a variety of settings. Copyright of The English Shepherd Club History English Shepherds are descendants of the Shepherds' dogs of Scotland and N. England. This group also gave rise to modern "show" Collies and Border Collies. English Shepherds differ from their cousins in having been bred primarily for an upright, loose-eyed herding style, and by the continuous selection for all-around ability. These abilities include not only herding but also guarding and hunting. The surge in popularity of dog shows and sheepdog trials in the 20th century resulted in increased demand for the Collie types which these venues were designed to showcase. English Shepherds have never been primarily show dogs or trial dogs, but rather practical versatile workers for farmers who were interested in function rather than flash. Copyright of The English Shepherd Club Stony Creek's Bubba Ross - Copyright Roger Ross Appearance The English Shepherd is a dog of medium size, presenting a picture of sturdy balance and harmonious proportions, built for speed and maneuverability. He is alert and his face shows a high degree of intelligence. English Shepherds have a medium length, double coat, which affords all weather protection. English Shepherds come in four basic color patterns: black and tan, sable and white, tricolor (black, white and tan), and black and white. Because they have not been bred for the show ring, English Shepherds have retained much natural variation in features such as ear set, tail carriage, markings, and even build. These differences are appreciated by their owners as reflective of the care breeders have taken to preserve the essential character of the breed, rather than focusing on attaining perfect conformity to a "cookie cutter" ideal. Copyright of The English Shepherd Club English Shepherds are intelligent, alert, responsive working dogs. They are exceptionally devoted, and have a strong desire to work in partnership with their owner, whatever the task. English Shepherds are working dogs, valued for their herding and guarding ability. They make wonderful companions and partners in homes where their intelligence, spirit, and devotion are understood and appreciated. While very happy on a farm with chores to do, the English Shepherd makes an excellent family companion Because of its working background and devotion to family the English Shepherd makes a great companion for an active family committed to involving their dog in their daily life. They want to be part of the family and remain a working dog. The English Shephed is happiest when he has a job to do; watching the kids, escorting the family to the park, and guarding the property from the wily UPS driver are all tasks the suburban English Shepherd excels at. Copyright to The English Shepherd Club Stony Creek's Irish Gale Brooke - Copyright Randi Ross Memorial Page "U" Litter "V" Litter "W" Litter "X" Litter "Y" Litter "Z" Litter