Pups' Pedigree
Wonder is one of our Shooter/Meg pups. As a pup, she was bold and smart and funny with a great natural retrieve and a need to work with you as a team. At five weeks old, Wonder moved a pen of 6 month old calves to the back of the stall and held them for us so we could shut the gate.
I teach all my pups to "come" from the day I start feeding dog food. At about 6 weeks they must "sit" before being pet or fed. Wonder cracked me up because when I called, she would come running into the kitchen and slide up to me on her butt!
Wonder became a working farm dog on a dairy farm on the other side of town. We share a large animal vet with her owner, Al Sleeter, and we would hear reports on Wonder from time to time. The vet was totally smitten with her. We would also hear from members of his family how helpful she was on his farm. Mr. Sleeter scheduled Wonder's spay. The vet (same vet) called us to talk to him about breeding her because she was such a fine dog. He was worried about not being able to properly place the pups. He agreed to the breeding when we told him we would buy the litter from him.
Wonder is tri-colored with a white muzzle and blaze and a full collar and apron. She is about 50 pounds. Both her parents are OFA Good. She has a full sister, Bratton's Pippi Longstocking, who is OFA Excellent and a full brother, Shooter's Ricochet "Bailey", who is OFA Good and PennHIP .29/.29.
Copper spent time here as a pup as well, although he came from my mom's breeding. He was a cocky little devil who spent most of his time playing with my then 1-year-old son. He was fearless and biddable.
I found the perfect home for him on a dairy on Vandertie's Doorco (Door County, WI) Holstein Farm. They raise purebred breeding stock, including bulls. They also have young children. In my mind, this sent up an exclamation point that this family NEEDED an English shepherd to protect them (and their children). There is not a better dog for that purpose!
I sold Mr. Vandertie on that idea, but he was a bit skeptical. They picked up Copper and took him on the 2 hour trip home, holding him and talking to him all the way home. I got a later email from him that he was amazed and he hadn't believed me. That evening during chores Copper had run the animals back off his 6-year-old son as he fed them! That man will never have another breed.
Last fall, I began searching for a mate for Wonder. I stopped by their farm to visit Copper. I had my two sons with me. There was a BIG mud puddle in the driveway that was just calling to my 2-year-old. He ran right for it. I stopped him and stearnly told him "NO". He ran for it again. I picked him up, looked him in the eye, and told him "stay out". I set him down and turned to talk to Mrs. Vandertie. I turned back around just in time to see Ethan running for the puddle and Copper getting between him and the puddle and gently shouldering him out. Good dog!
I saw him nuzzling a cat in their barn. Then later I saw him chase that same cat out of the milkhouse. Cats don't belong in the milkhouse! Exemplary rule enforcing ability! I knew this was the dog I wanted because somebody had to breed to him!
When I dropped Wonder off to be bred, she and Copper ran and ran and ran around the barn. Then she got inside the calf pen. Mr. Vandertie said sarcastically, "I think they'll be clean by the end of the week." Apparently, Copper likes to clean them off and nurture them as well!
When I picked her back up, I spoke with Mr. Vandertie's father. He said that's the best dog his son had ever owned. "Great with the cattle and gentle with the kids." He was most impressed by his protectiveness of the children, "I know better than to come into the yard and start horsing around with the kids when Copper is around!"
Copper is sable with a full collar and apron. He has a white splotch on his hip. The pups may have a lot of white on them.