The Old Time Farm Shepherd

A Dog You Can Trust!

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8 week old "Ruff" and kids
Old Thyme Farm Shepherds
The Old Thyme Farm Shepherds is a rare breed that is being brought back to popularity among ranchers and homesteaders again. This is the dog that crossed the prairies with the Pioneers, protecting flocks and herds as well as the families. Many pictures are archived showing these dogs in them, every family had one. We first became aware of these dogs hearing John and Jean Copeland remembering the dogs seen on every ranch in the area in the early 30's and 40's when young Jean would travel with her dad on his creamery route. Back then most of the ranches kept a few milk cows and would sell the cream to the creamery for butter and cheese making, and young Jean became impressed by the "farm shepherds" as they called them. In 1989 we were able to rescue one of these dogs from down the Klamath River . The previous owner had always kept a few, and when she passed away, this poor dog was forgotten and traveled the town begging for handouts and killing squirrels to survive. We got her and so began our education into The Old Thyme Farm Shepherd, as they are now called.
 
Join our list group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/farmshepherds  
The picture below  was taken in 1853 and shows two farm shepherds in the background. Farm Shepherds crossed the plains with the pioneers, protecting family and flocks. Note: these are not small dogs, but are more likely 60lbs. This color was not as common as the "buff" or golden with a darker face mask.
Old Jim was a famous old time farm shepherd in the northwest in the late 1800's. Notice the type and style of the dog, and compare with Chevy, a dog we bred from old stock from the Klamath River area.  
 
Chewy is a modern old time farm shepherd, showing great courage and livestock ability. Chewy is very similar to Chevy, our daughter of "Petunia" from KY., originally from our Klamath River stock. "Pet" is very famous in Farm Collie and Farm Shepherd pedigrees. Chevy is a daughter of Pet and by "Rebel"; another famous Farm Collie. Farm Shepherds should be registerable in the Farm Collie breed registry; however we do NOT sell puppies with the papers! (You'll have to do that yourself) the Farm collie registry is a working dog registry, and the dog must show a working ability prior to being registered.
 
 
 
Chevy weighed 76 lbs.
 
 
Scout is a Farm Collie. He shows the more collie type markings, however the farm shepherd temperament of livestock and family protection and great diversity around the ranch. Note the similarity to him and "Old Shep" next to him. Old Shep is a very famous dog, showing great courage and faithfulness. Read the story of Old Shep here on our Old Shep site.  
         
SCOUT                                                
"I thought you might be interested in seeing a picture of our dog, Gillie, who is out of Belle (Petunia/Rebel) by Scout (Niedrauer's Jacob/Ellen). Gillie is not quite two years old in this picture, and is turning into an absolutely fabulous farm dog. We live south of Eugene Oregon, and got Gillie from Kathleen Sanderson who now lives near Klamath Falls . There is a website for the American Working Farm Collie group on Yahoo.

"Thank you so much for your work in preserving intelligent, easy going, multi-use farm dogs."
        
PUPS:   
"Chewy" has been bred to "Rocky"; and is due in Aug Make your reservations now ($100 deposit required, pups will start at $400) as this will be Chewy's last litter. She is out of "Sooner" and by "Beethoven". "Rocky" is out of "Ruff" and a working line of TRUE Anatolians, OFA and eyes clear.  
 
These pups will make very good service dogs, motility dogs, livestock protection dogs, family protection, or obedience dogs. Friendly yet formidable, will have medium coats.
 
Chewy has been the best all around family dog we have ever had, being kind and gentle with both stock and our children, yet has attacked and run off cougar, coyotes, and intruders. She shows the devotion to both "her" livestock and our family that was so necessary to the Pioneer families. At 6 she is still working strong and has trained now to become a service dog to our daughter with ASD.
Males $400, females $600.
 
  
      Chewy protecting our autistic daughter            
 
 
 
 
This is a photo of an Old Time Farm Shepherd, note the size of this dog. Farm Collies and English Collies/Shepherds are around 30-45 lbs. This dog is easily over 75lbs. Compare this dog woth Chevy and Chewy. No sign of the modern day narrow face and jaws and tiny eyes
 
 
 
 
Remember when we loved and trusted our dogs? Get back the dog of your youth. NOT AKC registered show dogs, these dogs are what we grew up with and loved and our parents put our lives in thier trust.
 
        
 
OLD SHEP
 
Compare Gillie and Scout with this Old Farm Shepherd
 
 Please notice the SIZE of these dog. There are some Farm Collies (like Scout) that are MUCH smaller than these dogs. Our dogs weigh 80-130lbs. Large enough to stop a bear or cougar.
 
There are three criteria to register these dogs:
1.  Herding: herding by driving, these are NOT gathering dogs but driving dogs and must show some interest in driving stock.
2. Protection: these dogs bond to both family and livestock and are used for BOTH. These are to be an ALL-AROUND farm dog. These dogs are NOT to show over-aggression to visitors, neither are they to be overly friendly.
3. Hunting. Can be treeing, scenting or site. Generally show an instinct to track game. Good to track and alert for deer hunters.
 
Please note nothing was said about color of nose, ear set, or coat length. Does it matter?