Good Shepherd Farm English Shepherds

Ivy is from Tish Toren's Blacksheep Homestead.  Her sire and dam were both working dogs and indispensible helpers on Tish's farm.  Ivy is a spunky little dog, full of get up and go when working but very content to hang with her family when nothing needs doing.  She is an intent watcher, very keyed into what her people are doing, so as not to miss anything.  She has an affectionate, biddable nature and seems to always be trying to figure out what you want.  She is wonderful and patient with our children and fabulous mother to her own pups.  She also has a good dose of the ES bossy nature and enjoys setting things right.  She learned early on that the free range chickens didn't belong on the porch and would shoo them off without prompting.  With larger stock (goats, pigs, horses etc...), she has demonstrated an "in your face" attitude toward herding -lots of bounce and bark and occasionally some grip.  She doesn't make work for herself and can reliably be left loose but when asked she makes no bones about the fact that the stock is to MOVE IT!  Along with that herding nature is the ES empathy and ability to care for the master's things.  Ivy takes great interest in the babies on the farm and shows a desire to protect and defend them.  This balance of traits is what I like to see in a dog.  Ivy has been PennHip tested and has a DI of .33/.29 which places her in the 90th percentile of the breed.  She is registered with both UKC and ESCR.  

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Playmate, teacher, protector, provider....Ivy is the epitome of motherhood.