The English shepherd is still a rare breed.  The biggest threat to the breed 
is still extinction--the farmcollie type dog with ability intact is even 
rare.  I am much more optimistic about the existence of the breed than I was 
3 years ago.  I think the key is getting the word out in the *right* places. 
AWFA has been publicizing pups in lots of farm magazines over the last 2 1/2 
years.  It has placed many  ES and Farmcollie pups on farms with only a few 
suspicious inquiries.  But with increased awareness to the farmer, we have 
to realize that there will also be increased awareness to the puppymiller. 
Most of the community is vigilant and downright picky about the placement of 
pups, but we need to watch out for each other and talk to each other so that 
we can overcome the liar who knows just the right thing to say to win your 
puppy.

Erin Hischke
Red Bank English Shepherds
www.englishshepherdhome.com
member AWFA www.farmcollie.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meier Family" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 7:26 AM
Subject: Re: [FARMCOLLIE] warning for breeders


> Yes, we worry about being inadvertent promoters of this here in the
> northeast, too, where Farm Collies are now pretty unknown, everyone has 
> labs
> or goldens, and the *doodle phenomenon took hold easily. In obedience 
> class
> we saw some of the worst temperamented and ugliest goldendoodles you can
> imagine, and know that the owners all paid handsomely for this "dog to
> have." I have only seen two other ESs in this area, and everyone we meet
> wants to know what kind of gorgeous, well-behaved and good family dog ours
> is. One woman who had a young Wheaten (another breed which had a brief
> popularity burst because it seems so attractive, but suffers like BCs and
> dalmations once everyone discovers its true character) actually said, 
> having
> met our dog, "Wow, I think I bought the wrong dog..." Now I catch myself
> singing his praises a bit less in public and wondering if I should just 
> say
> he's a mix, as many suppose when they first see him, looking at that sable
> coat through the eyes of people with the GR myopia that's so intense 
> around
> here.
>
> Pam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Farm Collie Breed Conservancy and Restoration
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kathi
> Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 11:46 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [FARMCOLLIE] warning for breeders
>
> Never the less we have ES that are being sold from pet stores.  NESR has
> rescued some of these puppies that end up in the wrong homes.  They are
> paying a lot of money for them too.  We also just rescued 2 ES that were
> being auctioned (breeders) at a puppymill auction.  Let's hope they are
> never "the breed to have."
>
> Kathi Tesarz
> www.tesarzservices.com
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Farm Collie Breed Conservancy and Restoration
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jana lashmit
>> Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 5:35 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [FARMCOLLIE] warning for breeders
>>
>> I have to wonder though, why would ES be an enticing breed for a
>> puppymill?  Most of the dogs in pet stores tend to be small - poo mixes,
>> maltese, poms, dachshunds.  If it's a large breed, it's likely a
>> labradoodle, boxer, lab, golden - something common (or unique, like a
>> dogue de bordeaux).  But most people don't even know what an English
>> Shepherd is.  They aren't exotic or glamorous.  You'd think that would
>> make them safely under the radar of the puppymiller.
>>
>>   Jana
>