Storybook Farm Brandy

OTSC Registration: This dog is not registered OTSC.

Breeder:

Owner: Leah Matzke

Sire:

Dam:

Call Name: Brandy

Date of Birth: APR 12, 2020

Date of Death:

Other Registrations:

Gender: female

Color: Shaded Sable & White

Height: 22 inches (55.88 cm)

Weight: 58 pounds (26.31 kg)

Length:

Chest:

Distinguishing Features:

Hips:

Elbows:

Eyes:

MDR1:

Other Health Issues:

Notes:
Brandy is an exceptional farm dog. She has a confidence about her and is a joy to be around. Her intelligence is uncanny, as she often seems to read my mind or understand what we are saying. When we need extra help on the farm she is quick to move into action, often without command (such as holding cattle in an open gate, or gathering an escaped goat or sheep). She is loyal dog with a strong connection to our family. She follows our children everywhere when they play on the farm, and if we need to find them quick we just call for Brandy and can be sure the direction she comes from is where they are. Brandy is driven to please, and happiest when along side our family. She is a guardian of our property, and alerts us when visitors drive up but quickly stands down when asked. She is not shy, but displays confidence in everything she does. She keeps her eyes to the sky and nose to the ground - constantly patrolling our property for predators that may threaten our poultry or young stock. A few fun things Brandy does - in the winter she plays sled dog and pulls our kids around in a small kick sled, tail wagging. She does dog agility with my kids for fun on homemade obstacles, leaping over jumps, running through tunnels, and pausing on a table. She has a low food drive and does best with verbal/physical rewards when learning new tricks. She loves going for car rides to get the kids from school each day. She thinks she is a lap dog, and is quick to accept any and all snuggling offered. She is registered with the English Shepherd Club Registry (ESC), but strongly shares many of the same characteristics as depicted in older farm collie art and described in the Old-Time Scotch Collie breed standard. Her biddable nature, matched with intelligence makes her wonderful to be around. She has her permanent PRGN (herd/guard/hunt) through the American Working Farmcollie Association.

Intact: yes

Plans to Breed: yes

Known Offspring:

Working Dog: yes

Working Description: Brandy is an exceptional working dog and right hand girl for daily work on our farm. We are a working cattle and sheep farm in southern Minnesota. We manage 40 acres of pasture we intensively graze our beef cattle and sheep over it spring through fall, and Brandy helps us with these moves as needed. She is all about order on the farm, and quick to let us know if an animal is out of place. One time while calling in my family milk cow in to milk the bull thought it would be a good idea to tag along into the barn. Quick as lightning Brandy gave a bark and fearlessly had him back out the door, while letting our cow calmly enter the stanchion. She knows the routine and everyone's place here, and makes sure our livestock follow it. Brandy is also an apex predator and best livestock guardian we could ask for. The previous owner of our property could never keep chickens as they were lost to fox, weasels, or other predators. We have never lost a chicken to a predator since Brandy arrived. She has treed several coons and opossums, alerting us to come take care of them and holding them in a tree. She diligently watches the sky and keeps eagles and hawks away from our chickens or rabbits when they are out to graze. She is an excellent mouser, and with a fox-like pounce helps keep down our rodent population. Her constant watch over the property is highly valued by our family. She is also gentle with young stock, and loves all baby animals. She will lick our bottle calves, inquisitively watch new baby chicks, allow bunnies or kid goats to hop all over her, and snuggle with new lambs. It fascinates me how she can distinguish between our livestock and wild animals. She is wicked fast and has captured wild rabbit in the grove, but if the kids 4-H bunnies escape their pen she will gently herd them into a group on the yard (as best she can!) and keep watch over them in a very gentle manner until one of us notices. Brandy is also a surprisingly good upland game hunter. She keeps a nice distance between my husband and son when they go pheasant hunting, flushing them for a shot and locating the downed bird for them. She would make a good coon hunter as well, and has treed coons in the grove.