Rainier and Sally

The parents of our latest litter each have very unique and interesting backgrounds and make a great combination of Old-Time Scotch Collie genetics in this litter.

Rainier

Age: 2 years
Weight: 60 pounds
Height:  23″
Color: sable & white

Rainier was bred by Jessica Hennings of Gracehaven. His father is Gracehaven Angus, one of the most successful and prolific Scotch Collie studs alive today, he is described by his owner thus:

Angus is a more old-fashioned type of collie, with a stockier build, sturdier bone structure, a gently broadened head shape, and large, expressive eyes. His temperament is very good-natured, kind and gentle with children; but he can do guardian work as well. There was a time when we were very grateful for his abilities when we had a persistent problem with intruders on our land. He once fought a wolf to save our cat, Alexander. Angus was Canadian bred; all we have been able to find out is that his parents were purebred rough collies. Laddie, Angus’ sire, was not registered, though his mother, Hannah, was registered with the Canadian Kennel Club.

While Rainier’s father was from north of the border, his mother, Lassie, was from south of the border. Purchased in a market in Peru, nothing at all is known of her breeding but some have theorized that she may be of Ovelheiro Gaúcho stock, an old fashioned, working type collie from South America. What we do know is that she was a wonderful dog with high intelligence and natural working ability. Sadly, Lassie was struck and killed by a car, having produced only one litter of pups.

Rainier has proven to be a fantastic dog. He is always on the guard, protecting us from intruders of all kinds, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and whatever else might enjoy dining on our chickens or eating out of our feed bag. He has shown a natural aptitude in herding and was a big help to us with the cattle we had here last summer 2010. In obedience Rainier knows no equal, he always obeys the first time, every time, in fact he won “most obedient” at our county fair dog show this year. Rainier is the total package, great looks and intelligent, capable and obedient. If I could improve one thing about him it would be that he is too friendly with strange humans.

Sally

Age: 4 years
Weight: 35 pounds
Height:  18″
Color: milk sable (ee)

Sally was bred by Chandler Strunk of Winfield, Tennessee and is of pure McDuffie Old-Time Farm Shepherd extraction. This is a line of rare Scotch Collies descended from four litter-mates that the renowned dog breeder Richard McDuffie found on a farm in Tennessee in 1994, [learn more about McDuffie and his OTFS dogs here]. These dogs are known for their almost human intelligence, herding, guardian and hunting ability.

With Sally’s great pedigree she has a lot to live up to, unfortunately she hasn’t been worked with as much as she should have been due to serious illnesses of her owner. But at our place she has shown herself to be a quick learner. Most importantly for this cross, she has that natural standoffishness around strangers that the OTFS dogs are famous for which should improve on Rainiers over-friendliness.

As an interesting aside, Richard McDuffie once created a breed if Curs by crossing Mexico, Canada and America, he called them Camus Curs. This litter, while not having any Mexican bloodlines, does combine collie blood from north of the border, south of the border and the United States.