Working Trait Evaluation

Dog's name: HTCh Peaslee's Honey of Shepherd's Way
<Peaslee's Brighton x Partlow's Bud II>
Owned by: Mary Peaslee

Background:
Honey is a sable and white female, born 2002, evaluated in 2006. She lives in town, in a household with 4 children and 3 other dogs, on property that backs up to forest land (inhabited by coyotes, raccoons, and various other forms of urban wildlife).

Honey's livestock experience has been gained working on farms belonging to friends (several mornings a week during some parts of the year), in clinics, and in formal herding trials; she is the first English Shepherd recognized as a herding trial champion with AHBA, where she has earned five advanced level titles. She has worked many types of sheep (ranging from stubborn and feisty to extremely reactive), ducks, and cattle. Honey's best quality is her keenness, drive, and utter devotion to her owner; she loves to work, and she loves to work WITH you.

Honey is reserved on first meeting and somewhat reactive. She is very resilient however, and her natural exuberance and desire to be "in the thick of things" means she never gets left behind.

Summary of Honey's Working Traits:
Keenness/ Drive -- works readily when needed
Style -- naturally gathers and drives, very balanced dog
Power -- livestock sometimes challenge Honey but she will always "win"

Stock Ethic -- Honey actively controls her stock; she can be pushy but is never mean or overly rough
Work Ethic -- stays with job, maintains focus, does not quit

Biddability -- responsive to guidance, control; enjoys working in partnership with owner
Approach -- naturally works close to stock
"Eye" -- medium eye (generally upright, free-moving, moderately intense)
Bark -- will force bark if necessary
Bite -- will grip either nose or heel if needed, very quick, not particularly hard biter

Territoriality -- respects boundaries and stays at home
Patrol -- patrols territory intermitently, though prefers to keep her watchful eye trained on her family
Warning -- barks to warn of unusual situations
Defense of property -- protective of owner's property
Tracking ability -- will track by scent and find prey; occasionally "points" in woods; often trees prey
Predators -- no real opportunity to assess... drives off wandering cats or other critters
Attitude towards newborns -- gentle with young
Pest control -- no real opportunity to assess... "kills" her toys regularly!

Structure and Movement: Honey has a lean, athletic frame and moves with effortless grace. She is exceptionally quick, loves to run, and has a gravity defying leap. She has a long tail, correct scissors bite and her coat is low maintenance, thick and soft.

Temperament: Honey is very devoted and affectionate with family members; she is initially reserved with unfamiliar adults but warms up quickly and enjoys attention. She is eager and expressive, and enjoys being active, but is quiet and relaxed in the house. Honey is ambitious within her pack, but readily accepts human leadership.