Southern Elm Sheepdogs

11/18/2023

Nomey ❤️
•
I often forget how young he is. He’s so intelligent and progresses so quickly it’s easy to forget he’s just a baby. I’ve always loved playing disc with him but recently we’ve really clicked and it’s such a special feeling. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us!
•
📸: Allie Weaver

11/11/2023

After a long break we’re back at it!
•
We attended our first AHBA trial this week and had a blast. It’s been months since I’ve trialed dogs so this was a much needed trip!
Indie ran in HTAD II on day one; she completed her course, had a qualifying run, and got first place in her class!
Day two was tough. We moved up to HTAD III which required different things than level II. I didn’t understand a portion of the field and ended up causing our run to not qualify. I was super frustrated with my mistake but I was thrilled with Indie’s work, she came out level headed and took every command I gave her.
•
It’s been too long since we last trialed together but this girl always shows up for me 💜

06/14/2023

Just dropping a photo of Nome rocket-launching himself into the air for a disc 🚀
•
📸: Redbrooke Ranch

06/08/2023

Quite an intense catch face from Indie!
•
Tomorrow starts a weekend full of disc at BarkWeek with NashVertical Disc Dogs and I’m excited to end the season with such a fun event! Let’s see if we can get any new PB’s 🤞🏼
•
Collar: .pup
📸: Æ Ambient Exposure Photography

05/31/2023

Finally getting around to posting photos from UpDif 2023 and these are a few of my favorites— I feel like these photos capture how happy I am every time I step on the field with my dogs and I’m so grateful these moments were captured 🥹
•
I went into this first year ready to take on the UpDif experience and was humbled to compete amongst the best teams UpDog has. The weather was all over the place but the spirits were always high! I connected with my dogs in ways I never had before and couldn’t be more proud of how they performed.

I have a couple incredibly talented dogs I get to be a part of a team with and I cannot wait to push myself as a handler to see us reach our full potential! Our focus will soon shift back to herding for the upcoming months but disc has surely left our hearts full this season.

Thank you to everyone who has cheered us on this far, we truly appreciate all your love and support 💗
•
📸: Æ Ambient Exposure Photography

03/21/2023

Redbrooke Nome ❤️
•
Truly an extraordinary boy.
A dog who has more capabilities than I do as a handler, constantly pushing me to improve.

He’s such a loyal teammate and I cannot wait to see the adventures we embark on together.
Happy (late) 1st birthday sweet boy 🎉
•
📸:

02/27/2023

We attended the February NashVertical UpDog event and had a blast! A few new personal bests and a lot of placements, here’s the recap!
•
Indie:
A new personal best in Time Warp of 64
2nd place in Time Warp
2nd place in 7 Up

Evie:
A new personal best in Frizgility of 105
1st place in frizgility
1st place in 4 way play
2nd place in Throw & Go
3rd place in 7Up
3rd place in Time Warp
3rd place in Greedy
•
Talk about a wonderful way to kick off the 2023 disc season! We finalized our UpDif runs for this year too and got into every game we entered— these girls are on fire!
•
📸:

01/20/2023

So excited for Kelly & Jo! These will be some working machines for anyone looking for a new sheepdog / cattle dog prospect

Edit: spot has been taken. ❤️ if anything changes and you would like to be on the alternate list, send a message.

Jolene is expecting what looks like 7 pups!
We are crazy excited for Jolene's first litter. We may have one spot now open on her waitlist (as we were expecting 6!), but I will wait until everyone has arrived and is happy and healthy before making any final decisions to formally open up the list. If you were at all interested in this litter please message me - I expect if we end up having a final spot, the puppy will find their home quick. ❤️

12/06/2022

It’s been a while since we’ve posted but even longer since we’ve featured Asha!
•
We’ve been super busy with training and the holidays but we’ll take a break next weekend and go down to Georgia for our last UpDog event of 2022. Hopefully we’ll see some scores that qualify us for more 2023 UpDif games!

11/22/2022

Indie girl and her ribbons from the Glenrose trial this year! 🐑
•
Indie has done really nicely in ProNovice this past trial season and brought home many placements!

At the Glenrose trial series she placed, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, & 3rd in her runs, as well as High in Trial twice and overall High in Series.
At the Coppar Creek Stockdog trial she placed 2nd & 3rd in a large pronovice class on some pretty tough sheep.
•
This is the first dog I’ve ever trained/trialed and our first season trialing together, to say I’m pleased with her is an understatement.
Onwards & Upwards little one! 💜

📸: Redbrooke Ranch

11/15/2022

Starting Cove’s album, all his updates will go here!

11/13/2022

Surprise! Kind of … ? 😆
•
Cove will be staying here— at least for a little while! I wasn’t planning on keeping a boy out of this litter but he knew he could convince me to reconsider. He’s been bold and personable since day one and he’s always been right by my side, just watching me and waiting for me to notice him. Well at 6 weeks old I feel in love with a little pistol of a puppy and at 9 weeks I threw him on sheep for fun— little did I know he’d be super keen and that would be the final factor in deciding to hold onto him. I’m not sure what our future holds together but I know I’ll enjoy every second with this sweet boy and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish!
•
Officially welcoming my first home bred puppy, Southern Elm’s “Cove” 💙

📸: Hunter from Nature Collies

10/26/2022

Mr.Perfect is growing up to be so handsome!
•
Nome is 7.5 months old now and has officially started his sheepdog training. He’s been working regularly for a few weeks now and it’s crazy to see his natural ability unfold. I haven’t had a dog ready for work at such a young age but he’s proven he’s more than ready and I can’t wait to see how he trains up! 🐑

10/11/2022

Quick photo update of the crew!

•
We’ve been busy raising pups & working sheep as often as we can. The weather has been great for training and we have a trial at the end of the month that I think should be perfect weather— maybe even a bit chilly. Excited to get back out on the trial field with my best girls!

10/07/2022

Regal like his momma, sweet Bayou
•
6 weeks old and sassier than ever!

10/02/2022

Puppy Available🐾

Location: Knoxville, TN
Date of Birth: August 25, 2022
Ready Date: November 1, 2022

Life happens and plans change, one of these sweet boys is now available to a wonderful home! Introducing Bayou and Cove, 2 smooth coat black tri males born on August 25, 2022, out of my female Asha and Rebecca Gibson’s open dog Gary.

Asha— ABCA #474348
Alta-Pete Dave x Nora
OFA Scores—
Hips: Good
Shoulders: Normal
Elbows: Normal
Patellas: Normal
Optimal Selection Panel— EOD carrier

Gary— ABCA #515911
Bob x Cammen Meg
OFA Scores—
Hips: Good
Elbows: Normal
Optimal Selection Panel— TNS carrier

Both of these boys are firecrackers and should excel in anything thrown at them. Both parents actively trial in USBCHA and have offspring that have gone on to work stock and do sports (agility, disc, & flyball).
I’m unsure as to which boy will be available as I do like to do temperament evaluations before matching to a home but should know within 2 weeks what they’re like and what kind of home would best fit them. Optimal Selection DNA panels have been sent out on both of them and results will be provided to new owner(s).

Raised with puppy culture & ENS. They’ve also been introduced to litter training and have been very successful. I’d love to see these boys in performance homes, sport or working, but it’s not a requirement.

If you’re interested in one of these sweet pups shoot me a message and we can talk details! 🙂

09/15/2022

3 weeks old already 🥹
•
We finished ENS a few days ago and then we started new puppy things, specifically introducing mush and using a litter box. This stage always makes them feel so grown up and they start showcasing their personalities. I’ll be curious to see what they’re each like at the next update!
•
Bayou weighs: 4lbs 5oz
Cove weighs: 4lbs 4oz
Bayou has officially outgrown Cove and they’re both over 4 pounds now! They’re growing too fast and I wish time would slow down 💙💙

09/13/2022

Momentary break from puppy photos to appreciate Indie girl!
•
I’ve been going through a lot the last few weeks— getting sick, getting a promotion, whelping the Asha x Gary litter, and juggling life’s requirements. It’s just been an exhausting time and this dog has made it so much better. She was willing to lay in bed with me for days while I was sick and adjusted so quickly to not going to work with me through the training period. Despite being a working line border collie and having copious amounts of energy she took everything in stride and never once had a hiccup. I really lucked out with this sweet girl and I can’t say it enough 💜
•
We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled puppy photos this Thursday for their 3 week update 🐾

09/05/2022

These sweet boys are growing so fast! 🍂
•
At just 10 days old they were trying to open their eyes and started wobbling around, even though they’re massive and weigh more than 2lbs a piece. They’re growing into their faces a bit and are absolutely precious!

08/26/2022

What better day to introduce the boys than National Dog Day?
•
Meet the Dynamic Duo: Bayou & Cove

Bayou is puppy #1, a smooth coat black tri male
Cove is puppy #2, a smooth coat black tri male
•
Asha had such a fast and easy whelp I couldn’t have asked for anything more! I always said I didn’t like boy dogs but the world has decided this was the year that would change, there is nothing I don’t adore about these two special boys 💙💙

08/23/2022

After getting her x-ray done we got a puppy count! We’ll be expecting 2 wonderful babies later this week, I can’t wait to meet these special pups 💗

08/19/2022

What a beautiful momma dog 🥹
•
We’re closing in on the last week of Asha’s pregnancy and I’m soaking it up as much as I can. She’s been extra lovey and snuggly and I cannot wait to meet her sweet babies!

08/08/2022

Who doesn’t love a fancy litter announcement?
•
Only 3 weeks until these puppies are here and I can’t wait 🤍
•
Thank you EHA Graphics for a wonderful memory of this pairing!

08/03/2022

OFA Certificates

08/03/2022

08/03/2022

I’ve been waiting weeks to post this and I am so excited to finally share the stud dog I chose for Asha!
•
Introducing Rebecca Gibson’s Gary— a very successful open dog who qualified for USBCHA Open Finals in 2021, making it to semi-finals, and just qualified for 2022 Open Finals. Gary is a dog with an eye for a line and spews confidence working stock, he’s a perfect match for Asha and I couldn’t be more excited for this pairing.
•
We’ll be expecting puppies at the end of August and I seriously cannot wait 🤍 I think I have a litter theme in mind but drop any ideas you have below!

07/19/2022

🌻 𝓢𝓾𝓷𝓯𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓼 🌻

07/15/2022

The “Bean” litter is a year old today!
•
Getting the opportunity to whelp and raise this litter offered me to much knowledge and experience. All the puppies enjoy their chosen venues and are all doing very well in their endeavors. Happy 1st birthday sweet babies! 🎉
•
In order-
Zuko formally “Navy”
Ember formally “Coffee”
Bean formally “Pinto”
•
Asha x Neal 📸:

07/12/2022

And the Queen herself is back on the feed 🌺
•
I’ve had a bit of a creative block with photos lately so I’ve been trying out some new poses & angels— hopefully I get back in the groove soon! What’s your favorite pose for pictures?

05/16/2022

We leave for the Bluegrass tomorrow night and we don’t have a single thing packed 🤪
•
Indie magically got into both Pronovice classes so we’ll be staying Tuesday - Saturday now! I have 3 loads of laundry to do, pack 2 dog bags, prep my car, and get ready to bring Nome back home with us. We’ll be bringing him back from the Bluegrass and I am PUMPED. I can’t wait to get out on the trial field with my girls and work out little hearts out 💗