HTCH Peaslee's Howell the Good
Howie is friendly, confident, loyal, and always ready to work
About Howie
Howie is from Belle’s third litter, sired by Summer & Travis Banks’ Cody, born in April 2014.
Howie combines strong working drive with a clear head and biddability. As a pup, I watched the easy-going, adaptable Howie lead the puppy pack when I took his litter on field trips. New environments, new people, sheep, ducks, chickens — he greeted all with interest and unwavering (but not heedless) confidence. He has continued to demonstrate intelligence, enthusiasm for work, and a steady temperament in training and has earned started, intermediate & advanced titles on three different herding trial courses as well as a “canine good citizen” certification and beginning Nosework titles (ORT on all three scents). By 3 1/2 years of age, Howie had earned his Herding Trial Championship with AHBA.
Howie’s herding instincts are excellent, making him easy to start and train. He keeps stock grouped and maintains control fairly, without undue pressure. He gathers naturally but also enjoys driving and took to it easily; he works well in both open fields and pens. Most of his work has been with sheep and goats however he works ducks competently (not his preference), and he loves working cattle (and does it well). Howie works with an upright, loose-eyed style, and wears behind stock when driving. He will grip if needed but is not rough with stock.
Howie is registered with UKC. His sire, Cody, was from Robert Cook, who bred working English Shepherds in Ohio for over 30 years. Cody’s mother, Annie, is credited with saving Mr. Cook’s life late one night, after he was knocked to the ground by an aggressive bull. Many of Mr. Cook’s dogs were registered with IESR. Unfortunately, it is not possible to retrieve those records so there are gaps in Howie’s registered pedigree.
Health Information
Hips: OFA good, PennHIP DI=0.32/0.35, no DJD
Eyes: Normal, December 2022 (8 1/2 years)
DNA Testing: Embark panel clear
Inbreeding (COI): homozygosity measured at 3%
Howie’s Titles
Herding Trial Champion (HTCH) * Herding Trial Arena Dog (HTAD) IIIsd * Herding Ranch Dog (HRD) IIIs * Ranch Large Flock (RLF) IIIs * Herding Trial Dog (HTD) IIId * Started Trial Dog, cattle (STDc)
Nosework test – ORT bca
Canine Good Citizen – CGC
Pedigree
Who was “Howell the Good”?
From The British Sheepdog by Sydney Moorhouse:
“Perhaps the earliest reference to the working sheepdogs of Wales occurs in the first part of the tenth century, for in the Ancient Welsh Laws codified by Hywel Dda (Howell the Good) about A.D. 920 and approved by Rome, we learn that the “Herdsman’s Dog” was one of the three “indispensables of a summer resident”, the others being a bothie* and a knife, and that: “A cur, although it should belong to the king, is only four curt pence in value. If it be of a shepherd (Herdsman’s) dog, however, it is of the value of an ox of current price. And should it be doubted being so; let its owner swear, with a neighbour above his door, and another below his door, to its going before the cattle in the morning, and guarding the hidmost ones at the close of the day.” The price of an ox, naturally, varied from time to time, but usually ranged from sixteen to three score pence.
It is an interesting commentary on the worth then afforded the sheep or cattle dog that the King’s Greyhound was deemed no more valuable…”
*a bothie is a small hut or cottage
