The English Shepherd and the Stodghill Family

ENGLISH SHEPHERDS & THE STODGHILL FAMILY

By Al Walker, ARF Genealogist & Registrar
Son-in-law of Tom D. Stodghill

Henry Clay [1777-1852, a leading American statesman] brought a pair of Black and Tan English Shepherds to the USA at the same time he imported Hereford Cattle from England. He was a brother to Tom Dromgoole Stodghill’s Great-great-grandmother, Mary Humphries [1808-1872]. It was Tom’s grandfather who brought a pair of English Shepherds to Texas from Tennessee when Tom’s mother, Ada Gifford Dromgoole Stodghill, was fourteen years old. Further, Tom’s Great-great-grandfather, James D. Stodghill, Sr.’s, family had the same dogs in Georgia as far back as 1798. Having used their dogs in the Old World, they knew how valuable the English Shepherd would be here in America protecting their home and livestock.

When the surrounding neighbors saw these dogs at work, it was only natural to try to obtain a breeding pair. It was quite evident that having an English Shepherd was like having a hired-hand, but not having to pay for the expense of one. For example, these dogs would attend all the farmer’s livestock by protecting them, bring the cows to the barn at milking time [morning and evening], and, when the children were playing, they kept a close watch for snakes or other varmits. Also, when the children went to the river, lake, or pond to swim, they, too, went along, and, if a mishap occurred, they would jump in and pull the child to safety.

As dogs grew in popularity, men began to see a need to track their breeding program. Therefore, in the late 1800’s, two dog registries were organized in America, the American Kennel Club [AKC] and the United Kennel Club [UKC]. Between the two registries, a breeder had the opportunity to register a large number of recognized canines. However, there still were many canines that neither the AKC nor UKC recognized, and the English Shepherd just happened to be one of them. Therefore, within the "Club’s" political machinery, if you were an outsider, you had no opportunity to get your breed recognized; you were left out in the cold.

It is interesting to note that Tom D. Stodghill’s ancestors bred and worked English Shepherds in America over one-hundred years before the founding of the United Kennel Club in 1898. Eventually, UKC wisely decided to register this fine breed.

Shortly after the new century dawned, Tom D. Stodghill [1903-1989] was born in Mart, Texas, and, as he grew up on the farm, he worked with all types of farm animals – horses, cows, pigs, turkeys, dogs, etc. Not only did he take care of the livestock, he became involved in animal husbandry from every aspect. As with many young men, there was someone who inspired them or became a mentor to them. In this case, it was his mother’s brother, Dr. Edward B. Dromgoole, DVM. His uncle was the local veterinarian-surgeon in Mart, Texas, and Tom spent a great deal of time learning from his uncle’s practice – everything from animal surgery to record-keeping. From that time forward, he kept records on all his livestock. He knew which animal was bred to which, and it was not long before people began to take notice of what he had developed. Soon, he began taking orders for his farm animals, including his English Shepherds.

After Tom married Garnett LaEunice Palmer, he wrote articles and ads in newspapers across the country. He had ads in "The Progressive Farmer", "The Cattleman", etc. He had people coming to interview him from all over the United States, including students from Texas A & M. Tom was always busy, taking care of animals, writing, on the phone with his many customers, or publishing his "ARF Cowdog Magazine". As business increased, it was hard for him to keep pace with sales, including English Shepherd pups, so he began to call others to whom he had sold pups, to find out if they had a surplus that they would like to sell.

At last, when the demand overcame his ability to produce or obtain enough English Shepherd pups, an idea was conceived. He would start a club for English Shepherds that he raised and those he had already sold. By this method, he could create a network of English Shepherd Breeders and organize them into state chapters. In May of 1950, his son-in-law, Ray Jameson, had a lawyer in Amarillo, Texas, draw up the corporate documents for the English Shepherd Club of America. Mr. Stodghill appointed his long-time friend, Mr. Frederick Preston Search, as the ESCOA’s first President and himself as the Secretary-Treasurer [This was at a time when English Shepherds were being registered by the UKC, but there was no club for the breed.]. Up to that time, Mr. Stodghill was the only individual who actually promoted the English Shepherds in America.

Soon after he organized the ESCOA, Mr. Stodghill published the "English Shepherd Club of America Who’s Who Breeder Manual" to tie all the English Shepherd breeders into a cohesive unit. He also wrote the English Shepherd Breed Standard and published it in "Dog World" [June 1954 Standards Issue]. Next, he tried to get AKC to recognize the English Shepherd as a purebred dog, but to no avail. One must realize that in the early 1950’s the majority of English Shepherd owners were outsiders to AKC and UKC breeders and their dogs. Today, we are happy that AKC rejected Mr. Stodghill’s presentment to register English Shepherds. After monitoring AKC for over fifty years, we see hunting dogs that cannot hunt, St. Bernards that have attacked children, German Shepherds with bad hips, etc. This sad fact is due to AKC’s strong emphasis on physical appearance rather than on their natural intelligence and abilities. In retrospect, it would have been a tragic mistake if AKC had accepted ESCOA’s dogs. [Today, owners of UKC-registered English Shepherds also are finding out that it is a big mistake to have their dogs registered with that organization due to that registry’s improper breed standard.]

In regards to the development of Stodghill’s famous Black-Tan English Shepherds: In the 1940’s, Tom D. Stodghill’s longtime friend, Mr. Frederick Preston Search, of Carmel Valley, California, Co-Founder of the ESCOA, researched the history of the John McNabb Shepherd of 1885, and the now-almost-extinct English Smithfield [a black, collie-type dog with white trim, having a natural bob-tail]. They learned that the McNabb and the Smithfield had been crossed with other shepherd-type stockdogs, e.g., the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd, as well as many other breeds. As Mr. Search continued his research of the McNabb Shepherd, he found that the true McNabb was the same dog as the true Black-Tan English Shepherd found in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia. From the very beginning, Mr. Stodghill and Mr. Search worked hard in making the ESCOA a success. Mr. Stodghill, and his second wife, Eunice, handled all the members’ paperwork. He wrote the "ESCOA’s Who’s Who", organized the first training school in Murfreesboro, Tennessee [the first "Cowdog Rodeo" ever held in America], and additional training and cowdog trials at his ranch in Quinlan, Texas.

Unfortunately, in less than five years, the ESCOA was in turmoil, as there was a division in ideas on how the "Club" would operate. There were those who thought they knew more about running a club/business than Mr. Search or Mr. Stodghill. Therefore, individuals influenced
by Mr. E. G. Emanuel [the first English Shepherd Club judge licensed by Mr. Search and Mr. Stodghill, on July 23, 1952] distanced themselves from the ESCOA by creating their own organization, the International English Shepherd Registry [IESR]. Mr. Search and Mr. Stodghill soon learned who their true friends were, and, with their help, they saved a good portion of their members. However, Mr. Emanuel was so bent on taking over the English Shepherd Registry from Mr. Stodghill that he sent individuals to Mr. Stodghill’s yearly dog trials in Quinlan, Texas, for the purpose of collecting names and addresses for a fee.

Towards the latter years of Mr. Stodghill’s life, one of his employees, Rozene Sniker, wrote a letter, dated June 23, 1984 [about the time Mr. Stodghill’s wife, Eunice, passed away], to all his ARF English Shepherd members, stating:

[Here is a portion of her letter.]

"Dear [Breeder’s name], June 11, 1984

"I am Rozene Snitker, a breeder of English Shepherds. Some of you know me personally, and others know me through my work on the ARF Magazine.

"I have been elected to write this letter to breeders who are concerned as we are, about what is going to happen to the ARF Registry.

"If you have friends who are breeders, I would appreciate your contacting them. I welcome any opinions you have on the subject.

Rozene Snitker"

[Double (RR) Ranch, Pollock, Texas]

Mr. Stodghill trusted Rozene, and here she was writing his members and stealing his data base to create another English Shepherd Club. When our loyal members told Mr. Stodghill that they had been contacted, and questioned him on the future of the Foundation, he set the record straight. Later, in a letter to Rozene, Mr. Stodghill stated:

[Here is a portion of his letter to her.]

"Dear Rozene,

"You would be surprised at the number of the letters you mailed out to ARF Members, that the good and faithful ARF Members mailed to me, and they were surprised at you.

"Rozene, I want you to know I am more disappointed in you than any- one I ever worked with; I always trusted you so much.

I am, Tom D. Stodghill"

Yes, we all trusted Rozene, and never in our wildest dreams would we have thought she would have pulled this stunt. However, Rozene was not the first, neither is she the last. There are many "bootleg" registries who have taken original ARF registration documents, on dogs, to create their own dog registry. However, in time, most collapsed due to poor organizational skills, funding, or lack of interest. As a result of those unscrupulous individuals, the Animal Research Foundation has been set up to protect our valued customers and its operation. In regards to the original ESCOA, all its records and its history were absorbed into the Animal Research Foundation in 1951, thereby protecting the ESCOA members.

Mr. Stodghill’s life’s work has been in the development of many breeds and the perfection of existing ones. Today, we are carrying the same tradition into the 21^stcentury. In the future, we will have information on many other breeds being recognized by the ARF.

To register your English Shepherd(s) with the ARF, please call for the appropriate ARF Application.

To order a reprint of "English Shepherd Club Of America Who’s Who Breeder’s Manual", send a $10.00 Postal Money Order, payable to: ARF, or the Animal Research Foundation. This price includes postage and handling.

If you have any question about English Shepherds, or the ARF, do not hesitate to contact the Foundation.

Al Walker, ARF Genealogist & Registrar

Son-in-law of Tom D. Stodghill

For the English Shepherd Breed Standard, click here