Slash V Charcoal, aka "Char", is out of Slash V Steel Smoke, aka "Smokey". Char is a very laid-back dog, has excellent manners, and listens well. We waited along time to get a Slash V dog, and he has more than met our expectations. He decided early on that his place was by Rose Marie's side, and hasn't moved from it yet. He is aloof, but polite around strangers; he has never been aggressive to a person in our presence but he does not run up to strangers and try to lick them to death either. From correspondence with his breeder, we know that some of his siblings are slightly protective of their family and would definately stop someone from breaking into the house. However, Char doesn't have this tendency. Since he has matured, he is equally polite and friendly to everyone even people who we think might be staking our place out to improve their wealth at our expense. Ahh well, you either get "slightly protective so needs lots of socialization" or "happy to show the burglers around the house for a back rub." And Char is definately always up for a back rub if you politely offer. He has great manners in the house and spends many winter nights as a toe warmer while we watch television. He is a favorite of our housecats and used to be our gray kitty's favorite toy when he was young (none of his other toys moved when you jumped on their heads!). In conformation, he is well balanced, has a strong topline, and moves well. He is not overly large, but has a solid bone structure. Char has been worked more on goats than cattle at this point in time, but has alot of natural presence (probably more eye than any other dog we own), bites low and only when required, and very seldom barks while working. He is a nice quiet worker that doesn't not get the animals overly excited. He has lots of presence without stirring the animals into a ruckus. Rose Marie is very excited about working with him more now that she has retired from teaching. She thinks he's the best working dog we own right now.

                                   We have kept two pups from Char for ourselves (both out of Gypsy Rose) and have remained in contact with pups from his two other litters. We have been very impressed with the type of dogs he has produced. His pups are fast eager learners, loyal to their family, "thinkers", and calm, directed working dogs. Here is a link to his last litter from one of our females:   >>Click to see Char's Fall 2009 Litter <<   Dora, the solid red female pictured lieing down in the grass at six weeks, is now owned by a very nice man who lives close to us. He drops in with Dora fairly often to let us visit and give us updates. At four months, Dora apparently took it upon herself to bring the cows before her owner got home from work when they broke through a hole in the fence into a neighbor's pasture. He decided it was time for more structured training with her after that adventure and she has proven to a be an excellent cowdog.