Cooper is a tenacious example of the breed.  After a hurricane left him stranded, he came to me as a four-month-old and bonded to me very quickly. With strangers, he acts guarded, looking for the “okay” signal from me. He’s grown to be fiercely protective of me, jumping in front of livestock or people to keep me safe. At 7 months old, he was working pigs alongside us, cutting and running them down chutes to be sorted. He also can gently catch and hold piglets or fowl when I need him to, but he never antagonizes them at other times. He has high energy alongside an obedient, eager-to-please behavior. He “reads” the farm well and knows how to help without hurting, and he’s diplomatic with other dogs. He’s got the brains and the brawn that make him an excellent match for Gibson as sire of this litter.