Fernhill Australian Shepherds
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Tess, a blue merle Australian Shepherd, sitting in front of a rock

Retired

Ir Ch Fernhill Blue Tansy

  • Ir Ch

Hips 7:6 (13) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear Mar 2025 · MDR1 N/N · retired 2022

Born
4 April 2016
Registration no.
IKC 16/02294
Height
50 cm
Weight
21 kg
Coat
Blue merle with white and copper (blue merle tri)
Call name
Tess
Status
Retired from breeding in 2022, spayed
Bred by
Fernhill (Niamh and Ciarán Doyle)
Colour genotype
M/m (merle) · B/B
Tail
Full natural tail
Litters
3 (July 2018, June 2020, October 2021) — 18 puppies
Microchip
Registered with Fido

Tess is ten and a half and runs the house. She had three litters with us — Fia came from the second — and was spayed in 2022 when we retired her. She still walks the hill fields every morning, slower now, and still tells the young dogs off when they get silly near the ewes. Her hearing is going and she sleeps through the doorbell, which she would never have done at five. Families who visit usually end up with Tess leaning against their legs; she has decided that is what visitors are for.

Health results

  • Hips (BVA/KC)

    7:6 (13)

    11 May 2017BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia SchemeBVA certificate, recorded under IKC 16/02294

  • Elbows (BVA/KC)

    Grade 0

    11 May 2017BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia SchemeBVA certificate, recorded under IKC 16/02294

  • Eyes (last annual exam)

    Clinically unaffected

    14 March 2025BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme panellist, Dublin

  • CEA/CH

    Clear (N/N)

    June 2016Optigen

  • Hereditary cataract (HSF4)

    Clear (N/N)

    June 2016Animal Health Trust

  • MDR1 (drug sensitivity)

    Clear (N/N)

    June 2016Laboklin (UK)

  • prcd-PRA

    Clear (N/N)

    June 2016Optigen

  • Degenerative myelopathy (SOD1)

    Clear (N/N)

    February 2019Laboklin (UK)

Titles and achievements

  1. August 2018

    Irish Champion

    Seven Green Stars, finished at the Wicklow Championship Show.

  2. 2022

    Retired from breeding

    After her third litter, at five and a half.

Pedigree

Ir Ch Fernhill Blue Tansy

Hips 7:6 (13) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear Mar 2025 · MDR1 N/N · retired 2022

Sire

Ir Ch Ballyhoura Slate Grey

Hips 4:6 (10) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear · black bi

Sire

Ballyhoura Grey Friar

Hips 5:5 (10) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear

Dam

Ballyhoura Sally Gap

Hips 6:5 (11) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear

Dam

Ir Ch Knockmealdown Blue Mist at Fernhill (Ceo)

Hips 5:7 (12) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear · blue merle

Sire

Knockmealdown Blue Moss

Hips 6:6 (12) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear · lived to 12

Dam

Knockmealdown Juniper

Hips 5:6 (11) · Elbows 0 · Eyes clear · lived to 14