We (Emily, Eliot, and our dogs) live on 52 acres nestled in a beautiful 'holler' in the country east of Sparta, TN. Our goal is to produce healthy, smart, old-style, straight-back, trainable, sound, stable and loving companions. We hope that the following pictures will give you a little taste of how we live, work and play with these wonderful large German Shepherds.
The 'big yard' is mostly open, covered with thick grass, and securely fenced. This is the yard where adult German Shepherds can run free in small groups for longer periods of time, requiring less supervision. Big dogs must have a securely fenced yard big enough for them to break into a run so they can frolic during exercise times. (It's good for humans, too.)
Emily takes time daily with each dog to visit, sometimes on the favorite stump in the 'big yard,' which is an acre and a half safe and secure play place. These dogs are part of our family and prosper with the abundant attention given to them. The one-on-one time is essential, as well as them having time as house dogs. For Emily to make good breeding decisions, she must really know the dogs, as a stable temperament is a necessity in a family dog.
There is a 2-1/2 acre 'lake' on our farm that is named 'Lake Alice,' after Eliot's mother's mother, Alice Cruickshank. (Some of you would call it a pond, but we are presumptuous enough to call it a lake.) This area on the west side of Lake Alice is where much of our afternoon playtime is done. We walk and play with the dogs in small groups to keep everyone happy and well-socialized. The dogs must have daily opportunities to interact, bond, and play with one another and their humans. These are truly family companion dogs!
The creek that carries the overflow from Lake Alice doesn't run year-round, but when it does, there are a couple of small waterfalls that are very pleasant places to pause and listen to the water. Most of the dogs really like wading around and splashing in the falls. Just another of our several places that are good excuses to visit and pay attention to and play with our doggy friends. Many of our visits also incorporate 'school time' and we find these dogs very easy to train and willing to please.
We hope that you have enjoyed this little 'taste' of Rosehall Farm. Contact us to make an appointment to visit if you want to experience more and meet our healthy, old-style, straight-back German Shepherds. Please make sure you read our FAQ page. This info will answer lots of your questions and probably raise a few more. It is very helpful to us if you can read this first. Then ask all the questions you may have!