Sandi Hall, Secretary/Founding Secretary
I was first introduced to the wonderful world of McNabs when my husband came home 12 years ago and asked “honey have you ever heard of a breed of dog called McNab?” With 45 years involvement as a veterinarian technician, with animal shelters, as a trainer/breeder and with rescue groups I had to confess . . . “Nope!”
Kevin worked with a fella that came from CA with his “McNabs” and so our journey began. He gifted an awesome male pup (Cap) to us when he was just over a year old and his owner no longer worked in the bucking bull business, but Kevin did.
It was pure love and loyalty from that moment on as he was Kevin’s constant companion, work partner, best friend and soulmate! From there I was on a quest to find a female and was fortunate to find Ron Prentice and my sweet girl Juice — we have been so blessed.
We have never looked back and after having or working with every imaginable type of “livestock/herding” dog in the past we are hooked. We truly thank God for our line of McNabs as we strive to remain true to what the breed is so desired to be: a real working machine, an honest loyal friend, sure enough good looking, great on-off switch and of course a true life partner. Here at KbarS we sincerely hope you will join us in supporting our efforts through the McNab Shepherd Registry to keep our breed strong and true into the future.
Clark Carlton, Founding President
Over the last 10 years I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the McNab community. So many of you have far more time with these dogs then myself. I often wonder how I ended up in this position, or how I ended up with such a great line of dogs. Yet it has become a very large part of my wife Stacy’s and my life. Our McNabs are much more to us then our dogs, they are truly our kids.
We first acquired a McNab to help with our modest cow/calf operation up here in the high country. Of course, right away we knew they were much more than the other dogs we saw working stock. Five years ago, I got very sick and my riding and working every day came to a fast end. It was then that I truly understood just how smart these dogs are, as Jet’s job changed from stock dog to caretaker. I am, because of that, much more than a fan of this breed. I knew that this breed had to be protected. After a poor attempt, mostly on my part, four years ago to start a club/foundation it was clear another approach was needed. It was then that a plan was started to enter these dogs into a DNA profiling test group.
It was the stubbornness of Sandi Williams-Hall that really was the driving force behind the curtain that made this happen. The last place I wanted to be was the president of this registry, but I was recruited. A few months ago the testing was done and we had a breed profile. While everyone said it would never happened, and the McNab was a mutt without a grouping, science proved them wrong.
So I believe very much in this registry. I know that for a short time I will be a part of something that will protect and preserve this amazing dog. I hope very much that the factions, egos and clichés can be set aside to accomplish two things. First is to give the McNab community a registry that is open to all McNab owners. Second, that in this registry we are somehow able to preserve this now definable breed for many decades to come.
Ron Prentice, Founding Vice President
My first encounter with the McNab Shepherd occurred in Northern California, on Ridgewood ranch in the early 70’s. I was freshly married with a new family moving from a ranch in Wyoming where I was a cow boss. The move to Mendocino county was an eye opener as the cattle I had been around in Wyoming were easy to handle and dogs were usually not a requirement.
Upon arriving in California, I realized that the cattle and country would take a bit of getting used to. The people on the ranch were far from horsemen or cattle people and on this big expanse of Manzanita and Chemise brush covered hills, the cattle were wild and hard to gather.
When I first arrived, the ranch hired someone to help me gather the cattle, and we could sort off the older cattle and sell what we could. We tried for days and were only able to gather 15 or twenty out of about 100 head. Then we hauled the cattle to livestock auction in Ukiah just down the road from the ranch.
I was fortunate enough to meet the owner of the auction Rudy Mora and his partner Melvin Rodriquez. In our initial conversation, I was telling Rudy and Melvin how hard the cattle were to gather. Rudy told me he leased the place next to our ranch and that he would come by with his son and dogs and help us gather he rest of our cattle.
That next week started my love affair — if you will — with the McNab Shepherd. I had never seen dogs that were were so athletic and could maneuver around in rough country and stop and hold wild cattle.
I was sold on how smart and easy to handle the dogs were. They could almost read Rudy’s mind before he gave a command. The dogs were fearless, Rudy told me the dog’s history and about the McNab Ranch.
That was all it took. My first dog came from the McNab Ranch. Then I followed up with a female from the Hunt Ranch at Laytonville. All told, I have had a relationship with the McNab Shepherd for 47 years and I made a promise to an old rancher that I got my first dog from that I would never ever crossbreed these awesome dogs.
I have worked on ranches in Wyoming, Washington State, Oklahoma, and New Mexico and no matter where I go these dogs still do their job no matter what it is. They are always willing to please and to accomplish the mission.
My dogs and I have a relationship; they understand me and are always ready to go do their job. When I raise a litter, I only breed the best to the best. My whole mission in my life time has been to raise the most awesome dog breed on the planet.