Sofia.

Sofia is from our third Ember × Arson litter, and she has always had a wonderfully balanced temperament. She is calm and easy in the house, content to spend her time stretched out on the living room floor with a favorite bone or quietly patrolling the backyard in search of lizards.

The show ring was never where Sofia’s greatest enthusiasm lived, but her willingness to please carried her through it. She has always been the kind of dog who tries for you, even when the job itself is not what excites her most.

What is most surprising about Sofia is the contrast between her relaxed nature at home and the intensity of her prey drive. She is an exceptionally focused hunter when something catches her attention, enough that our pet ducks require a little extra management around her. That natural instinct, paired with her athleticism and biddability, has always made us believe she could have excelled in hunt or field work had we chosen to pursue it.

Sofia is a beautifully steady dog with just enough fire beneath the surface to remind you that calm does not mean unmotivated.