It’s football time in Tennessee, and that means Smokey XI will soon be leading the Vols through the iconic T. Fans will dress in their Tennessee orange, sing “Rocky Top” at the tops of their lungs and even take a few pictures of the new mascot, but they might not know much about this new pup or the new Tennessee-born and -bred bloodline.
“It just started with the love of a bluetick and has developed into teaching others and an incredible opportunity with the University of Tennessee,” said Wendy Davis, the owner of Davis Branch Blueticks.
Where it all began
Just 60 miles south of Nashville in Shelbyville, home of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, you’ll find an old 33-acre horse farm turned into a bluetick coonhound breeding facility. For more than two decades now, Davis, a member of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, has been pouring her heart into providing the best bluetick coonhounds. Breeding and raising blueticks, let alone Smokey X and XI, were never the goals.
“To get where we are now was never the plan,” Davis said. “As a schoolteacher, I had the summers off, and I thought that would be a good time to have puppies and stay out of trouble.”
Davis, now retired from teaching, spent years researching and networking before having any puppies. She wanted to make sure she found exactly what she was looking for.
“I didn’t just want a dog for a pet,” Davis said. “I wanted a good dog with a good pedigree, and there was so much to learn. I am still learning today.”
Davis started with her first bluetick coonhound named Pokey Joe, and as they say, the rest is history. Pokey Joe isn’t just your average dog, though. He is 13 years old, has had over 300 puppies and happens to be the father of Smokey X and the grandfather of Smokey XI.
A 24/7 operation
The summer bluetick venture has now turned into a constant operation. Davis Branch Blueticks welcomes two to three litters of puppies each year at the six-stall horse barn. The barn has been completely converted into a dog kennel, with floors like a mud room, accompanied with air conditioning, heat, lights and video cameras.
“When it is around three days from a due date for puppies, I don’t leave that female except for when Robert comes to give me a break,” Davis said. “It’s a 24/7 operation from right before the puppies are born until the puppies leave here at between 8 and 10 weeks old.”
Robert is Davis’ husband, and he plays a huge role in what the dogs eat.
“Robert is a dog chef, basically,” Davis said. “He prepares all the dogs’ meals twice a day, right at feeding time.”
The dogs receive different meals based on their ages and what they need. Robert even makes his own dog food from the venison population on the farm as well as peas, sweet potatoes and blueberries mixed in with the kibble.On top of feeding the dogs the best food, the folks at Davis Branch Blueticks also pride themselves on making sure each dog gets the proper medical care. From the veterinarian being on call during birth to DNA and health testing to regular checkups, each dog receives exceptional care.
“It is a devastating thought to me that I didn’t do everything I could to provide a healthy puppy,” Davis said. “It’s a success to me that we are producing dogs that are living to be 12 years or older.”
The UT call
With breeding bluetick coonhounds as an operation never being the ultimate plan, you can imagine Davis’ reaction when Cindy Hudson called. The Hudson family are the owners and caretakers of the Smokey mascots at the University of Tennessee.
Many don’t know that the original Smokey bloodline did not begin in the Volunteer State, and the Hudson family was ready to make that change. Cindy called Davis after Smokey IX tore his ACL, looking for the next mascot.
Davis remembers the call like it was yesterday. One of her clients was on the University of Tennessee cheer squad and walked his dog, Scout, around campus. Charles Hudson saw him and relayed the message. Davis was at school when Cindy called, asking if she was interested.
“All my students had just left my room,” Davis said. “I was using as controlled language as possible on the phone, but in reality, I was jumping up and down and waving my arms in the air.”
Davis happened to be welcoming new puppies shortly after that phone call. It was a litter of eight bluetick coonhounds, and at first, she wasn’t sure which one, if any, was going to be the next Smokey. There were two male dogs in the litter that had similar characteristics as the traditional mascot, so she watched them closely. One day, though, she just knew.
“I went out there, and one of the male puppies was standing in the doorway by himself, and he was looking at me, not jumping up and down or excited at all,” Davis said. “In my heart, I knew, that’s got to be him.”
Davis and her husband will now turn on Tennessee football games just to see Smokey X and Smokey XI. Davis never had children of her own, but this experience comes close in her heart.
“One night, I sat straight up in bed, and I started crying because my baby was going to college!” Davis said. “To say I am proud is a true understatement. I can’t think of anything else in my life that I’m halfway as proud of.”
Blueticks around the U.S.
Now, people from across the state and even the country contact Davis Branch Blueticks about getting their own Smokey. Davis now has puppies in 32 states. A client of hers, Adele Jones, shared that every puppy gets the same treatment, regardless of whether they are heading off to college or not.
“When it was the day to pick Stringbean up, Wendy had a gift bag of toys he had played with, a blanket his mom had slept on, puppy food and all of his paperwork,” Jones said. “It was so sweet. I have never had a breeder take such care.”
Davis just welcomed a new litter of puppies this summer, and they happen to be siblings of Smokey XI. As for the future of supplying the Smokey bloodline, Davis said it’s always in the back of her mind, but she knows Smokey XI, who is just 3 years old, has big paw prints to fill following his dad, who is one the longest running Smokeys in Volunteers history.
How to contact Wendy Davis at Davis Branch Blueticks
Facebook: Davis Branch Blueticks
Website:
davisbranchblueticks.com
Email:
[email protected]
Phone: 931-703-2101
Mail: 338 Naron Road, Shelbyville, TN 37160
