English Shepherd Dog Breed

The English Shepherd, a member of the Herding Group of dog breeds, was developed by early farmers to be a versatile ranch dog. These dogs are active, athletic, and very work-oriented, so they will make excellent farm animals; they'll also be good family companions, but will need plenty of time and space for lots of exercise.

English Shepherds are on the large end of medium-sized, with a medium-length, double-layered coat that is normally straight or wavy. Here are some benefits and drawbacks of owning this breed:

PROS:

• Very intelligent
• Normally good-natured and pleasant
• Extremely trainable
• Hard-working and versatile
• Good watchdog abilities
• Healthy and hardy
• Excels in physical activities and performance trials
• Good hunting companion
• Fairly easily groomed

CONS:

• High exercise requirements
• Sheds often
• Tendency for shyness; will require socialization with people and other pets
• May bark often and turn destructive when bored
• Can be bossy and dominant, particularly around strange animals
• Instinctively "herds" moving objects--children, bicyclists, etc.
• Can be difficult to find and obtain

The English Shepherd is undoubtedly a working man's dog. Their history as herding and hunting animals makes them a versatile, focused breed; their well-balanced, athletic physical makeup reinforces these busybody tendencies. In regards to intelligence, English Shepherds are extremely quick learners--but they are also "no-nonsense" animals, so they will probably be more eager to learn complex tasks than a simple trick like rolling over.

If there were a college course entitled "English Shepherd Dogs 101," a majority of the class lectures would be about these dogs' versatility. They excel at herding, hunting, guarding, and even swimming; they will make good pets, yes, but only for active families willing to devote lots of time and energy to keeping their dog physically and mentally stimulated. Plentiful information on English Shepherd's herding instincts confirms this feature is so strong, it may spend all its time at a family barbecue making sure no one leaves the yard.

As expected, dogs of this breed have incredible energy and stamina. While not blessed with a lot of brute strength, English Shepherds have enough endurance to run all day--every day. As previously noted, these dogs will need plenty of exercise, after which they'll probably still be fresh as a daisy.

English Shepherd history dates back hundreds of years, when these dogs (and others like them) were collectively known as Scotch Collies, and were fairly common in the United Kingdom. Over time, English Shepherds distinguished themselves from the other Collie dogs because of their unique herding style ("loose and upright" as opposed to close and low to the ground), and for their versatility. When English and Scottish settlers sailed to North America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, they brought dogs of this breed with them; English Shepherds became highly prized in Colonial America for their ability to herd livestock, protect property, and even hunt vermin and small game.

During the nineteenth century, historians believe, English Shepherds were considered the most popular dog in America, as they were able to serve a variety of functions as farm dogs. But after the turn of the twentieth century, as America and other nations became more industrialized, the English Shepherd became less common. Though England's United Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1927, English Shepherd breeders have preferred focusing on the breed's working abilities rather than its qualities as a show dog; this, among other reasons, is why the English Shepherd has not been considered for recognition by the American Kennel Club.

Today, though still valued as a versatile farm dog, the English Shepherd is quite rare in the U.S. and elsewhere.

The English Shepherd, as a versatile working dog, has a physical structure and coat capable of stamina, agility, and withstanding nearly any weather. Its body is well-balanced and lean, made so by centuries of working on farms.

The breed's body is normally somewhat greater in length than in height. The head is oval, the muzzle is of medium length, and the eyes are almond-shaped, brown, and of medium size. The ears are medium-sized, triangular, and hanging slightly. An English Shepherd's chest is fairly broad, its neck is of medium length and arched, and its legs are somewhat short, lean, and angled back slightly. The tail is often long, "plume-like", low-hanging, and curved slightly; bobtail English Shepherds (with tails about half the length of full-tailed dogs) are not uncommon.

The typical English Shepherd coat is medium-length, double-layered, and either straight or wavy. Some dogs of this breed have an abundance of hair on the neck, underbody, legs, and/or tail.

Overall, English Shepherds don't see a lot of variation in physical structure within the breed. One notable exception is that some dogs of this breed are born with heterochromia iridum, or differently colored eyes. (This genetic feature is common to some Shepherd breeds. Some English Shepherds also have bobtails, in which the dog's tail is only half the length (or less) of the breed's normal tail length due to a genetic mutation.

As to coat length, English Shepherds are consistent: straight or wavy, double-layered, and medium in length-- it's unlikely to see a short-haired English Shepherd. Markings, though, vary widely. Dogs of this breed have bi-colored or tri-colored coats, often with white as one color, but the darker color(s)--sable, black, tan, and/or gold--can themselves vary in shade.

In regards to size, English Shepherds are also consistent from dog to dog. Average height at the shoulders is 20 inches, and weight is around 50 pounds. Some disreputable breeders may offer "Miniature English Shepherds" for sale, but those dogs, while indeed smaller, are almost certainly crossbreeds; the Mini English Shepherd is not a sub-type of the breed.

Intelligent, active, independent, kind, sometimes shy, and often bossy, English Shepherds have temperaments that focus on work and sensibility. Dogs of this breed have been developed to be versatile working animals, so the English Shepherd personality is strictly no-nonsense. While they will make decent family pets, they will definitely need tasks to perform, and plenty of activity to keep them occupied, or they may turn ill-mannered and destructive. These dogs are usually loving towards their human families, but they may be pushy and controlling if their strong herding instincts kick in. Some dogs of this breed can be shy, too, and will require socialization with humans and other animals (when the dog is a puppy, if possible) to minimize their sheepish natures.

When it comes to training, English Shepherds do well. They are great at learning a wide variety of tasks and commands very quickly (an English Shepherd may learn to fetch the newspaper after being shown only once how to perform the task!), but they will need a competent, consistent trainer. These dogs are very intelligent, and don't like to waste time learning how to play dead!

Dogs of this breed also have excellent watchdog skills. They are loyal, alert, and protective, and will bark at (and often physically confront) a perceived threat.

Overall, English Shepherds are very healthy. Some of the known health issues in a few dogs of this breed, though, are:

• hip dysplasia
• eye issues like Collie eye anomaly or Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).

Some English Shepherds inherit a genetic condition common in herding breeds called "MDR1 Mutation," in which the dog is extra-sensitive to some medications; veterinarians recommend having English Shepherds tested for this issue.