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English Shepherd Breed Guide

The English Shepherd Club describes them as “intelligent, alert, responsive working dogs” who are “exceptionally devoted”, and “exhibit agility, stamina, and stout-hearted perseverance.” In addition to their lauded herding ability, these beautiful dogs are also used in hunting, both to track and to tree squirrels, raccoons, and possums. These dogs are so devoted to the hunt, they may even climb the tree themselves!

The quintessential farm dog, English Shepherds are capable not only of hunting and herding, but also of guarding livestock from predators and ridding the farm of unwanted vermin. They quickly become part of the family and are great at protecting hearth and home, as well.

What do English Shepherds look like?

The English Shepherd is medium in size, measuring 18 – 24 inches at the shoulder, although preference is given in shows to dogs who range from 19 – 22 inches. They should weigh from 35 to 65 pounds, with the males noticeably larger than the females.

Their coat colors are some combination of the basic tri-color. They may be black and tan; black, tan, and white; black and white; or sable and white, with the sable color ranging from a pale honey-gold to deep mahogany. White coloring should never extend to more than 30% of the body, and any of the dogs may have a black mask.

The fur is of medium length and may be curly, wavy, or straight. The undercoat sheds in the spring and fall, but grooming requirements for the rest of the year are minimal.

The intelligent brown eyes set off a black nose in most dogs, although sables may have a brown nose. The moderately long tail sweeps upward in a plume and may be bobbed at up to 8-inches long to prevent it from being damaged when the dog is working.

What do English Shepherds act like?

Unlike some of their herding counterparts, the English Shepherd is a relatively calm dog. He is capable of lying down when the work is done without going absolutely bonkers. This is an important skill, not only for a family pet, but also for a working herder who could easily bother the herd when he or she gets bored.

As a family pet, this dog will need a great deal of exercise, as well as a mental challenge. They are highly intelligent and need to have something to do or they may become destructive when bored. Many families turn to sports such as agility or flyball to keep the dog active and engaged. They are also often used in search and rescue, as well as in therapy.

The English Shepherd is intensely loyal, following his family members from room to room as they go about their daily routines. And you will never want for “help” in your daily tasks with this dog around!

As far as training, the native intelligence of the English Shepherd helps them learn commands easily, although their independence means they may want to learn things themselves rather than from your teaching. These dogs quickly develop an opinion as to how things should be, and they will go to great lengths to keep everything in order. Socialization is a must so the dog understands that he or she does not control the world.

Herding as a sport

The English Shepherd breed is one of several breeds qualified to compete in trials sanctioned by the American Herding Breed Association. The Association has four types of trial classes, each with three levels. In addition, there is a test program that has two levels.

Herding Trial Dogs compete on a standard course, often in a large field. The dog is sent out to fetch (gather the stock and begin pushing them back to the handler), wear (move in a half-circle behind the herd, trying to keep them together), and / or drive (move the herd away from the handler), and to pen (put the stock into a holding area).

Herding Ranch Dogs and Ranch Large Flock Dogs work to gather, fetch and drive as in a Herding Trial, but they also work in pens to sort and guide the herd into chutes or to hold the animals in a certain place.

Herding Trial Arena Dog classes work with different obstacles and different types of sorts and pens.

The test program includes a Herding Capability Test and a Junior Herding Dog Test, which is stock-specific, meaning that a dog earns a title by passing two runs under different judges while working the same kind of livestock. The Herding Capability Test allows a dog to earn his two passing grades on two different types of livestock. For either title, the dog may work with sheep, goats, ducks, or geese. With special approval, cattle may be herded.

When working a herd, the English Shepherd is said to be “loose-eyed”, meaning that rather than lying low to the ground and controlling the herd with their eyes, they use their voices, posture, and presence to control the movement of the herd. They often work in small pens and sorting chutes, pushing the cattle from behind. They work independently, often learning their craft by trial and error or from other dogs with whom they are working.

English Shepherds are known as low heelers, which means they nip at the lower part of the hind legs (below the hocks) of the livestock to keep them moving. They can adapt their style depending on whether they are working with cattle, sheep, geese, or other types of livestock.

History of the English Shepherd Breed

Although descended from herding dogs native to England and southern Scotland, the English Shepherd was developed in America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Farms throughout the Midwest and Eastern US employed these utilitarian “farm dogs” as the country was settled. As settlers pushed further west, they were more likely to have an Australian Shepherd than the English Shepherd.

The key characteristics looked for by breeders is all-around versatility which allows these dogs to excel at herding, hunting, guarding, and companionship.

English Shepherds were subsequently used to develop Border Collies and show Collies in the early 20th Century. In contrast to their more famous offspring, the English Shepherd wasn’t bred so much for trials and shows as for honest work on a farm or ranch. Now that the small family farm has given way to the mega agricultural corporation, English Shepherds have become somewhat rare.

Health Concerns for English Shepherds

The English Shepherd is by and large a healthy breed because it hasn’t been overbred. Puppy buyers should ask to see certification from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP to assure the stability of the parents’ hip joints.

Other than that, the main concern is that about 15% of the breed carries a gene mutation that makes them have adverse – sometimes fatal – reactions to many common drugs used to treat dogs. Ask your veterinarian to do a cheek swab to check for the MDR1 gene form before your dog is given his first medication.

Is this the dog for you?

If you’re looking for an independent, versatile dog to assist you with your livestock, you can’t go wrong with an English Shepherd. You must commit to keeping the dog active and mentally challenged to prevent destructive behavior. You will have relatively light grooming responsibilities, other than when the dog blows his or her coat in spring and fall. There are few medical issues with the breed, although genetic testing should be done before the dog is medicated.