| English Shepherds: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about English Shepherd personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the English Shepherd, including these excerpts:
"The English Shepherd is noted for his calm dependability and is content to curl up at your feet at the end of the day.
However, that day must include a good amount of physical exercise and mental stimulation. This is an active, athletic dog. Herding, advanced obedience, agility, jogging or biking, chasing balls, and playing Frisbee are productive outlets for his enthusiasm.
Most English Shepherds are polite with strangers and make sensible watchdogs, but extensive socialization is required when young to avoid shyness.
Most are fine with other pets if raised with them, but they can be dominant with strange animals.
This is an attentive, sensitive breed who likes to keep his eye on you. Highly trainable, the English Shepherd is an all-purpose working and competition dog who learns quickly. Yet he does have the typical independence of a herding breed.
In other words, this is not a "push-button" breed. You must have the confidence to establish and enforce rules, or he will make up his own.
English Shepherds prefer their charges (family members and other pets) to be gathered together and may try to accomplish this by circling, poking, and nipping."
History
Brought to America by the first English settlers, the English Shepherd was simply known as a "farm collie" or "farm shepherd."
Size
18-24 inches and 40-90 lbs |
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English Shepherds
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Is medium-sized, athletic, and natural-looking
- Is one of the most capable and versatile breeds in all of dogdom -- when well-trained, can learn and do almost anything
- Thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities
- Is usually polite with strangers, yet makes a sensible watchdog
An English Shepherd may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Destructiveness and barking when bored or not exercised enough
- Chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars
- Shyness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
- Stubbornness in some individuals
- Shedding
- Waiting lists (hard to find)
An English Shepherd may not be right for you.
| If I were considering an English Shepherd... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. English Shepherds are not as high-powered as Border Collies, nor are they intense workaholics. But they MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored English Shepherds can make a shambles of your house and yard.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in herding, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or tracking, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed.
English Shepherds were never intended to be simply household pets. Their working behaviors (chasing, nipping, poking, barking) are inappropriate in a normal household setting. Trying to suppress these "hardwired" behaviors, without providing alternate outlets for their high energy level, can be difficult. |
- Providing enough socialization. Standoffish by nature, English Shepherds need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness or fearfulness, which are difficult to live with.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend English Shepherd puppies. Young English Shepherds (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. The temptation to play roughly and nip at moving people is simply too strong in many young English Shepherds. |
- Mind of his own. The best English Shepherds are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they can be manipulative. Some English Shepherds are stubborn and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Shedding. English Shepherds shed quite a bit. You'll find hair all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life.
- Finding one. In the United States, English Shepherds are not very common. You will probably have to go on a waiting list.
| Not all English Shepherds are alike! |
- There are energetic English Shepherds, and placid English Shepherds.
- Hard-headed English Shepherds, and sweet-natured English Shepherds.
- Serious English Shepherds, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted English Shepherds, and English Shepherds who love everyone.
| If you acquire an English Shepherd puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult English Shepherd... |
There are plenty of adult English Shepherds who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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