Buying or Adopting an English Shepherd

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is an English Shepherd the right breed for you?

English Shepherd Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for an English Shepherd?

Can you provide what this breed needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (6-8 feet high, not an electronic/underground fence)
• Restricted exercise when young – until maturity (at least 18 months old), exercise restricted to multiple short (20 minute) walks, fetch games, and playing with other dogs – no forced running (beside a jogger or bicyclist), no long-distance treks, minimal jumping
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your English Shepherd stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle, tracking, flyball, frisbee, herding); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• Brushing – moderate
• Trimming – every few months
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat the health problems English Shepherds are prone to (pet health insurance can really help here!)
• An owner who is okay with heavy shedding
• Commitment to provide thorough socialization – introducing your English Shepherd to lots of people and other animals, diligently correcting any signs of misbehavior
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your English Shepherd, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt an English Shepherd?

English Shepherds are rare in the United States. It's very hard to find one.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
You might occasionally find an English Shepherd available from a Dog Rescue group. But not many English Shepherds are turned over to Rescue groups, because not many people own them in the first place.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
English Shepherds are rarely found here for the same reasons listed above. Of course you might find an English Shepherd in some shelter, mislabeled as a "shepherd mix" or "collie mix". It's more likely, though, that those dogs are indeed shepherd mixes or collies mixes. The only way to truly know whether you have an English Shepherd would be a canine DNA test.

Buying From a Dog Breeder
You can buy an English Shepherd from a show breeder, who breeds English Shepherds to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring. You might also be able to buy an English Shepherd from people who "just breed pets" or "just had one litter." But should you? Be sure to read the article to learn more about these people.

Here's one difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible breeder – BOTH PARENTS of an English Shepherd puppy should have:

• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHip certifying the dog to have normal hips

If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing (and able) to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your English Shepherd ends up with crippling hip dysplasia.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
I have never seen an English Shepherd in a pet shop. Which is good, because I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right English Shepherd Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of English Shepherd puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.

AKC Registered Puppies: Are AKC Papers Important?
Should you buy only an AKC registered English Shepherd puppy? Do AKC papers and pedigrees really matter?