English Shepherd: Your Complete Guide

English shepherds are distinctive dogs with a long history of working as a herding and guardian dog. This breed is highly active and energetic, and they need ample walks, playtime, and socialization to stay mentally and physically stimulated.

English shepherds are very suited to working on farms or leading an active lifestyle alongside their owners. They are becoming more popular as a family dog as they are fairly good with children and most other dogs.

If you are considering adding an English shepherd to your family, you might be wondering how to best care for this breed. There are many things to consider with English shepherds, such as exercise, grooming, and training needs. Our complete guide gives you an insight into what it takes to properly care for an English shepherd so your pup thrives.

Quick Look at the English Shepherd

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of English Shepherds?

English shepherds are related to other herding breeds, such as the border collie, rough collie, and Australian shepherds. They share genetics with these original collie dogs brought by settlers from England and Ireland.

The first iterations of this breed were widely used throughout the Eastern United States as sheepdogs, cattle herders, and watchdogs. Some members of this breed may also have been used as ratters to keep rodents and pests away from farms.

The United Kennel Club recognizes the English shepherd breed and has been registering it since around 1927; the American Kennel Club does not yet recognize this breed.

In recent years, English shepherds have been earning a reputation as a companion dog, a service dog, and a family dog. This is because they are highly intelligent, love to learn new things, and enjoy completing tasks for their owners on a daily basis.

What Do English Shepherds Look Like?

English shepherds look very similar to other herding and shepherd dogs – they are medium-sized with a feathered tail, floppy ears, elongated muzzle, and bright, alert eyes. Their coat is thick and glossy, and common coat colors include black, shades of brown, and white.

Oftentimes, you will see multicolored, tricolored, and sable-patterned English shepherds that have a combination of common coat colors.

What Size Is an English Shepherd?

The English shepherd is considered a medium-sized dog. They typically weigh between 35 and 65 pounds, and they will stand between 18 and 24 inches tall. Males of this breed are generally larger than females.

What Is an English Shepherd’s Coat Type and Length?

English shepherds have a medium-length coat, and it is often thick and soft. The coat will appear glossy, and the texture of their hair is commonly straight or wavy, though curly variations do exist among this breed.

What Is an English Shepherd’s Temperament?

Intelligent, gentle, and alert, the English shepherd is known for their skill at learning new things and their herding instincts. If you adopt this dog into a family, don’t be surprised when they learn all of your routines and attempt to corral you in certain directions.

English shepherds love to work, and they are very eager to please their owners. They are a good fit for life on a farm or for someone with a very active lifestyle, as this dog needs ample playtime and exercise to stay happy.

English shepherds are protective over their families, and they may be wary of strangers. It’s essential you train your dog and give them lots of socialization as they grow up to ensure they get along well with other animals.

Are English Shepherds Good With Kids?

English shepherds are fairly good with kids, and they are known to be a gentle breed.

You may not want to have very small children or children who don’t know how to safely interact with a dog around this breed. There is a high chance that English shepherds will attempt to herd or corral your children.

Older children that know how to interact and give commands to a dog, and those that are strong enough to avoid being accidentally knocked over by this high-energy breed make the best families.

Are English Shepherd’s Good With Other Animals?

English shepherds have a lengthy history as a herding dog, watchdog, and ratter. They have a somewhat high prey drive, and they might not get along well with smaller animals, including hamsters, Guinea pigs, and some cats.

They can be wary of other dogs, but proper socialization growing up can help to alleviate any nervousness or protective behaviors when around other animals.

Are English Shepherds Aggressive?

English shepherds are unlikely to be aggressive unless they feel that something is threatening them or their families. They may become protective and bark or growl, but they generally aren’t prone to aggressive or territorial behaviors.

Do English Shepherds Bark?

English shepherds do bark, but generally only when they feel the need to be vocal about something. They will bark to alert their owners to threats, to express their needs, or as part of an attempt to corral or herd those around them. Proper training will help your English shepherd understand when it’s appropriate to bark and curb excessive barking habits.

Are English Shepherds Affectionate?

English shepherds tend to form a very strong bond with one or two people in their family, typically the person who trains them and spends the most time exercising with them. They will follow their favorite person around, though they are eager to please and share their affection with every member of their family.

Once they’ve gotten all of their energy out for the day, your English shepherd will be happy to cuddle up with you and spend their evenings cozy.

Are English Shepherds Intelligent?

English shepherds are among the most intelligent breeds out there, and this dog is known for being curious, alert, and eager to please. However, intelligence in dogs is often a blessing and a curse, as your English shepherd might easily figure out the best ways to aggravate you or get their own way.

Ample exercise, training, and tasks to complete throughout the day will help to keep your intelligent English shepherd mentally and physically stimulated, decreasing your chances of a troublemaking pup around your home.

Are English Shepherds Energetic?

English shepherds are very high-energy, and they need lots of exercise, playtime, and, preferably, jobs to keep them happy. If your English shepherd isn’t working throughout the day, you will need to give them at least three long walks per day, plus an hour to two hours of playtime each day.

You should also be taking your English shepherd to dog parks once or twice a week so they can run around off-leash and socialize with other dogs.

Are English Shepherds Easy to Train?

English shepherds are very easy to train thanks to their intelligence, eager-to-please attitudes, and curious natures. These dogs are agile and quick learners, and they are suited to learning both complex tasks and tackling agility training.

You can train your English shepherd by yourself, and they may rapidly pick up on routines and patterns around your home. These dogs are always learning, and they love to meet the challenge of new training routines.

Are English Shepherds Good Watchdogs?

English shepherds have a long history of acting as a watchdog, and this breed is alert, protective, and brave. They will bark to alert their owner of any threat they might detect, and they will have no problem chasing down or acting threatening to an intruder as needed.

Are English Shepherds Good Service Dogs?

English shepherds are good service dogs, as this medium-sized breed is intelligent, loves to help their owners, and easily learns complex tasks. They are the right size for completing tasks that require a little more strength and agility, such as opening doors and turning off lights, and they know how to learn multiple commands.

These dogs might be able to provide mobility support, work as medical alert dogs, or be trained as psychiatric service dogs.

English shepherds may also be suited to emotional support animal work. However, you should only go this route if the individual caring for the dog is up to the task of ensuring they are properly exercised and mentally stimulated. Without proper exercise and training, English shepherds may become bored and destructive.

How to Care for an English Shepherd?

Caring for an English shepherd requires ample time dedicated to exercise, training, and socialization. These dogs are highly intelligent, and they love to work – they won’t be happy sitting around your home for eight hours a day and taking only one or two short walks.

You will need to walk them multiple times a day, play with them often, and take them to dog parks regularly where they can run around and play with other dogs.

English shepherds have a medium-length thick coat, and they will need weekly brushings to ensure their fur stays free of tangles and that any shed fur is removed. You should bathe your English shepherd and take them to a professional groomer every so often for a full spruce-up as needed.

Your English shepherd will need their own place in your home complete with a bed, interactive toys, and access to inside and outside areas. You should feed them a balanced diet of high-quality wet or dry food based on veterinarian recommendations.

Do You Need to Groom an English Shepherd?

English shepherds need a full brush at least once or twice a week, as this helps to keep their fur in good shape, remove shed fur, and prevent tangles from forming in their medium-length fur.

They should be bathed as needed, and they will need nail trims regularly, like most other dogs. You may want to take your English shepherd to a professional groomer every so often to get them fully spruced up and make sure their glossy coats stay in good shape.

Do English Shepherds Shed?

English shepherds shed an average amount, though regular brushings are a good way to stop fur from flying off throughout your home. You may need to take your English shepherd to a groomer once or twice per year to help them completely de-shed, as their thicker coats may sometimes trap fur and make them uncomfortable.

What Health Problems Do English Shepherds Have?

English shepherds, like many other active dogs, are prone to joint problems and issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and luxating patella. They may also be prone to breed-specific eye diseases and cataracts. A healthy diet with regular veterinary checkups will help to catch any of these health issues before they become serious.

How Long Do English Shepherds Live?

On average, English shepherds will live between 12 and 15 years. A healthy lifestyle, lots of exercise, and regular veterinary care will help you ensure that your English shepherd lives a long, happy life by your side.

What Should an English Shepherd Eat?

English shepherds need to eat approximately one cup of food per day, and either wet or dry food is suitable for this dog’s diet.

You will need to check the caloric density of the food you are feeding them and take into account your dog’s activity level and body weight in order to figure out the perfect amount to feed them. Consult a vet if you have any questions about feeding your English shepherd.

Is an English Shepherd the Right Dog for Me?

English shepherds are intelligent, energetic, and gentle dogs. They are the perfect choice if you need a dog to work alongside you outdoors or if you live on a farm with plenty of open areas where this dog can run. English shepherds are also a great fit if you have an active lifestyle and you’re looking for a companion dog.

An English shepherd is the right dog for you if you can devote ample time to training them and exercising them, and if you have enough space at your disposal to keep them happy daily.

Families with older children and children who know how to interact with dogs may easily integrate this dog into their pack. Though, any interactions between your English shepherd and other small animals must be supervised.

If you don’t mind an active dog with the tendency to herd you or other animals around, the English shepherd is the right dog for you.