The English Shepherd is an incredibly versatile and intelligent breed. Known for his working ability, this is an outstanding pet for active owners who are able to provide working outlets for their dog to enjoy. This is a herding breed first and foremost that is also ready and able to compete in other dog sports such as agility, disk dog, flyball, barn hunt, dock diving, nosework, tracking, rally, obedience, coursing and carting. Still others make excellent therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs or even hunting partners! Their multi functional talents come from the fact that this breed was originally a true “farm dog”, tasked with an array of chores around the farm which they were expected to accomplish. Herding was but one of their jobs, although they are exceptional even in this regard for they can herd any type of animal whether large or small.
The ES is known for their incredibly loyal natures. Their fondness for “their people” is legendary, even giving them the nickname of “English Shadows” as they want to be near their owners as much as possible. They also tend to get along well with other dogs and household pets of all sizes. While they are also courageous and will get “down and dirty” when herding cantankerous livestock, their general nature is one of friendliness and extreme devotion that will last their entire lifespan of 12-13 years.
English Shepherds are very reserved to strangers, to the point that some may think them shy. Most properly socialized ES are not actually shy and instead just need time to make up their minds about a new person. Once accepted, that stranger will become a treasured friend. When in the yard they may bark at passers-by, and some might even attempt to hold a person at bay if that stranger ventures into the yard. While they aren’t generally an aggressive dog they can be territorial. It is important to socialize this breed early so that they don’t get carried away with this territorial nature! Although they aren’t known to jump fences in search of trouble they will certainly take their watchdog duties seriously.
The ES is a high energy breed that must be given daily exercise – both physical as well as mental. This is a breed with immense stamina and can essentially run all day, which means that a walk around the block won’t even come close to being enough! This alert working dog much prefers a long invigorating hike or similar activity every day. Without enough physical or mental stimulation he may become a territorial barker, a counter-surfing, trash-raiding nuisance, or even a neighborhood menace. This breed does best in a rural home and would make a horrible choice for an apartment. 
The ES thrives on finding work to do, and is intelligent and able to solve even complex problems. This makes him a natural when it comes to training, for he can pick up commands exceptionally quickly! He loves to please and has a deep desire to work and do training activities with his owner. Most owners are not prepared for a dog with this much drive to work, and as such this is not the breed for everyone. Not only does he want a job, but without one he can become difficult to live with as he’ll try to “make his own jobs”. When paired with someone who can provide for his needs, however, this is a dog which can wow when it comes to competition and dog sports!
There can be a lot of variation in the appearance of the English Shepherd, as most individuals are bred to work which means function is valued over physical features. Members of the breed can sometimes be confused with Border Collies, Aussies, Collies or simply mutts but make no mistake – this is a purebred dog. When evaluating an ES in order to differentiate from another breed, a few telltale features include being a medium size, having a square body shape, the presence of a stop on the face (in contrast to the sloping muzzle of the Collie), and a lack of merle coloring (the ES is never merle). The ES may or may not have a tail. Ears can be rose, semi-pricked or hanging but are not normally fully erect.
One interesting trait of the English Shepherd is his desire for “things to be the way they should be”. What does this mean? Many ES strongly believe in order and rules. Not only do they strive to live by the household rules set forth by their owner, but also believe that other dogs should be following these rules as well! As such, they tend to be referees or even “fun police” in settings where other dogs are playing. They don’t normally tend to be aggressive as much as they seek to keep order in a pack the way that they see fit! For obvious reasons, they work out well in households where rules are set down clearly for them to follow. If there are no rules, they’ll make their own!
