The Dakotah Shepherd is a very recent breed, first bred in 2004, and which is still under development. Obtained by crossing the Border collie, the Australian Kelpie and the Heeler with the English Shepherd, it proves to be an amazing breed, used mostly as family companion. It stands out due to its agility and intelligence. You will not even notice its presence in the house, because it is very silent and it rarely barks.
It weighs between 16 and 23 kilograms (35 - 50 pounds), having a height of around 48 centimeters (17 21 inches). The coat is short to medium, generally, black and tan, but other colors can occur too. The feet are usually colored in white.
Being a herding dog, it is very smart and sensitive, but it may become timid and solitary, if having little contact with people and not receiving the amount of affection it needs.
It is a loyal companion and it adapts easily to any lifestyle. It may be reserved towards strangers, but only until it gets used to them. It is very protective and affectionate with the family, a very patient breed that loves children and has a very good interaction with other pets too.
It is not a demanding dog, but it still needs you to make some time for it. About one hour a day for training or playing should be enough. This dog can be trained for activities like fetching and playing. In the open spaces, you should always keep it on leash, because it tends to run after everything that moves. It requires daily walks and exercise that stimulates it not only physically, but also mentally.
It is a working dog, being very happy when given a task. With proper training at an early age, it can be used to work as a herding dog, due to its agility, or as a watch dog that will warn you about intruders, without displaying any aggressiveness towards them. Because of its kind temperament, this breed is also known to be an excellent therapy dog.
The Dakotah Shepherd loves water, so you can bathe it easily once or twice a year. It also likes you to brush its coat; you can use a rubber brush to remove the dead hair, once a week. It may shed moderately in the spring or when experiencing hot temperatures. Because of its length - short to medium - the coat does not need to be cut.
Regarding health problems, so far, there is very few information, but, until now, no breed related health issues have been recorded. The life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.
In order to be happy, this dog needs a playground for itself where it can run, play and get rid of the excess energy. Apartment life is not recommended for this breed, but a medium sized yard should get the job done.
There is yet more to learn about the Dakotah Shepherd, but, until now, it has proven to be a successful crossing of breeds, which resulted in a wonderful, loving dog.
