The English Shepherd is an intelligent, energetic, agile, very active and courageous dog. Legend says it is the pure Roman sheep and cattle dog, brought by Caesar to the British Isles in 55 BC, and that is was used to herd farm animals brought along to feed his soldiers. It was brought to the American colonies by the early settlers.
The average adult weighs about 30 kilograms and has nearly 50 centimeters in height. The body is slightly longer than taller. We can recognize it by the coat that is plentiful, with long, straight or wavy hair, and the color: black and tan, white and tan, black, sable and white, black and white.
These dogs are the typical farm dogs. They are a crossbreed between the Scotch Collie, the Border Collie and other working dogs, so they love and need to work. They are very good at herding cattle, sheep and hogs. Some of them are used for hunting. Not only are they happy to work on farms and accompany their master in hunting - they also make an excellent family companion. Because of their calm judgment and intelligence, families have an easy time integrating them in their daily life. This dog is easy to teach and eager to learn the rules and routine, and, after a while, develops the ability to stick to that routine without the owner's help. It is a very good watchdog, alert and wary of strangers, but can be friendly to people it doesn't know as well - as long as they seem trustworthy. Despite its energetic and athletic nature, it is a very gentle dog.
Many training techniques involve forceful domination and repetition. While this may be good for other dogs, it is often counter-productive for this particular one. This breed is known for having some kind of “switch-off”, so they may suddenly stop and refuse to do anything if treated a little too harshly, leaving you both frustrated.
The best way to train the English Shepherd is through positive reinforcement. This means do anything your dog likes: petting, food, facial expressions, playing with favorite toy, tones of voice, access to the outdoors. This kind of training will determine most of your dog's behavior.
Even though your dog is part of the family, it is not a person. You need to understand that, and you have to make your dog understand that as well. The food, the bed, the sofa, etc. are yours. Let the dog know that. It is not allowed to access your belongings unless you invite it.
“Sit” is the first and most important thing you can teach your dog to do. It is the perfect start to show your dog who the master is. When you tell your dog to sit and it sits, you are reinforcing the idea that your are in control. Plus, a dog that sits on command will not jump on the guests or break stuff.
This dog needs a lot of exercise. He was born to stay outdoors most of the time. That is his playing field. They also need mental challenges. By walking your dog, you give it the chance to learn new things and explore new places, which is extremely beneficial for it.
Remember that your dog is your partner, not your servant, so treat it accordingly. The more time you will spend with an English Shepherd, the more things you will find to love.
