1) Territorial
English Shepherds are committed to the family and home. This can be great in that most English Shepherds won’t leave their boundaries. They are bred to protect those boundaries. You might find that your meter readers, delivery people, and unexpected visitors are ‘trapped’ in their vehicle. English Shepherds should never bite without provocation, but he may demand that an unfamiliar person ‘halt’ until you say otherwise.
Speak to your normal delivery person and make sure they have the time for you. Be prepared to introduce them very well. If the delivery people refuse to take the time to build a relationship with your dog, while you are present, you will end up banning your local mailman from your property. Trust me on this. We pick up our packages directly from the post office.
If you live in an Urban area with many unfamiliar and unexpected visitors, this may not be the breed for you.
2) Bossy
English Shepherds are all about the rules. Everything must be in order and they must align with the rules. This is great on a farm where the dogs can keep all the livestock where they are supposed to be and make sure everything is in order. It is not so great at a dog park. Dogs that are running too fast, barking too loud, playing too rough, will all be put back in line as your English Shepherd enforces the rules of polite dog society.
Those of you that want a dog that will get along with everyone and every dog, this breed is not for you.
3) Clingy
English Shepherds are devoted to their owner. Mary Peesle, a PNW breeder, said it best “A desire to be with you is fundamental to his character: if you are typing on the computer, your English Shepherd will be under the desk; if you are taking a shower, he will be lying on the bathroom floor; if you are working on the farm, he will do his best to help out - whether that means dragging branches to the woodpile, or moving sheep between pastures. This devotion is so intrinsic to the breed, many owners refer to their dogs as "English Shadows".
Not everyone wants a dog that needs to be your companion, that needs to be touching you. Many a time have I turned around or stepped sideways to trip over one of my English Shadows.
Some people may find it annoying or even irritating. These people should consider a different breed!”
4) Shedding
A farm dog is usually outside and needs a coat that will keep him insulated no mater the weather, hot or cold. Twice a year an ES will literally explode hair as they shed their under coat. A lot of hair, enough hair you can make another dog with the shedded hair. Hair everywhere; on the carpet, on the furniture, on your clothes, sometimes even in your food, and this is only with a part time house dog.
If you are a clean freak, hate dog hair, or don’t have the time to brush daily during shedding, this is not the dog for you.
5) Boredom
English Shepherds are extremely intelligent. Intelligence can be dangerous if it does not have an avenue of development. English Shepherds have to be mentally stimulated or they become bored. Chasing cars, protecting your property from passerby’s, raiding the garbage, digging up your garden are all results of a bored English Shepherd.
This breed is needed to work dawn to dusk on the farm and is happiest with a job. If you do not have the time to implement methods to apply your dog’s intelligence (Your dog MUST have a job). This is not the breed for you.
6) Reserved
Many English Shepherds are incorrectly thought of as shy. In reality they are reserved. It is common for English Shepherds to stand back and observe people before making a decision about a new person. After they’ve made their decision, they will love with abandon or avoid completely.
Again if you are wanting a dog that will get along with everybody and every dog, this is not the breed for you.
7) Herding
English Shepherds herd. They are a herding breed, it’s instinctual. If something moves quickly across the ground, they will chase it, even better if it is fuzzy or makes sounds. This instinct is bred into them on purpose. Farmers need this to help with their livestock, use this instinct to hunt. This instinct must be directed or it can become a problem.
If you are not willing or able to take the time in order to correctly train a dog/pup through proper introductions and consistently leaving those barn cats or fast moving chickens alone, this is not the breed for you.
8) Lists and Placements
English Shepherds can be hard to find. Expect to be on a waiting list.
They are a diverse dog in ability, looks, build, and personality. You can run the gambit even within a litter. A responsible breeder will place the correct pup with the correct family/situation. This placement isn’t done until just about time for the pup to go home.
If you are not willing to be on a waiting list, if you are not willing to have the breeder pick the best pup for you and your lifestyle, try looking into a more push button breed like a Golden or a Lab. This may not be the right breed for you, and I may not be the right breeder for you.
9) Rodent Eradication
English Shepherds are invaluable on the farm in keeping pests away. Black birds after the garden, rats after the chicken grain, or squirrels after the orchard fruit are all targets for eradication.
Living in an Urban setting with a dog that loves to go after squirrels and small birds can be a challenge to deal with and train. If you are not up to the task, this is not the breed for you.
10) Farm dog
Farm dogs are bred to be farm dogs. English Shepherds are born and bred to be with the farmer all day, every day, working his job. Expect a dog that will fit perfect on a farm, and not so perfectly in a city. Look at it this way; A New York attorney wants a tractor because he’s read all about them online and loves the way they look. Getting that tractor and trying to drive it to work is going to cause ALL SORTS of problems. Maybe he should’ve gotten a Corvette instead? HOWEVER if that same attorney takes his tractor every weekend to tractor pulls and spends time wrenching under his tractor’s hood, then it may be a beautiful thing indeed!
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