English Shepherd
- Origin
- United States
- Type
- Herding
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 46–58 cm (18–23 in)
- Weight
- 18–29 kg (40–65 lb)
- Coat
- Long double coat, straight, wavy or curly
- Colors
- Black and white, black and tan, sable and white, or tricolor
- Status
- Recognised by the UKC; not recognised by the AKC
The English Shepherd is a herding dog from the United States, despite its name. It is an all-round farm dog of collie descent.
History
The breed goes back to collies of various kinds that early settlers from Britain and Ireland brought to the New World. That makes it a relative of the modern Border Collie, the Rough Collie and the Australian Shepherd.
Its ancestors were widely used on farms across the eastern states. Their main work was herding sheep and cattle, but they also served as watchdogs, ratters and companions.
The United Kennel Club has registered English Shepherds since 1927. It first called the breed the American Farm Shepherd, and renamed it the English Shepherd in 2003. The American Kennel Club does not recognise the breed.
Appearance
The English Shepherd is a medium-sized dog, weighing 18 to 29 kg (40 to 65 lb) and standing 46 to 58 cm (18 to 23 in) tall. Males are usually larger than females.
The coat is long and double, with feathering on the legs and tail. According to the standard it may be straight, wavy or curly, except on the face, the skull and the front of the legs, where it is short and smooth.
There are four traditional color combinations: black and white, black and tan, sable and white, and tricolor, which is black, white and tan. Shades from fawn and red-tan through to white are also seen.
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.