Border Collie vs. Australian Shepherd vs. English Shepherd
- Thread starter stafinois
- Start date
As I'm browsing, I found an English Shepherd breeder that health tests about 20 minutes from my house. I'm shocked and impressed and wanting to meet these people. It looks like their dogs are good farm dogs as they should be out here on the prairie in the middle of nowhere.
http://www.cedarcreekenglishshepherds.com
http://www.cedarcreekenglishshepherds.com
Cool. That would be good for my husband!
I've not heard back from the local breeder, but they are farmers and it's harvest time. The way the farmers are scrambling around right now I might not hear back for another month.
Yeah, there aren't any titles on the dogs, but they are health tested and it looks like being used for their intended purpose. I'm hoping to get the chance to go check them out. It would be convenient being that they are only about 20 minutes from here.
I've not heard back from the local breeder, but they are farmers and it's harvest time. The way the farmers are scrambling around right now I might not hear back for another month.
Yeah, there aren't any titles on the dogs, but they are health tested and it looks like being used for their intended purpose. I'm hoping to get the chance to go check them out. It would be convenient being that they are only about 20 minutes from here.
My mom grew up with GSD/Collie mixes, and in a roundabout way I grew up with a GSD/Collie mix (my neighbor had one and I spent every day with that dog) - funny thing is, they ALL look like sable English Shepherds.... and from the looks of things, they had similar temperaments to English Shepherds as well.
Now I want an English Shepherd... darn you people!
Now I want an English Shepherd... darn you people!
This thread definitely caught my interest -- I've often wondered what the main differences were between English Shepherds and Border Collies in particular. I've been intrigued by English Shepherds for a long time, as on paper, they sound pretty much perfect as far as what I like in a dog. I wish I could get a chance to meet one, but they're pretty few and far between so I've yet to have had an opportunity. They're definitely a breed I'll be looking into further when it's time for me to start looking at another dog.
I heard back from the breeder near me. She invited me out to meet the dogs sometime. I'm really intrigued. In addition to rounding up and moving their various types of livestock, the dogs also kill various varmints that get into the grain. Apparently they don't even keep cats anymore because the dogs are more effective. They also keep away coyotes. These are actual working all purpose farm dogs.
Don't be shocked if I start posting pics of my English Shepherd pup in a few years
Don't be shocked if I start posting pics of my English Shepherd pup in a few years
This is my very first post on this forum so I hope you'll be able to forgive any faux pas, haha! I frequent many horse forums (my first passion) but this is my first dog forum.
I am bringing my first English Shepherd home in two days and I've absolutely fallen for the breed. Ever since I was little we've always had herding dogs, mainly Australian Shepherds and Australian Cattle Dogs.
Right now we have a three year old ACD and while she is probably the smartest dog I've ever had, great personality and makes me laugh constantly, she is a LOT of work. She's very high energy and has an outstanding herding drive even for her breed, so you can imagine how hard it is to keep up with her.
She's a great dog and such a blast, but I missed our more laid back Aussies. They were happy to work and go out and about, but at the same time were happy to just sit with you. I have however, not been thrilled about the Aussies I've seen in recent years. Just not my kind of dog anymore, which is why I was so happy when I found the English Shepherds. I find them quite similar to our old Aussies, although even better than Aussies I've met recently. I think the best way I could describe them would be very all around, middle of the road farm dogs. They don't have the extreme drive Border Collies and ACDs generally do. They have the energy and the drive to work but are easily turned off and are then just equally happy to sit with you and stay quiet. They also do have some guarding and hunting instinct in there.
Stafinois, I love what you said about the whole Timmy thing! Granted, I haven't been around the breed for years and years but my family has really done their research and we've gone and checked out dogs from this breeder as well as driven hours and hours to go meet the litter, their dam, and granddam. However, that sounds exactly like what I've been told. One lady said her childhood dog was an English Shepherd and without being taught wouldn't stray from the baby's carriage without being 'released'. IIRC this was even a young dog, so not even a mature dog that knew the drill. Just very intelligent and bonded to their people. I've heard very similar stories to that one, as well.
I've written an awful lot, guess I just got carried away! I'm so excited for my little girl to get here (I say that now, we'll see what I have to say in 2 weeks of sleepless nights and puppysitting).
I am bringing my first English Shepherd home in two days and I've absolutely fallen for the breed. Ever since I was little we've always had herding dogs, mainly Australian Shepherds and Australian Cattle Dogs.
Right now we have a three year old ACD and while she is probably the smartest dog I've ever had, great personality and makes me laugh constantly, she is a LOT of work. She's very high energy and has an outstanding herding drive even for her breed, so you can imagine how hard it is to keep up with her.
She's a great dog and such a blast, but I missed our more laid back Aussies. They were happy to work and go out and about, but at the same time were happy to just sit with you. I have however, not been thrilled about the Aussies I've seen in recent years. Just not my kind of dog anymore, which is why I was so happy when I found the English Shepherds. I find them quite similar to our old Aussies, although even better than Aussies I've met recently. I think the best way I could describe them would be very all around, middle of the road farm dogs. They don't have the extreme drive Border Collies and ACDs generally do. They have the energy and the drive to work but are easily turned off and are then just equally happy to sit with you and stay quiet. They also do have some guarding and hunting instinct in there.
Stafinois, I love what you said about the whole Timmy thing! Granted, I haven't been around the breed for years and years but my family has really done their research and we've gone and checked out dogs from this breeder as well as driven hours and hours to go meet the litter, their dam, and granddam. However, that sounds exactly like what I've been told. One lady said her childhood dog was an English Shepherd and without being taught wouldn't stray from the baby's carriage without being 'released'. IIRC this was even a young dog, so not even a mature dog that knew the drill. Just very intelligent and bonded to their people. I've heard very similar stories to that one, as well.
I've written an awful lot, guess I just got carried away! I'm so excited for my little girl to get here (I say that now, we'll see what I have to say in 2 weeks of sleepless nights and puppysitting).
I have absolutely nothing of value to contribute to this thread except this picture:
http://www.cedarcreekenglishshepherds.com/i/CopperXMaggie10/HANK8WKS.jpg
OMGSQUEEEEEEEE!
http://www.cedarcreekenglishshepherds.com/i/CopperXMaggie10/HANK8WKS.jpg
OMGSQUEEEEEEEE!
