English Shepherd

HISTORY According to legend, the English Shepherd is a combination of native dogs of the British Isles and the Roman sheep and cattle dog brought to the British Isles by Caesar when he invaded in 55 B.C. Romans used these dogs to herd the livestock brought along to feed the troops. As the livestock was depleted, surplus dogs were left along the way, and were used by local natives and interbred with existing types of dogs with similar herding talents to intensify those instincts. The English Shepherd was brought to the American colonies by some of the first settlers and followed the development of the United States from east to west. This multi-purpose breed was highly prized as it was used to herd valuable livestock and to protect the isolated homesteads. The United Kennel Club is the original registrar of the English Shepherd and has recognized them since 1934. GENERAL APPEARANCE A medium-sized dog of sturdy balance and harmonious proportions. Built for speed and maneuverability. The English Shepherd's alert face shows intelligence. Being a "total" breed, English Shepherds should be judged both on their ability to work livestock and their physical and structural appearance. To be taken into primary consideration are type, balance, soundness, gait and temperament. CHARACTERISTICS Energetic, intelligent, very active, agile, courageous and gritty. Fearless for their purpose. Acting immediately when commanded, and very responsive to the master's voice. Adapting themselves almost at once to working commands around farm stock. Working characteristics include: strictly low heeling, and very free with the use of their teeth. Also very watchful as guards of the home. Companionable to their master. Fault: Excessive nervousness, or aggression. HEAD The head is of medium length and slightly rounded between the ears. The head and neck are carried slightly raised. The skull is wide and flat above the eyes, broad between the ears. The width of the skull, between the inner corners of the bases of the ears, is approximately the same distance. The flews are straight and do not droop. The jaws are deep and powerful. Faults: Peaked or domed skull. STOP - Medium stop, moderately defined. MUZZLE - The muzzle is moderately broad, but is neither wide and stubby nor thin and snipey. The length of the muzzle, from the tip of the nose to the stop, is about equal to the distance from the stop to the occiput. Faults: Heavy, pugged. Snipey. TEETH - Strong and regular, scissors bite. Severe faults: Overshot and undershot bites. EARS - Wide at the base. Folding over approximately ¾ down and laying close to head. EYES - Dark or medium brown. Moderately round with a slightly oblique set. Express character with a strong, intelligent look. Faults: Protruding or sunken eyes. NECK Neck is well muscled, arched of medium length setting well into the shoulders. BODY The backline is horizontal. The shoulders are well laid back; shoulder blade and upper arm are about equal length. The ribs are well sprung. The body length, from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is about the same as the height at the withers. The loins are strong and deep. The flank is not tucked up. Faults: Roached or sway back. CHEST Deep, extending down approximately to the elbows. Wide, allowing large lung capacity. HIPS Wide, muscular. Very compact, denoting strength to spring. FORELEGS Straight. Medium bone. Muscular. Not too short. HIND LEGS Slightly bent at hock. Very muscular. Well haired. FEET Compact and round, strong but flexible pasterns. Well padded. Well arched toes. TAIL Moderately long with the tip of the bone reaching to the hock joint. A Plume tail. Carried slightly higher than back, only slight curve, when standing or at rest the tail should not be carried straight up or over the back. Natural bobtails are acceptable, should be about six to eight inches long and carried level with the back line. Fault: A tail that is carried straight up and over the back when the dog is at rest. COAT Coat is thick, glossy, and soft. May be straight, wavy or curly, except on the face, skull and legs. Fully covering body from ears down to feet. Reaching well under the body and on the upper half of the legs. The front legs are feathered. The tail is plumelike. The undercoat is soft and fine, affording protection from the elements, Any evidence of excessive grooming is to be penalized. Faults: Kinky coats. Heavy manes and heavy frills on the underside of the neck and on the chest. COLOR There are five predominant color patterns: Black and White; Black and Tan; Black, White and Tan; Sable and White, and Tan & White . The Black and White has a well-defined black coat with white trim. White trim may include: a white neck ring, a blaze of white on foreface and/or topskull, or both, as well as those areas defined below for tan trim. However, the white blaze should not extend back so far as to meet the white neck ring. The Black and Tan has a well defined black coat with tan trim, which appears on the cheeks as "shepherd spots," over the eyes, as a broad chest bar, on the front legs as stockings up to just above the knees, inside the hind legs, on the feet, or under the tail and inside the ears. A Black and Tan may white on the chest. If any white appears in the trim areas, the dog is not a Black and Tan, but is defined as a Black, Tan and White (tri-color). The Black, Tan and White (tri-color) has a well defined black coat with some white replacing the tan trim. There must be, however, tan "shepherd spots" over the eyes. Tan includes colors from light gold to mahogany brown. The Sable and White has a well-defined, sable-colored coat with white trim. Tan & White has a well defined tan coat, which can range from shades from a Fawn to a Red, with white trim. Permitted: white neck ring, white tip on tail, white chest; white on lower legs; blaze on face Disqualifications: Excessive white covering more than 1/3 of dog. Solid white coats. Whites with black or sable spots. Blue merles. Solid red or red merle. Solid black coat. Albinism. GAIT The gait is smooth, without choppiness, indicating the ability to change direction instantaneously. Moving ahead with effortless motion, without rolling. Viewed from the front, the forefeet track close together, but do not cross over. Viewed from the rear, the hind legs are straight from the hocks to the ground, and move as to take the weight under the center of gravity. HEIGHT Males - 19 to 23 inches, 20 to 21 inches preferred. Females - 18 to 22 inches, 19 to 20 inches preferred. The same height at the shoulders as at the hips. WEIGHT Males, 45 to 60 pounds. Females, 40 to 50 pounds. DEW CLAWS Dewclaws are common. It is recommended that they be removed a few days after birth as a preventative measure against injuries which may lead to infection. DISQUALIFICATIONS Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme aggressiveness or shyness. Excessive white covering more than 1/3 of dog. Solid white coats. Whites with black or sable spots. Blue merles. Solid red or red merle. Solid black coat. Albinism. SCALE OF POINTS General Appearance & Characteristics 15 Head (skull, stop, muzzle, teeth, ears, eyes, nose 15 Neck, Body & Chest 15 Hips, Forelegs, Hind Legs, Feet & Tail 20 Coat & Color 10 Gait 15 Height & Weight 10 Total 100