There are so many dog breeds out there. Before getting any dog, it is essential to make sure the dog breed’s personality matches your lifestyle. Choosing a dog breed just based on its look is not a good idea. Understanding the dog breed personality would give you an idea about whether or not the dog will be ideal for you. In this post, we will differentiate between Australian shepherd and English shepherd dog breeds. So if you are confused between these two breeds, this post will help you out.
Both, Australian shepherd and English shepherd breeds are very similar. For a newbie, figuring out the difference between these two breeds can be difficult. Their look and appearance are very similar. The major differences are some minor changes in personality. Australian shepherd or Aussie is a popular dog breed, while English shepherd is a comparatively less popular dog breed. To help you understand the difference between these two breeds, we will go through personality, temperament, appearance, etc. of both the dog breeds.
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Table of Contents
Australian Shepherd
The Australian shepherd is a friendly, loving, and energetic dog breed. For a family person, Aussie dog could be a good choice. The beautiful color variations and combinations make them look more beautiful. From the name, it seems this breed is originated from Australian, but this is not true. Despite the name, the breed is originated from the United States.
The average lifespan, average height, and average weight of this breed could vary from 12-15 years, 18-23 inches, and 40-65 lbs respectively.
Aussies are hardworking, they are happy when they have something to do. If you are planning to adopt an Australian Shepherd, you have a great variety of appearances available. You can choose from different variations & color combinations such as blue merle, red merle, black, red, black tricolor, and red tricolor. These color variations are so beautiful.
Food
No matter which dog breed you adopt, providing nutritious and high-quality food should be your main focus. The Australian shepherd would do well when he is provided with high-quality food. No matter whether homemade or commercially manufactured food you give to your dog, it is essential to discuss that with your veterinarian and make sure it will be healthy for the dog.
Focusing on the proper diet for Aussies is important so that you can keep them healthy and happy. Aussies are more likely to weight gain. Hence, not focusing on providing healthy food would lead to overweight.
Friendliness
The Australian shepherd is a great and fun-loving dog. The dog breed is good for families, kids, as well as other dogs. So if you have a kid or any other pet dog, you can consider adopting an Aussie dog. The reaction of Aussies toward strangers my differ. Mostly they are not good with strangers.
It is a very friendly and loving dog breed, it can’t stay alone for longer periods. If you leave an Australian shepherd dog for a long time, it may create destructive and negative behavior in him. If you are busy or out for some work, then you can get someone to care for your dog.
Grooming
Grooming needs are one of the major factors to consider before adopting any dog breed. The grooming needs differ from one particular dog breed to another. It is essential to keep the dog clean. Aussie dog is not easy to groom. After getting an Aussie, you will have to spend enough time regularly on grooming it.
Aussies are double-coat dogs and their shedding level is also very high. High shedding level becomes one of the biggest challenges when you adopt an Aussie dog. This dog breed sheds year-round and the shedding level gets even more during the spring season. To keep the Aussie dog clean and well-groomed, you will require to provide regular brushing and bathing.
Training
All dogs require training. Some dog breeds are easy to train, while some are not. Australian shepherds are intelligent and easy to train. Providing socialization and obedience training to the Aussies is very important.
Exercise
Maintaining physical fitness is also important for dogs. Depending on the dog breed you select, the requirement for exercise would differ. Talking about Australian shepherds, they have a high energy level and their exercise needs are also very high. so to help the Aussie stay fit and happy, you will need to provide regular exercise. Apart from physical stimulation, regular exercise will also give mental stimulation.
Australian shepherds love getting involved in different types of exercise and physical activities. For their physical fitness, you can also have interactive play sessions with your Aussie dog. To help an Aussie dog burn off its excess energy, you must provide a minimum of one to two hours of training on a regular basis.
English Shepherd
English shepherd dog breed is very similar to the Australian shepherd. If we talk about personality, grooming, training, exercise needs, etc. there are very minor differences between both of them. In terms of looks and appearance as well, English shepherds and Australian shepherds look the same.
The average lifespan, average height, and average weight of this breed could vary from 14-16 years, 18-23 inches, and 40-60 lbs respectively.
This medium-sized dog breed was originated in the United Kingdom. One of the major differences in terms of overall appearance between both of them is the tail type. Most of the English shepherds have tails. They have some bobtail lines.
As we know, Australian shepherds come in different variations and color combinations. They do come in merle coats. Talking about English shepherds, they do not have merle coats. However, they do come in tricolor. English shepherds can be of black, black & white, black & tan, brindle, brown, sable, tricolor, or yellow colors.
Food
No matter whether you select an Australian shepherd or English shepherd, providing healthy & high-quality food is important for both. Avoiding giving people food to the English Shepherd dog breed as it can lead to reducing in vitamin and minerals. To keep the dog happy and stay fit, make sure to provide a healthy regular diet from top dog food brands.
The number of meals and the type of food will differ depending on the dog’s age. This not just applies to English shepherds, it applies to all dog breeds. For example, for puppies of around 10 weeks old, they require four meals a day. And, for English shepherd puppy between 3 to 6 months age, providing 3 meals a day would be enough. Similarly, as the dog ages, the meal requirements will differ. It is important to consult with your veterinarian, before getting any food for your dog.
Friendliness
Just like Australian shepherds, English shepherds are also very friendly and loving. The breed is playful, responsive, and friendly. English shepherds are good toward families, kids, and other dogs. They may not do well with strange people. It is essential to supervise the dog breed when it is having play sessions with your kids.
Supervising is important because the breed has a high prey drive. If you have a young kid, it is not advisable to get an English shepherd. Whenever they see a child or small animals running fast, they start chasing them. If you have older kids, you can provide training to your kid on how to react when the dog behaves negatively.
Grooming
The grooming needs differ from one particular dog breed to another. It is essential to keep the dog clean. Unlike Aussies, the grooming needs of English shepherds are less. To make sure your English shepherd dog stays clean and dirt-free, providing occasional brushing and bath would be enough.
The coat of English shepherds is smooth and soft, which helps to avoid the dirt from the coat very easily. So after the dog plays outside, removing dirt won’t be a stress. When it comes to shedding, Aussies and English shepherds are the same. Just like Aussies, English shepherds also shed a lot. So after getting an English shepherd dog breed, you should be prepared for hair on your cloth, furniture, carpeting, etc.
Training
English shepherds are intelligent and easy to train. The breed would understand your various commands and will be very responsive. Trainability to English shepherds is another factor that is similar to the Aussie dog breed.
Exercise
Exercise and physical activities are very important for all dog breeds. Depending on the dog breed you choose, the energy level and exercise requirements will differ. Just like Aussies, the energy level and exercise needs of English shepherds are also very high. So to keep your English shepherd dog happy and fit, you will need to provide sufficient exercise on a regular basis.
Not providing enough exercise will lead to destructive and negative behavior like barking for long, chewing excessively, etc. To help your English shepherd burn off its high energy, you need to provide regular exercise for a minimum of 1 hour daily.
Australian Shepherd VS English Shepherd
So as we can see, there is almost everything similar in both, Australian shepherd and English shepherd dog breeds. In the above, we have talked about some important factors such as grooming, food, friendliness, training, and exercise of both the dog breeds. Now we will focus on minor differences between these two breeds. This will give you a proper idea regarding how these two breeds are different.
History
From the similarities between these two breeds, you may think both the breeds are from the same country, but no they aren’t.
Despite the name, Australian shepherds are not from Australia. The breed was originated from the United States in 1840 AD. Talking about English shepherds, the breed was originated from the United Kingdom in 1800 AD.
Coat Type & Texture
The first main difference between both the dog breed is their coat type and texture. From the overall appearance, Aussies and English shepherds might look the same, but their coat textures & type are different. Aussies do not hair coats, while English shepherds have a hair coat.
The English shepherds have smooth, silky, and straight hair coat, on the flip side, the Australian shepherds do not have this kind of coat type and texture.
Coat Color
Coat color is another factor that creates a difference between Aussies and English shepherd dog breeds. Both, Australian shepherds and English shepherds are found in a variety of color variations.
Talking about Australian shepherds, they can be of blue merle, red merle, black, red, black tricolor, and red tricolor. The breed can have different color combinations based on these colors.
Talking about English shepherds, they can be of black, black & white, black & tan, brindle, brown, sable, tricolor, or yellow.
Friendliness
Both, Aussie and English shepherds are friendly towards families, kids, and their people. In terms of friendliness, the behavior of Australian shepherds and English shepherds are different toward pets and strangers.
Talking about Aussies, mostly, they are not good toward other pets. Mostly, their behavior toward strangers is not good. English shepherds are great with other pets as well as strangers.
Breed Recognition
Aussie is the popular dog breed and between these two breeds, Aussie is recognized by most dog breed registries. English shepherd breed is recognized byAmerican Canine Registry, America’s Pet Registry, Dog Registry of America Inc., American Canine Association Inc., Continental Kennel Club, National Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, and Animal Research Foundation.
The Australian Shepherd breed is recognized by American Canine Registry, American Kennel Club, America’s Pet Registry, Dog Registry of America Inc., North American Purebred Registry Inc., American Canine Association Inc., Continental Kennel Club, National Kennel Club, New Zealand Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, and Australian Shepherd Club Of America.
So these are the main points of differences between Australian shepherd and English shepherd dog breeds.
Final Thoughts
English shepherd and Australian shepherd, both the dog breeds are friendly, affectionate, and fun-loving. Aussies are far more popular as compared to English shepherds. Both breeds are similar to each other in so many ways. From their look and personality traits, both look the same, but some minor differences make them different dog breeds.
Both the dog breeds are different in terms of their history, origination, breed recognition, coat type & textures, coat colors, and friendliness.
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