Sable English Shepherd Breed Overview and History

The Sable English Shepherd is a unique and fascinating breed with a rich history. They originated in the 19th century in England.

This breed was developed from the Old English Shepherd, a type of sheepdog that was highly valued for its intelligence, agility, and herding ability. They were primarily used on farms and ranches to manage livestock.

Their distinctive sable coat color is the result of a genetic combination that creates a mix of black and brown pigments. This color variation is a result of the interaction of multiple genes.

Sable English Shepherds are highly intelligent and versatile dogs, making them a popular choice for active families and working roles.

The English Shepherd is a medium-sized breed of dog.

It weighs between 40 and 65 pounds, and stands between 18 and 23 inches tall.

Males are typically larger than females.

The breed has a long, straight or wavy double coat with feathering on the legs and tail.

Traditionally, it has four different color combinations, including black and white, black and tan, sable and white, and tricolor.

The coat may be straight, wavy or curly, except on the face, skull and front of legs where it is short and smooth.

The Sable English Shepherd is a unique breed with a rich history. They originated in the United States in the early 20th century.

Their distinctive sable coat is a result of a genetic variation that causes a mixture of black and red pigments. This variation is responsible for the breed's characteristic dark brown color.

Sable English Shepherds are highly intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for active families and working roles.

Sable English Shepherds can have a range of coat colors, from pale honey-gold to deep mahogany red, with black tipped hairs.

The sable gene is dominant to the tanpoint gene, which means a sable English Shepherd can carry two sable genes or one sable and one tanpoint gene.

Most sable English Shepherds have some white on them, even if it's just a small amount, due to the White Spotting genes.

Sable English Shepherds can have minor white markings or more extensive Irish White markings, including chest, feet, and/or legs, tail tip, muzzle, with or without a collar and face blaze.

Some sable English Shepherds can appear to be black and tan, but they're actually just sable dogs with no white markings.

The "Seal" type of sable coloring makes the dog look black and white, but this color is addressed under the Variations section.

If a sable dog is paired with a black and tan or tri-color mate, the puppies may have limited white or no white at all on their coats.

If the sable parent is ayay and doesn't carry the recessive clear sable gene, all puppies will be sable.

If the sable parent is ayat, some pups may be black and tan or tri-colored.

If both parents carry the recessive clear sable gene, there's a possibility of some clear sable puppies in the litter.

The English Shepherd has a rich history that dates back to the early settlers from Britain and Ireland who brought collies of various types to the New World.

These early settlers used their collies as working dogs on farms, where they excelled as sheep and cattle herders.

The ancestors of the English Shepherd were used extensively in the eastern states, particularly for their ability to herd livestock.

The United Kennel Club (UKC) has been registering English Shepherds since 1927, initially under the name American Farm Shepherd.

In 2003, the UKC renamed the breed the English Shepherd, solidifying its place in the world of working dogs.

The breed's versatility is still evident today, with English Shepherds continuing to work on farms and in other roles as watchdogs, ratters, and companions.