Nope not like Australian shepherds. These are the foundation breed for border collies and regular collies. They herd, hunt and guard/nuture. Some do have bob tail like Aussies but the merle color is a DQ in this breed. It is not an AKC breed. It has its own club and registery to keep the show problems out of it since it is a true all around working farm dog. There size is 20 to 23 weight ranges from 40 to 70. These dogs act are your right hand helping where needed with livestock. They herd with a loose eye not the border collie stare. They also adjust herding style to fit the situation be it heading, gathering, heeling ect. They are real good at hunting varments of all type even treeing them with some lines like Sky's. They guardian ability is dual in that it includes the mothering/nurturing plus the guard/ protection drives. The mothering comes in the form most time checking on baby animals when they are born and helping clean them and watch over them. You would have to read all the stories written by farm owners to truely understand how these dogs work on a farm. For those interested I can point you too the yahoo groups that are from the farmers who own and work this breed daily.
For us here and why I chose this breed. I lock up my animals at night so a LGD is not needed for night guard. I needed a hunter and guardian like our last dog. She really took care of our varmints and kept dogs at bay plus bear and hawks. Since we are getting goats and I will also free range them I needed a herder too. So here I get one dog instead of three dogs that specialize. I have already seen in our pup her guard instinct and her hunting drive. One with the chickens in keeping them from us while sitting on thee ground outside, should stood between us and them and one woof told them far enough. Her hunting was with a big bad moth
in the house. If any wish to read more on this breed please here is the link to the breed club. http://www.englishshepherd.org/
