The Western Shepherd is an intellegent, high energy dog with the instincts to herd and protect.
As with many other herding breeds the Western Shepherd needs a job to do and somewhere to focus that energy. However, unlike some of the other herding and working dogs they do well in modern busy homes.
They love their people with a deep devotion; in fact even owners that are experienced with other similar breeds are surprised by just how deeply they bond with their family. They will stay close to their people often never wanting them to be out of sight but they are not needy or anxious dogs. They simply want to be around their people but do fine away from them when they know it is appropriate – such as when the kids go to school or you leave for work.
As puppies they have an intense desire to chase and bite – yet they easily learn what is good to bite (toys and tugs) and what is not okay (your hands, shoes, and pant legs for example).
As a dog bred to be alert they will often bark at things that are not normal: large trucks in the driveway, people talking outside your home, strangers at the door; however they are not overly vocal and after alerting and investigating will take their queue from the owner on if something is right or not.
Are they really ‘No Shed’? – no dog is truly ‘no shed’. Even breeds and crosses that are called “hypo-allergenic” are simply ‘low shed’ dogs that have a reduced production of the proteins that often cause allergies. In that sense Western Shepherds are low shed dogs. By breeding to remove the undercoat they result is a smooth, soft topcoat that does not shed as much as many ‘regular’ short haired dogs.
Training the Western Shepherd is normally very simple. They are both highly intelligent and very driven to please their owner. These are the two traits that determine if a dog will be easily trained. Add to that the Shepherd’s working ability and you have a dog that will be trained just by living with you. That said formal training is always recommended as it ensure the best chance of having a dog that fits into living life with you.