I know nothing about Shelties except they are pretty small, but the English Shepherd is the original breed to the BC, Collie, and the A.Shepherd. So depending on location in EU, depends on what gene pool the English Shepherd is closer too. Digi is closer to the Collie side due to her pointier snout and smaller skull. English Shepherds are not a breed here in North America (unless its changed, I don't keep up on that stuff) as there is no common look/shape to them. In EU the "breed" standard makes them look a lot like A. Shepherds with the block shaped head.

In short, they are a wide range farm mutt that can do anything and everything a farm needs from herding chickens, to herding cattle, to looking over the children, to guarding the farm. Thats why they were so popular as farm dogs back in the day & still are on old style farms (Mennonites).

My info could be a tad off, but thats the gist of what I learned about the breed with a quick search years ago.