Sheep Herding Dogs
Shepherds have been using sheep herding dogs and guard dogs to move, manage and protect their flocks for thousands of years and whether you raise your own flock of sheep or have simply caught a few minutes of a sheep dog trial at your local fair, there's something beautiful about the ancient and storied relationship between man, sheep and dog. You may have wondered what breeds of dog are used to herd sheep ... to answer your questions and tell you a bit more about the most popular breeds of sheep dogs we've assembled this list of sheep herding dogs. We hope you enjoy it and the videos of sheep herding dogs in action as well!
Two Common Types of Sheep Herding Dogs
It may surprise you to learn that there is more than one style of herding employed by sheep dogs. In either style a well-trained herding dog exercises control - allowing sheep to move calmly rather than chasing your flock and causing them to run scared. Drovers are sheep herding dog breeds which drive sheep away from their handler - either through movement, an intimidating gaze or (most often) through loud and aggressive barking. Another popular style of herding sheep dog keeps the flock between itself and its master: calmly moving your sheep toward you. These dogs typically work silently, using their strong, penetrating gaze and subtle movements to control the flock's movements. Both styles of sheep herding are effective, they just serve different roles on the farm. Sometimes on large flocks several types of dogs are used together.
Border Collie: The Most Popular Breed of Sheep Herding Dog
The Border Collie is known for its ability to control a flock of sheep with its powerful and intimidating gaze - "The Eye."
By far the most popular and recognizable of all sheep herding dogs throughout most of the world is the Border Collie. This intelligent, hard-working breed of sheep dog was developed in the border country between England and Scotland and unlike some other breeds (like the German Shepherd), the Border Collie has consistently been bred on the basis of its performance. Conformation and appearance are secondary for the Border Collie - each dog's ability to be trained to work and control sheep is the primary factor which determines the dog's quality. Training a border collie can be a challenge for an inexperienced handler and they may not make good pets if you have a short patience (they are high-energy and always need a job to do), but when it comes to a natural instinct and ability to work a flock of sheep, you cannot do better than a Border Collie: the ultimate sheep herding dog.
Additional Herding Dog Breeds Used to Handle Sheep
Of course Border Collies aren't the only breed of dog used to herd sheep. Here are a few additional breeds that shepherds around the world use to move and manage their flocks of sheep. Some you may recognize, but others you might never have heard of:
Australian Shepherd
Often referred to simply as an "Aussie," the Australian shepherd was actually developed in the Western U.S. Valued for its versatility and intelligence, this medium-sized dog is popular on sheep and cattle farms.
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Australian Cattle Dog
The sturdy, durable Australian Cattle Dog is another drover - a breed which drives sheep or cattle from behind through barking and aggressive movements. This breed was developed in Australia for moving cattle long distances over rough terrain. They are tough, high-energy dogs which need to have plenty of room to run.
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Shetland Sheepdog
The "Sheltie" or Shetland Sheepdog is sometimes referred to as a miniature Collie, but this highly intelligent breed is athletic, full of energy and with training can function as a talented member of your farm, herding your sheep.
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Corgi
It may surprise you to learn that the small Corgi - originally developed in Wales - is a talented dog when it comes to herding sheep. Often underestimated due to their short stature, the Corgi is quite athletic, extremely intelligent and even the modern Corgi can be trained to move a flock of sheep where his or her shepherd wants them to go. There are two common kinds of Corgi: Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
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Sheep Herding Dog VideosWhile reading about sheep herding dogs can be interesting, there's nothing quite like watching a well-trained sheep dog in action. Here are a few of our favorite videos of dogs herding sheep in trials and around the farm.
Continental Sheepdog Championship Video, 2009An impressive display by a border collie herding sheep at extreme distances from its master in the Continental Sheepdog Championship.Depending upon the size of your sheep operation you may or may not need a sheep herding dog to manage your flock, but even for the small hobby farmer, owning a dog breed known for its ability to herd sheep can be fun. There's nothing quite like watching a skilled sheep dog maneuver a flock and put your sheep where you want them to go ... it certainly beats trying to chase or lure them with a bucket full of grain.
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The Australian Kelpie Herding Sheep in AustraliaDon Burke heads to the country to see the amazing Australian Working Kelpie in action, and to learn about the history of this herding sheep dog.
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Image credit for New Zealand Huntaway: "Huntaway" by Cgoodwin - Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Imaged credit for Australian Cattle Dog: "ACD-blue-spud" by Zingpix - Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Imaged credit for Australian Cattle Dog: "ACD-blue-spud" by Zingpix - Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
