The Best Herding Dogs

Herding dogs were bred to herd sheep and cattle, making them very intelligent and loyal and therefore suitable family pets. The Herding Group of canines is the newest AKC classification, created in 1983. All the animals in this group herd, but they have very different ways of doing so. According to the American Kennel Club 2005, the top 10 most popular herding dog breeds in the United States were the German shepherd, border collie, collie, Australian shepherd, Shetland sheepdog, old English sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh corgi, Australian cattle dog, Cardigan Welsh corgi and Bouvier des Flandres.

  1. Shetland Sheepdog

    • Shelties are extremely obedient and easy to train.

      The Shetland sheepdog is also known as a Sheltie. This is a small breed that is very intelligent, loyal, sweet mannered and agile. Shelties are easy to train and love to please their owners. They usually get along well with children, but some are overly sensitive and high-strung and may be a poor choice for a family with small children. They make excellent watch dogs and keep a keen eye on anyone who is unfamiliar.

    Australian Shepherd

    • The Australian shepherd is a working sheep or cattle dog. They are loyal and attentive, but they also require plenty of attention and exercise to keep them out of trouble. They are very easy to train due to their high intelligence and make excellent family pets. They excel at fetching games and pick them up very rapidly. They also make excellent guard dogs for the family. They do require an experienced owner who has plenty of time for the breed.

    Collie

    • Collies are very obedient and make excellent family pets.

      The collie is an extremely intelligent and friendly animal. There are two types of collies, the smooth-coated and the rough-coated. The smooth-coated sheds less and is more active than the rough-coated. Collies make loyal companions and rely on lots of social interaction to prevent them from becoming noisy or bored. Collies do wonderfully with children and are very trainable. They also make excellent guard dogs.

    Border Collie

    • Border collies are strong-eyed herders that use their stare to herd sheep.

      The border collie is by far the smartest of all dog breeds. They are known for their high activity level and their great strength and speed. They need plenty of space to run and need a yard. They are very easy to train due to their intelligence. Border collies are meant to be herding livestock on a farm, so if you do not intend them for this purpose you will need to provide them with plenty of exercise and stimulation. A lack of social interaction and activity will cause the dog to become hyperactive and possibly destructive.