The Disadvantages of Teaching a Dog to Herd Sheep

The newest classification in the American Kennel Club (AKC) is the Herding Group. Formerly listed under the Working Group, the Herding Group was given its own designation in 1983. Currently 24 breeds fall into the AKC Herding Group classification.



The instinct to herd sheep is a behavioral trait that has been defined and adjusted in herding dogs over the last 200 years. While herding may be useful in select conditions, teaching a dog to herd sheep may bring undesirable consequences.
  1. Aggression Toward Other Animals

    • At a basic level, a dog's herding instinct can be traced to the killing instinct of wolves. Through selective breeding and domestication, the killing instinct has been diluted and modified into a behavior that can be useful in rigidly defined circumstances. The circling and gathering behavior that working dogs employ to herd sheep directly corresponds to the manner in which wolf packs hunt and kill their prey. Outside of using these behaviors to actually herd sheep, circling and gathering can escalate into aggression toward other animals.

    Aggression Toward Children

    • Dogs that have been trained to herd sheep do not easily differentiate between real sheep and children. When a child runs and plays, a herding dog may interpret the child as a sheep that has broken from the fold. A herding dog's natural instinct will propel him to circle the child and block the child's escape. This activity can scare the child, which further excites the dog. This cycle may end with the dog, assuming the child is a rogue sheep, displaying aggression toward the child.

    Bad Habits

    • Herding dogs have an abundance of physical stamina and endurance, and cannot be confined to a house or small yard. These dogs require a great deal of activity; they must have a job and a sense of purpose. Additionally, working dogs must be exercised frequently and for extended periods of time. Trained herding dog are accustomed to working all day. Without adequate exercise and stimulation, these dogs can develop bad habits such as excessive barking, frenzied laps around the house, jumping over furniture and mouthing.

    Destructive Behavior

    • A dog that is trained to herd sheep must have the opportunity to release his pent-up energy. Without the ability to vent, bad habits often escalate into destructive behavior. Inappropriate chewing is a common manifestation of an overabundance of trapped energy. Chewing is relaxing to high prey drive dogs; it soothes their adrenal system. Excessive chewing may result in ruined furniture, shoes, carpeting or anything else the dog can get its mouth on.