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Top 10 Herding Dog Breeds
The Herding Group is the newest AKC classification and was created in 1983 by moving all the herding dogs from the Working Group to this Herding Group. The Herding dog breeds in this group were developed to herd and control cattle and sheep and are therefore very energetic and intelligent. It is amazing to realize that the one-foot tall Corgi can drive a herd of cows to pasture by nipping at their heels. This group includes the Shetland Sheepdog, Border Collie, Collie, Old English Sheepdog and German Shepherd. The Shetland Sheepdog and Border Collie need a lot of exercise and space to run while the Collie and German Shepherd can adapt to city living. The top 10 most popular Herding dog breeds in the US according to the American Kennel Club 2005 registrations are described below and their registration rank is included in brackets.
1. German Shepherd
The German Shepherd (#4) or Alsatian is one of the world’s most popular dog breeds. German Shepherds are very adaptable, extremely intelligent and eager to learn. These Alsatians can be trained to an extremely high level as guide dogs, avalanche dogs, tracking dogs and police dogs, Alsatians regularly win advanced obedience and field trials. Most Shepherds are reliable, self-confident, loyal to a fault, protective, brave and even-tempered. Unfortunately some breeders are offering shy and nervous Alsatians for sale. These dogs should be avoided at all costs as they can be dangerous. Alsatians are good with children and should be socialized and obedience trained when they are puppies. Shepherds need
lots of attention, physical exercise and mental activity to keep happy. Alsatians make excellent watchdogs.
2. Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog (#18) or Sheltie is a small dog breed that looks like a small Rough-coated Collie. The Sheltie is extremely intelligent, agile, sweet tempered, gentle, obedient, loyal and somewhat sensitive. Shelties are playful, charming and easy to train. Most Shelties make great companions and family dogs and get along well with considerate children but some are too nervous, shy and high strung and can be unreliable around young children. Shelties love to please their owners and like the higher level training required for advanced obedience, agility and other competitions The breed is somewhat leery of strangers and makes good watch dogs.
3. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (#23) is a small-sized dog breed although it acts more like a “big dog” on short legs. The Pembroke is an energetic, agile, intelligent, gentle and loving dog. The Pembroke is devoted to its family and makes a terrific companion dog. Pembroke's are calmer than Cardigans. They tend to be a little less accepting of unfamiliar people and dogs. Pembrokes get along fine with older considerate children but not toddlers or very young children. This breed is very intelligent and can be easily trained to respond to voice commands and for agility competitions. The Pembroke makes a good watchdog.
4. Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd (#34) or Aussie can be a working sheep or cattle dog as well as a family dog. On one hand, Australians are courageous, loyal, attentive and animated dogs that are easy to teach and make wonderful companions On the other hand, the breed requires lots of attention and plenty of exercise so they won’t get bored and get into trouble. Aussies are often turned into rescue organizations because their owners weren’t prepared to provide them with enough attention and exercise and early obedience training. The Aussies just love to play fetching games. They are easy dogs to train for the highest levels of obedience competition. These Shepherds are somewhat wary of
strangers and make good watchdogs as well as pretty good family guard dogs. These dogs require a very experienced owner who is prepared to provide them with lots of attention.
5. Collie
The Collie (#36) is a good-natured, intelligent and friendly breed of dog that makes an excellent companion. There are two varieties of Collies – the Rough-coated and the Smooth-coated – which can appear in the same litter. The Rough variety needs frequent grooming and is a heavy shedder. The Smooth-coated Collie is more active, needs only moderate grooming and is a much lighter shedder. Collie puppies need to be thoroughly socialized in order to build confidence. Collies need a lot of social interaction and can become noisy or destructive if left without human companionship for long periods of time. Most collies are good with children and other pets if thoroughly socialized when they are puppies. Collies can be trained to a fairly
high level through the use of praise and food rewards. Collies are wary of strangers and make good watchdogs.
6. Border Collie
The Border Collie (#55) or BC is a very good looking and intelligent dog of great strength, stamina and speed. This is one of the very active dog breeds. BC’s are extremely active and intelligent which is a difficult combination to live with unless you can give the dog a lot of exercise, attention and training. These Collies are extremely fast and agile and can be readily trained to be great competitors at agility trials. Border Collies really should be herding livestock on a farm but if this isn’t possible you must substitute lots and lots of advanced obedience or agility training, jogging, biking and Frisbee playing. Without a great deal of physical and mental activity, BC’s will become hyperactive and
impossible to live with. These Collies can get very destructive and bark continuously if they are left alone in the yard.
7. Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog (#69) or Bobtail has a very distinctive shaggy coat and an unusual rolling gait that gives it the appearance of a small bear. The large Bobtail is an intelligent, playful, friendly, loving, good-natured and enthusiastic dog. The Sheepdog actually seems to have a good sense of humor and loves to clown around. The Bobtail loves to be the centre of attention and can be quite stubborn. The Bobtail loves children and if socialized and obedience trained properly will make a great family dog and get along well with other pets, strangers and their children. Since the Bobtail will need a lot of grooming you must start obedience training and grooming as soon as you
get your puppy, otherwise you will end up wrestling with a large dog at least once per week. The Sheepdog is agile and intelligent and can be trained to perform a variety of agility sports.
8. Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog (#70) is also known as the Queensland Heeler and is a tireless and hard working medium-sized dog with an inexhaustible supply of energy. This breed is easily trained but needs lots of activity to satisfy its workaholic nature. If this Cattle Dog is left alone in a backyard it will turn destructive. These dogs are only truly happy working at herding cattle. Although the breed is loyal and possessive and makes a good guard dog, it is not a good family pet. The Cattle Dog requires training and firm management from an experienced master and doesn’t do well with a first-time owner.
9. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi (#79) can be distinguished from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi by its brush-like tail and very long body. The medium-sized Corgi has enough courage and intelligence to learn to do anything it is taught. Since the Corgi is also vigilant and somewhat territorial, it requires early socialization and obedience training. The hardworking breed can also be trained for agility or advanced obedience training. The Corgi is fine with older children and house pets but territorial with strange cats and dogs. The Cardigan is loyal and makes a good family pet and companion. Cardigans are naturally suspicious and make good watch dogs.
10. Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres (#85) is a large, powerful dog that is also known as the Belgian Cattle Dog. Bouviers are sober, alert, and even tempered rather than clownish. Although these cattle dogs are athletic and agile, they can be somewhat lazy unless they are given lots of physical exercise. The breed is very intelligent so it is equally important to provide it with lots of mental stimulation in the form of advanced training in obedience, agility or tracking. Bouviers love to be close to the family and are very good with children, and other pets, if they have been raised with them. Bouviers are somewhat suspicious of strangers and can be
quite territorial and therefore make excellent watch dogs and guard dogs. Bouviers can be strong willed during the puppy and adolescent periods and need an experienced and confident owner. Bouviers need regular exercise and do best in a rural environment or at least a house with a large fenced backyard.
See the individual dog breeds for more information on each breed.
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