This post on herding breeds will be the first in our new series on different types of dogs. We’ll discuss the breeds that make up this type of dog, what they were bred for and their typical behaviours. We’ll also look at the pro’s and con’s of living with these types of dogs as pets. 

Herding Breeds

The clue is really in the name when it comes to herding breeds- they were bred to herd! There are a huge range of herding breeds and they can be found all over the world too. Their appearance varies depending on the environment they were bred for. However, they were all bred to move other animals to help humans in one way or another. The Australian Cattle Dog was bred to herd cattle over long distances in the rough Australian terrain and is therefore a hardy dog with serious stamina. The Portuguese Water Dog is a great swimmer who helped fishermen herd fish into nets. Most commonly in the UK we have Border Collies, traditionally used to herd sheep. It might surprise you to learn that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Belgian Malinois and Old English Sheepdog are all part of the herding breeds family too.

Do herding breeds make good pets?

As with any dog, whether they will make a good pet will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the genetics of the individual, their early socialisation and experience, the amount of exercise and training they get and the personality of that individual too. However, most herding breeds will need a substantial amount of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy and content pets. They are highly intelligent and often very sensitive to movement- a trait that helped their ancestors keep an eye on their flock. If you enjoy long walks and have an interest in training games, sports and clubs, they can make fantastic pets. Herder’s tend to thrive in activities like flyball, agility and treibball as they’re typically very trainable and have great drive.

The down sides

However, having a herding breed in your home is certainly not for everyone! Some common issues people tend to have with these breeds include stalking, nipping and herding inappropriately. Family members, especially children, can often be subject to this herding behaviour. These issues are made worse if their needs aren’t met. Herding breeds can also become fixated on things in the environment that move rapidly so may be more prone to shadow and light chasing behaviours. Like any other breed, herding dogs can develop other issues if they’re needs aren’t met. These include destructive behaviour and inappropriate digging. In my experience in having lived with a Border Collie and trained many other herding breeds, I wouldn’t recommend them to a first time dog owner.

What next?

• Looking for help with your dog? Contact us to arrange in person or online training.
• Read more blog posts here.
• Perfect Recall: Teaching your dog to come back when called every time. Our guide is free to download when you join our email list- sign up here.