Types of shepherd breeds

Whether you own a herd of sheep or not, these dogs are worth your attention.

Did you know that shepherds or sheepdogs come in all shapes and sizes and are often classified as herding dogs by the American Kennel Club? Check out the information below to find out which would be the best dog for you and your family. Plus, take a look at some of the popular training courses we offer online at SpiritDog Training to help shepherd owners tackle common behavioral challenges they face with these highly intelligent breeds. Although not a true herding dog, this independent and ancient breed was developed to guard livestock and protect them against predators. Clever and devoted, Anatolians can be strong-willed and need high fences and lots of supervision.

Types of shepherd breeds

Shepherd dogs are a type of working dog that was bred to herd or protect sheep. They are highly intelligent and have a strong desire to work. Shepherd dogs are also very loyal and protective of their family and property. Dogs have been domesticated for most of human history and have been a delight to many over the years. Stories have been told about brave dogs that served admirably in wars or that risked their lives to save persons in danger. When the Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, following the evacuation, searchers found evidence of a dog lying across a child, apparently trying to protect the youngster. Since dogs have been with humans since prehistoric times, over the years they have been invaluable friends and provided invaluable services to man. Dogs have pulled sleds through the Arctic, delivered messages, herded cattle and sheep and rescued people that have been trapped or lost. There are many different types of shepherd dogs and each of these breeds has its own unique set of characteristics that make it the perfect fit for different people. The Akbash Dog is a beautiful, large white dog that is alert, independent and highly protective. This dog breed is from Turkey and is quite rare. It was bred to be a powerful and relentless livestock guardian; to protect livestock and sheep in the snow. The Akbash Shepherd dog is an amazingly attractive big dog with a pure white-colored coat that helps to camouflage it as it moves amongst the flocks of sheep, and goats, it is responsible for guarding in the snowy terrain of Turkey.

The Bouvier des Flandres is a giant floofball that is content to love its owner, but you need to keep it busy and entertained; otherwise, they can get into trouble.

Up until , the breeds in the Herding Group were part of the Working Group. All Herding breeds share an instinctual ability to control the movement of other animals. These breeds were developed to gather, herd and protect livestock. Today, some like the Belgian Malinois and the German Shepherd Dog are commonly used for police and protection work. The herding instinct in these breeds is so strong that Herding breeds have been known to gently herd their owners, especially the children of the family. In general, these intelligent dogs make excellent companions and respond beautifully to training exercises.

Laura Vinzy. November 21, When you know all the Shepherd dog breeds, it allows you to filter out the most suitable one for your needs. We aim to give you only the relevant and crucial details thathelp you decide. The Anatolian Shepherd is the largest Shepherd dog breed, known for its independence and protective nature.

Types of shepherd breeds

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The elegant, agile Belgian Tervuren is a bright and self-assured herding dog of medium size, know…. The Smooth variety has a short harsh outer coat. Begin training your Belgian Shepherd today with our proven, science-based, online dog training courses here. Leave a comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Rather, they are guard dogs that tend to the animals rather than herd them. Collies are a medium- to large-sized breed that are known both for their wedge-shaped faces and abundance of fur. Shelties were exported from the Shetlands and the breed underwent further refinement. The Belgians love to play until they fall over from exhaustion. Maddie Topliff. Although not a true herding dog, this independent and ancient breed was developed to guard livestock and protect them against predators. Don't look now, but the Belgian Malinois Mal is easily mistaken for the German shepherd. You may not have heard of the Anatolian Shepherd, but it is actually one of the oldest breeds of all time.

Back in the old days, farmers and shepherds faced the challenge of protecting their livestock from danger, especially from larger predators. Different shepherd dog breeds were produced to assist them in guarding flocks of sheep or herds of cattle. Shepherd dogs come in all shapes and sizes, each taking various roles such as guarding and herding animals and even pulling carts.

Captain Max Von Stephanitz, a retired German cavalry officer, at the end of the 19th century to be precise wanted a strong, intelligent working dog. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Briard This large, long-haired breed shares its origins with the Beauceron and like them, are high-energy animals with an unstoppable zest for life. Bergamasco Sheepdogs, most known for their matted mop-like coats, are patient, attentive, and gentle. Long double coat in many colors, including sable and white, black, white and tan, blue merle and white, black and white, among others. Maddie also works as an intern at Principal Financial Corporation and has a year of ad agency experience under her belt, too. They were strong, intimidating and fearless, warding off anything that could harm. They were primarily bred to herd and work on the American frontier among settlers of the west. Bergamasco Sheepdog They may not be as well known as some of the other shepherd breeds, but the Bergamasco Sheepdog has a lot going for it. They need a confident and consistent owner with training experience. Compare Breeds.