Most Common Types of Herding Dogs

Are you interested in getting a herding dog? Maybe you live on a farm and would like to get a herding dog. Maybe you have heard about how trainable, intelligent, and energetic herding dogs are and you would like to have a dog with these characteristics. There are many reasons why people get herding dogs. Even if you don’t have a farm, you may love the idea that your new dog will herd your family. They help to keep them safe. 

Cattle dogs, the black sheep dog, collies, and other ranch dog breeds are known for their herding instincts. With this being said, it is important that you know that their instincts won’t just go away. If they can’t or aren’t able to satisfy their instincts, this could become a problem. As an owner of any one of the best farm dog breeds, you should make sure they are getting enough exercise. You should also keep them mentally stimulated, as well. If you do these two things, you can increase the chances of having a healthy and happy dog. 

You should also know that ranch dog breeds do have a tendency to nip at people’s heels. To keep them from doing this, you should do herding dog training and even dog obedience training with them while they are still a puppy. If you get any one of the ranch dog breeds later in their life, it is never too late to provide them with the training they need. Agility training is usually the best for this type of dog. 

Finally, you should also remember that if you want a low-maintenance dog breed, the ranch dog breeds aren’t for you. They are full of energy, love to run, and love their exercise. If you do choose to get a black sheep dog or another ranch dog breed, train them properly. If you do that, they can become a wonderful member of the family. 

Now that you have this information, you may want to know about the most common types of herding dogs. 

Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog is purebred shaggy dog breed. They have been around for a long time. This dog breed is quite big. They also have long hair. If you are looking for one of the best farm dog breeds that will be playful, the Old English Sheepdog is a great choice. 

Shetland Sheepdog

Are you looking for a medium-sized ranch dog? If so, the Shetland Sheepdog may be right for your family. These dogs are very smart. They are affectionate and full of energy. They are fun to be around, as well. In addition, you will find that the Shetland Sheepdog is talented, obedient, and easy to train. 

Belgian Malinois

When it comes to herding dog training, one of the easiest dogs to train is the Belgian Malinois. These dogs are very smart and confident. They need to be able to run, as they are full of energy. If you can keep this type of dog active, they will make for a great family pet. 

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

You may not have known this, but the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a herding dog. They are easy to train, intelligent, and an ancestor of many of the best farm dog breeds out there. Corgis can live in an apartment, but they also make for great farm dogs, as well. If you get one of these dogs, you do need to make sure they are getting exercise daily. 

Collie

Another one of the best ranch dog breeds is the Collie. These dogs are alert, devoted, and easy to train. It is important to know, however, that these dogs do better when training with one person. 

Australian Cattle Dog

If you really want one of the best farm dog breeds, you must go with the Australian Cattle Dog. These dogs were bred to drive the livestock from one area of the next. A fun fact about these dogs is that they are said to be descendants of the wild dingo. If you get an Australian Cattle Dog, you should know they are smart, athletic, easy to train, and love activities that stimulate their body and mind. 

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are fun to train. They listen very well and they are really smart. In addition, this type of dog breed has been known to be a working dog. They help out on farms and ranches. They have even been helpful in service work, police work, and search and rescues. 

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

You could also get a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. These dogs are affectionate with their owners. They are smart, athletic, have tons of stamina, and happy when they are kept occupied. The one thing about this dog breed is that you can’t let them get bored. If they get bored, they are going to start acting out. 

German Shepherd

You may also want to consider getting a German Shepherd. These dogs were originally bred, so they could help herd sheep on farms. If you are looking to get a dog that is going to be confident, courageous, athletic, and easy to train, you can’t go wrong by getting a German Shepherd. These dogs love to learn and to help out on the farm or ranch. 

Border Collie

A Border Collie is another one of the best farm dog breeds. They are extremely intelligent. They are also full of stamina and very obedient, too. If you want a dog that will help you to herd your sheep, a Border Collie would be up for the job. If you are just looking for a loving companion, this dog breed would be great for that, as well. 

Now that you have a list of the best ranch dog breeds, you can decide which one you would love to have on your ranch, farm, or in your household. 

How to train a herding dog?

If you want to do herding dog training, you will need to be committed. You will start by having your dog on a leash (about 20 to 30 feet in length). You will then walk your dog toward a herd. Make sure you start with a small herd. Use the command - walk-up. Let your dog have enough time, so they can learn how to get around your herd. Give them a treat after they achieve a small portion of this behavior.

What type of dog herds sheep?

There are many types of dogs that herd sheep. Some of the dogs that do this are the Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdogs, Black Sheep Dog, and others.

What dogs are in the herding group?

There are many dogs that are in the herding group. Some of the best farm dog breeds include the Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, German Shepherd, and the Border Collie.

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