A sheep dog or sheepdog is generally a

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

or breed of dogs historically used in connection with the raising of

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...

. These include livestock guardian dogs used to guard sheep and other livestock and

herding dogs Herding is the act of bringing individual animals together into a group ( herd), maintaining the group, and moving the group from place to place—or any combination of those. Herding can refer either to the process of animals forming herds i ...

used to move, manage and control sheep and other livestock.

Herding breeds

Australian Cattle Dog The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD), or simply Cattle Dog, is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances across rough terrain. This breed is a medium-sized, short-coated dog that occurs in two m ...

Australian Kelpie The Australian Kelpie, or simply Kelpie, is an Australian sheepdog capable of mustering and droving with little or no guidance. It is a medium-sized dog and comes in a variety of colours. The Kelpie has been exported throughout the world and is ...

Australian Shepherd The Australian Shepherd is a breed of herding dog from the United States. The name of the breed is technically a misnomer, as it was developed in California in the 19th century; the breed was unknown in Australia at the time. It is claimed that A ...

* Basque Shepherd Dog *

Beauceron The Beauceron is a herding dog breed originating from the plains of Central France. The Beauceron is also known as Berger de Beauce (sheepdog from Beauce) or Bas Rouge (red-stockings). History A French herding breed known for centuries in west ...

* Belgian Shepherds ** Groenendael ** Laekenois ** Malinois **

Tervuren Tervuren () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636. The total a ...

* Bergamasco Shepherd *

Berger Blanc Suisse The White Swiss Shepherd Dog or (german: link=no, Weisser Schweizer Schäferhund, it, Pastore Svizzero Bianco) is a Swiss breed of shepherd dog. It descends from North American White Shepherds imported to Switzerland; the White Shepherd itself ...

Bouvier des Flandres The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders, Belgium. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs, as well a ...

* Bohemian shepherd *

Briard The Briard or is a French breed of large shepherd dog, traditionally used both for herding sheep and to defend them. It was first shown at the first Paris dog show, in 1863; the first Briard to be registered in the ''Livre des Origines Franç ...

Can de Chira The Can de Chira (also known as the perro pastor altoaragonés) is a breed of herding dog from the High Aragon region of Spain. Accounts of similar dogs used by Spanish graziers to herd sheep and cattle (in Aragonese "Can de Chira" literally it ...

Caucasian Shepherd The Caucasian Shepherd Dog or Caucasian Ovcharka is a large livestock guardian dog native to the countries of the Caucasus region, notably Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ossetia, and Dagestan. It was developed in the Soviet Union from about 192 ...

Can de Palleiro The Can de Palleiro is a traditional Spanish dog breed, breed of shepherd dog from the Autonomous provinces of Spain, autonomous province of Galicia (Spain), Galicia in north-western Spain. It was recognised by royal decree in 2001, and the stud ...

Cão da Serra de Aires The Portuguese Sheepdog ( pt, cão da Serra de Aires, literally 'dog of Serra de Aires') is a medium-sized breed of dog of the herding dog type, and is one of the indigenous regional dogs of Portugal. The Portuguese name refers to Serra de Aires, ...

* Carea Castellano Manchego *

Carea Leonés The Carea Leonés ( English: Leonese Sheepdog) is a breed of herding dog from León, Castile and León, Spain (Europe), and is used as a sheepdog. For centuries, they tended flocks of Churra (sheep) in the mountains of the historical region of ...

Canaan Dog The Canaan Dog is the oldest breed of pariah dog still existing and abundant across the Middle East. It can be found in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula, and these, or dogs nearly identical, were also found in Iraq and S ...

Catahoula Leopard Dog The Catahoula Leopard Dog is an American dog breed named after Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. It became the state dog of Louisiana in 1979. It is recognized by the United Kennel Club under the name ''Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog'', while the Ame ...

Catalan Sheepdog The Catalan Sheepdog ( ca, Gos d'atura català, es, Pastor catalán) is a breed of Catalan Pyrenean dog used as a sheepdog. This dog is bred in Europe, especially in Spain, Finland, Germany, and Sweden. Appearance Catalan sheepdogs rang ...

Chiribaya Dog The Chiribaya Dog ( es, perro Chiribaya) or Peruvian Shepherd Dog (') is an extinct pre-Columbian breed of dog from the southwest of Peru. It has been established that it was a llama herding dog. The dogs were not only an important part of the ...

* Collies **

Bearded Collie The Bearded Collie, or Beardie, is a herding breed of dog once used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a popular family companion. Bearded Collies have an average weight of . Males are around tall at the withers while females are ...

Border Collie The Border Collie is a Scottish breed of herding dog of medium size. Widely considered to be the most intelligent dog breed, they are descended from landrace sheepdogs once found all over the British Isles, but became standardised in the Angl ...

Rough Collie The Rough Collie (also known as the Long-Haired Collie) is a long-coated dog breed of medium to large size that, in its original form, was a type of collie used and bred for herding sheep in Scotland. More recent breeding has focused on the Co ...

** Scotch Collie **

Smooth Collie The Smooth Collie is a breed of dog developed originally for herding. It is a short-coated version of the Rough Collie of Lassie fame. Some breed organisations consider the smooth-coat and rough-coat dogs to be variations of the same breed. ...

Welsh Sheepdog The Welsh Sheepdog ( cy, Ci Defaid Cymreig, ) is a Welsh breed of herding dog of medium size from Wales. Like other types of working dog, Welsh Sheepdogs are normally bred for their herding abilities rather than appearance, and so they are gene ...

Croatian Sheepdog The Croatian Sheepdog is a dog breed from Croatia. Description Appearance The Croatian sheepdog is of low to medium height and the base color is always black, although there may be very small patches of white on its chest and/or toes. A chara ...

Cumberland Sheepdog Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 1974 ...

* Dutch Shepherd * English Shepherd *

Finnish Lapphund The Finnish Lapphund (or Finnish Lapponian Dog) – fi, Suomen Lapinkoira– is a hardy, easy going, medium-size dog breed, breed of Spitz type. Traditionally it has been used for herding reindeer. Although it is one of the most popular dog b ...

Garafian Shepherd The Pastor Garafiano is a Spanish breed of sheep dog native to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. The name comes from the comarca of Garafía, in the north of the island, where the breed was most common, although specimens can be fou ...

German Shepherd The German Shepherd or Alsatian is a German breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various traditional German herding dogs from 1899. It was originally bred as a herding dog, for he ...

* Gaucho sheepdog *

Huntaway The Huntaway (also known as the New Zealand Huntaway) is a large, strongly-built breed of dog used for general sheep-herding tasks in New Zealand, where they originate. They were bred to use their loud, deep bark to drive sheep. The breed dates ...

Icelandic Sheepdog The Icelandic Sheepdog, is, Íslenskur Fjárhundur, is an Icelandic breed of dog of Nordic Spitz type. It derives from dogs brought to Iceland by Viking settlers in the ninth century; it is both similar and closely related to the Buhund of N ...

Koolie The Koolie (also known as the Australian Koolie or by the historic misnomer "German Coolie") is an Australian dog breed. The Koolie is a working or herding dog which has existed in Australia since the early 19th century when it was bred fro ...

Komondor The Komondor (), also known as the Hungarian sheepdog, is a large, white-coloured Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog with a long, corded coat. Sometimes referred to as 'mop dogs', the Komondor is a long-established dog breed commonly e ...

Lancashire Heeler The Lancashire Heeler is a small breed of dog developed for use as a drover and herder of cattle. The Lancashire Heeler is listed by the Kennel Club (UK) as an endangered breed. Description Appearance The coat is harsh and smooth with a ...

Lapponian Herder The Lapponian Herder (Lapinporokoira or Lapp Reindeer Dog or Lapsk Vallhund) is a breed of dog from Finland, one of three Lapphund breeds developed from a type of dog used by the Sami people for herding and guarding their reindeer. Appearanc ...

* Magellan sheep dog * McNab * Miniature American Shepherd *

Mudi The Mudi is a herding dog breed from Hungary. It is closely related to the Puli and Pumi, from which it was separated in the 1930s. They continue to be used in herding, as well as participating in a variety of dog sports. History The ...

New Zealand Heading Dog The New Zealand Heading Dog is a working and herding dog that uses its visual prowess, intelligence and quick movement to control sheep. Bred from Border Collies, Heading Dogs are a sturdy, long-legged and even-haired breed. They are generally bla ...

Norwegian Buhund The Norwegian Buhund ( no, Norsk buhund) is a breed of dog of the spitz type. It is closely related to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Jämthund. The Buhund is used as a watch dog and an all purpose farm and herding dog A herding dog, a ...

Old English Sheepdog The Old English Sheepdog is a large breed of dog that emerged in England from early types of herding dog. Obsolete names for the breed include Shepherd's Dog and . The nickname ''Bob-tail'' (or ''Bobtail'') originates from how dogs of the breed ...

Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai The Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai is an old Italian dog breed from the northeastern region called Triveneto. It is not recognized by any major kennel organisation. Origin In 2018, a genetic study found that just prior to 1859 a broadly ...

Picardy Shepherd The Berger Picard (, ) or Picardy Shepherd, is a French herding dog originating in Picardy. These dogs nearly became extinct after both World War I and World War II and remain a rare breed. Appearance The Berger Picard is a medium-sized, ...

Polish Lowland Sheepdog The Polish Lowland Sheepdog ( pl, Polski Owczarek Nizinny, also PON), is a medium-sized, shaggy-coated, sheep dog breed native to Poland. Description Appearance The PON is a muscular, thick-coated dog. The double coat can be of any color or ...

* Polish Tatra Sheepdog * Portuguese Sheepdog *

Puli dog The Puli is a small-medium breed of Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat appear similar to dreadlocks. A similar-looking, but much larger breed – also Hungarian – is the ...

* Pumi *

Pyrenean Shepherd The Pyrenean Sheepdog, the Chien de Berger des Pyrénées in French, is a small to medium-sized breed of herding dog from the Pyrenees Mountains region of France. It is found herding flocks of sheep throughout the Pyrenees alongside the much larger ...

Rottweiler The Rottweiler (, ) is a breed of domestic dog, regarded as medium-to-large or large. The dogs were known in German as , meaning Rottweil butchers' dogs, because their main use was to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered mea ...

* Slovak Cuvac *

Tornjak The Tornjak (), is a breed of livestock guardian dog native to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The name comes from the local word for a sheep pen, "". The foundation stock is made up from genetically homogeneous landrace shepherding dogs disp ...

Schapendoes The Schapendoes () or Dutch Sheepdog, is a breed of dog originating in the Netherlands. The Schapendoes was originally a herding dog and general farm dog, but today also participates in dog sports such as agility and flyball. History The Schape ...

Schipperke A Schipperke (; ) is a small breed of dog that originated since the 1600s in Belgium. There has been a long informal debate over whether this type of dog is a spitz or miniature sheepdog. In their home country of Belgium they are considered a sm ...

Shetland Sheepdog The Shetland Sheepdog, often known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. The original name was ''Shetland Collie,'' but this caused controversy amongst Rough Collie breeders of the time, s ...

* Smithfield * Swedish Lapphund *

Swedish Vallhund The Swedish Vallhund, also known as the ''Västgötaspets'' and Swedish cow dog, is a Dog breed, breed of dog native to Sweden. The breed's name, ''Vallhund'', when translated into English, means herding dog, as the Swedish Vallhund was origi ...

* Welsh Corgis: **

Cardigan Welsh Corgi The Cardigan Welsh Corgi (; Welsh for "dwarf dog") is one of two separate dog breeds known as Welsh Corgis that originated in Wales; the other is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. It is one of the oldest breeds of the British Isles. Cardigan Welsh C ...

Pembroke Welsh Corgi The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (; Welsh for "dwarf dog") is a cattle herding dog breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is one of two breeds known as a Welsh Corgi. Pembroke Welsh Corgis descended from the Spitz family of dogs. The other i ...

Livestock guardian dog breeds

Aidi The Aidi () is a Berber dog breed native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa and is used as a livestock guardian, protecting herds of sheep and goats. It is most commonly found in Morocco, which holds the standard under the Fédération Cyno ...

* Akbash dog *

Aksaray Malaklisi The Aksaray Malaklısı or Malaklı Karabaş is a Turkish breed of large livestock guardian dog, from the Aksaray Province in Central Anatolia. History The Aksaray Malaklısı originates in, and is named for, the Aksaray Province in Central An ...

* Armenian Gampr *Ashayeri Dog *Azerbaijani Shepherd Dog * Bakharwal dog * Bucovina Shepherd *Buryat-Mongolian Wolfhound *Cane di Mannara *

Cão de Castro Laboreiro The Castro Laboreiro Dog ( pt, cão de Castro Laboreiro, 'dog of Castro Laboreiro'), also known as the Portuguese cattle dog or Portuguese watchdog, is a dog breed of the livestock guardian type, originating from Castro Laboreiro in the norther ...

Cão de Gado Transmontano The or Transmontano Mastiff is a breed of livestock guardian dog from Portugal. It originates in the historical province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro in north-eastern Portugal, and is a rare breed confined mostly to this area. History The ...

Carpathian Shepherd Dog The Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog ( ro, Ciobănesc Românesc Carpatin) is a large breed of livestock guardian dogs that originated in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. History In March 1998, a group of fans of the Carpathian Shepherd Dog f ...

Caucasian Shepherd Dog The Caucasian Shepherd Dog or Caucasian Ovcharka is a large livestock guardian dog native to the countries of the Caucasus region, notably Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ossetia, and Dagestan. It was developed in the Soviet Union from about 192 ...

Central Asian Shepherd Dog The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabay, Alabai ( kz, Төбет , lang-tk, Alabaý ) and Volkodav, is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as well as to protect a ...

Estrela Mountain Dog The Estrela Mountain Dog ( pt, cão da Serra da Estrela) is a large breed of dog from the Estrela Mountains of Portugal bred to guard herds and homesteads. It is "one of the oldest breeds in the Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Penin ...

* Georgian Shepherd *Ghadrejani dog *

Great Pyrenees The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (french: Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées) is a breed of livestock guardian dog from France, where it is commonly called the Patou. The breed comes from the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France an ...

Greek Shepherd The Greek Shepherd or Greek Sheepdog (Greek: Ελληνικός Ποιμενικός, ''Ellinikós Pimenikós'') is a breed of livestock guardian dog from Greece. Thought to be ancient in origin, the Greek Shepherd is very closely related to live ...

Himalayan Sheepdog The Himalayan Sheepdog, known locally by various names including the Bhote, Bangara or Gaddi Kutta, and sometimes called the Himalayan Mastiff, is a Dog breed, breed of livestock guardian dog from the Himalayas, covering India. The Himalayan S ...

* Kangal Shepherd *

Karakachan The Sarakatsani ( el, Σαρακατσάνοι, also written Karakachani, bg, каракачани) are an ethnic Greek population subgroup who were traditionally transhumant shepherds, native to Greece, with a smaller presence in neighbouring ...

Kars Kars (; ku, Qers; ) is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. Its population is 73,836 in 2011. Kars was in the ancient region known as ''Chorzene'', (in Greek Χορζηνή) in classical historiography ( Strabo), part of ...

* Karst Shepherd *

* Koyun dog *

Kuchi Kochis or Kuchis (Pashto: کوچۍ Kuchis) are pastoral nomads belonging primarily to the Ghilji Pashtuns. In the southern, western and northern regions of Afghanistan they are also referred to at times as maldar (Pashto: مالدار maldar, ...

Kuvasz The Kuvasz is a traditional Hungarian breed of flock guardian dog. Mention of the breed can be found in old Hungarian texts. They have historically been royal guard dogs, or guarded livestock, but have been increasingly found in homes as pets ...

Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog The Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, ( it, ), also called Maremmano, the Maremma Sheepdog or Abruzzese Sheepdog, and Cane da Pastore Abruzzese or Pastore Abruzzese (''Abruzzese Sheepdog'' and ''Abruzzese Shepherd'', respectively) is an Italian ...

*Mazandrani dog * Mioritic Shepherd *Mongolian banhar *Mucuchies * Persian Mastiff * Polish Tatra Sheepdog * Pshdar dog *

Pyrenean Mastiff The Pyrenean Mastiff or Mastín del Pirineo is a Spanish breed of large livestock guardian dog from the autonomous community of Aragón in north-eastern Spain. It was traditionally used to protect flocks during the annual transhumance to high sum ...

Rafeiro do Alentejo The is a Portuguese breed of livestock guardian dog. It is named for its area of origin, the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. It is recognised by the Clube Português de Canicultura, and was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynolo ...

* Romanian Raven Shepherd Dog * Sardinian Shepherd Dog *

Šarplaninac The Šarplaninac ( sr-Cyrl, Шарпланинац; mk, Шарпланинец; sq, Qeni i Sharrit), formerly also known as Illyrian Shepherd Dog (Macedonian and Serbian: Илирски Овчар, Ilirski Ovčar; sq, Deltari Ilir), is a do ...

* Shirak Sheepdog * Slovak Cuvac *

Spanish Mastiff The Spanish Mastiff or Mastín Español is a breed of dog from Spain, originally bred to be a guard dog and whose specialized purpose is to be a livestock guardian dog protecting flocks and/or herds from wolves and other predators. Historical ...

* Tibetan kyi apso *

Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff ( bo, འདོགས་ཁྱི, THL: , Wylie: ) * Nepali: * Mongolian: * Hindi/ Garhwali/ Kumaoni: * Kashmiri: * Ladakhi: * Dzongkha: is a large size Tibetan dog breed. Its double coat is medium to long, subject t ...

Tobet The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabay, Alabai ( kz, Төбет , lang-tk, Alabaý ) and Volkodav, is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as well as to protect a ...

* Torkuz *

* Vikhan Sheepdog

References

Dog roles Human–animal communication Working dogs Sheep farming {{Dog-stub

Herding breeds

Livestock guardian dog breeds

See also

References