A sheep dog or sheepdog is generally a

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the gray wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred from a population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. ...

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

sheep Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal 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 d ...

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

herding dogs A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of dog that either has been trained in herding livestock or belongs to one of the breeds that were developed for herding. A dog specifically trained to herd sheep is known as ...

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

Fédération Cynologique Internationale The (; FCI; ) is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries. The FCI is based in Thuin, Belgium and has 98 members and contract partners (one from each country). History The FCI was founded in 1911 un ...

has grouped Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) in Group 1.FCI breeds nomenclature
FCI

Herding breeds

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

Australian Kelpie The Australian Kelpie, or simply Kelpie, is an Australia, Australian Herding dog, sheepdog capable of Muster (livestock), mustering and droving with little or no guidance. It is a medium-sized dog and comes in a variety of colours. The Kelpie ha ...

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. It is believed to have its origins in sheepdog breeds from northwe ...

* 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). Description Appearance This breed stands in height ...

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

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

* Bergamasco Shepherd * Berger Blanc Suisse *

Bouvier des Flandres The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog dog breed, breed originating in Flanders, Belgium. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle Drover (Australian), droving, Livestock guardian dog, sheep herding, and dogcart (dog-dr ...

Briard The Briard () or (; plural: ''Bergers de Brie'') 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 ...

Can de Chira The Can de Chira or is a Spanish list of dog breeds, breed of herding dog from the mountainous Alto Aragon region in the northern part of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, in north-eastern Spain. Accounts of ...

* *

Can de Palleiro The Can de Palleiro is a traditional Spanish breed of shepherd dog from the autonomous community of Galicia in north-western Spain. It was recognised by royal decree in 2001, and the stud-book was established in the same year. It is named afte ...

Cão da Serra de Aires The Portuguese Sheepdog (, 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, a mountain near Montforte ...

Carea Castellano Manchego This list of dog breeds includes both extant and extinct dog breeds, varieties and types. A research article on dog genomics published in Science/AAAS defines modern dog breeds as "a recent invention defined by conformation to a physical ideal ...

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 a dog breed developed in the early 20th century from semiwild pariah dogs that were the descendants of animals present in the region since biblical times. It is the national dog of Israel and can be found in Israel, Jordan, L ...

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 (, ) is a Spanish breed of herding dog. It originated in valleys and foothills of the Pyrenees of Catalonia, but has spread throughout Catalonia and much of Spain; there are breed societies in Finland, France, Germany and H ...

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

* Collies **

Bearded Collie The Bearded Collie or Beardie is a British breed of herding dog of collie type. It was formerly used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now commonly kept as a family companion. Weights are usually in the range , while height at the withers ...

Border Collie The Border Collie is a British list of dog breeds, breed of herding dog of the collie type of medium size. It originates in the region of the Anglo-Scottish border, and descends from the traditional Sheep dog, sheepdogs once found all over the ...

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 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 dog, herding sheep in Scotland. More recent breeding has focus ...

Smooth Collie The Smooth Collie is a dog breed, 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 sa ...

Welsh Sheepdog The Welsh Sheepdog (, ) is a 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 generally somewhat variable in bui ...

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 * Dutch Shepherd *

English Shepherd The English Shepherd is a breed of herding dog from the United States. Description The English Shepherd is a medium-sized breed of dog, it weighs between and stands between , males are typically larger than females. The breed has a long, strai ...

Finnish Lapphund The Finnish Lapphund (or Finnish Lapponian Dog) ( ) 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 breeds in its native count ...

* Garafian Shepherd *

German Shepherd The German Shepherd, also known in Britain as an Alsatian, is a German Dog breed, breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various Old German herding dogs, traditional German herding dog ...

Gaucho sheepdog The Gaucho Sheepdog () is a dog breed that originated in the Pampas, Brazil.Huntaway *

Icelandic Sheepdog The Icelandic Sheepdog (, ), is an Icelandic dog breed, breed of dog of spitz, Nordic Spitz Dog type, 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 *

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. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2024. De ...

Lapponian Herder The Lapponian Herder ( Finnish: ''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 reindee ...

* Magellan sheep dog * McNab * Miniature American Shepherd * Mudi *

New Zealand Heading Dog The New Zealand Heading Dog is a New Zealand list of dog breeds, breed of working and herding dog derived from the Border Collie. The dogs are sturdy, long-legged and even-haired, and use their visual prowess, intelligence and quick movement to c ...

Norwegian Buhund The Norwegian 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. Description General appearance The ...

* Old English Sheepdog * Pastore della Lessinia e del Lagorai * Picardy Shepherd * Polish Lowland Sheepdog *

Polish Tatra Sheepdog The Tatra Shepherd Dog () is a Polish dog breed, breed of large flock guardian dog originating in the Tatra Mountains of the Podhale region of southern Poland. It was fully recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1963. It is ...

* Portuguese Sheepdog * Puli dog * Pumi *

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

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 * Schapendoes * Schipperke *

Shetland Sheepdog The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It was formally recognized by the Kennel Club in 1909. It was originally called the ''Shetland Collie'', but this c ...

Small Međimurje Dog The Small Međimurje Dog, also known as Međi, or locally well known as Štakoraš ("Ratter"), is a breed of dog native to Croatia. It has been bred for over a hundred years in northwestern Croatia, in Međimurje area mostly. It is found in rural y ...

* 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 language, Welsh for "dwarf dog") is one of two different varieties of livestock-herding dogs, herding dog breeds known as Welsh Corgi, Welsh corgis (originating in Wales), with the other being the Pembroke Welsh ...

Pembroke Welsh Corgi The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (; Welsh for "dwarf dog") is a cattle herding dog breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name ''Corgi'' is of Welsh origin, and is a compound of the words and (mutated to ), meaning "dwarf" and "dog", r ...

Livestock guardian dog breeds

* Aidi * Akbash dog * Aksaray Malaklisi *

Anatolian Shepherd The Kangal Shepherd Dog () is a traditional Turkish breed of large livestock guardian dog. The breed name derives from that of the town and district of Kangal in Sivas Province, the easternmost province of the Central Anatolia Region in cent ...

* Armenian Gampr *

Bakharwal dog The Bakharwal dog is a livestock guardian dog found in northern India including Jammu and Kashmir. It is an ancient working dog, working Kashmiri dog breeds, Kashmiri dog breed found in Ladakh and across the Pir Panjal Range of Jammu and Kashmir ...

* Bucovina Shepherd *

Cão de Castro Laboreiro The Castro Laboreiro Dog (, '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 northern mountains of Portugal. His ...

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 Th ...

* Carpathian Shepherd Dog *

Caucasian Shepherd Dog The Caucasian Shepherd Dog or Caucasian Ovcharka is a large livestock guardian dog native to the Caucasus region, notably Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Dagestan. It was bred in the Soviet Union from about 1920 from dogs of the Caucasus M ...

Central Asian Shepherd Dog The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabay, Alabai (, ) and Turkmen Wolf-Hound (Туркменский волкодав), is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as w ...

Estrela Mountain Dog The Estrela Mountain Dog () is a large dog breed, breed of dog from the Serra da Estrela, Estrela Mountains of Portugal. They are a livestock guardian dog bred to Livestock guardian dog, guard herds and homesteads and also kept as a family ...

* Georgian Shepherd *

Great Pyrenees The Pyrenean Mountain Dog or is a French breed of livestock guardian dog; in France it is commonly called the Patou. It originates from the eastern or French side of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France and Spain and is recognised as a ...

* Greek Shepherd *

Gurdbasar Gurdbasar or Azerbaijani wolfhound is a livestock guardian dog breed of Azerbaijan. It is mainly used in sheep farming for management of the sheep flock. Spreading This breed is mainly spread in the territory of Azerbaijan and was formed her ...

* Himalayan Sheepdog * Kangal Shepherd * Karakachan *

Kars Kars ( or ; ; ) is a city in northeast Turkey. It is the seat of Kars Province and Kars District.� ...

* Karst Shepherd * Komondor * Koyun dog * Kuchi * Kuvasz * Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog * Mioritic Shepherd * Persian Mastiff *

* 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 ...

Rafeiro do Alentejo The or Rafeiro Alentejano is a Portuguese breed of flock 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 ...

* Romanian Raven Shepherd Dog * Sardinian Shepherd Dog *

Šarplaninac The Šarplaninac or Sharr dog is a breed of dog of livestock guardian type. It is named for the Šar Mountains or Šar Planina range in the Balkans, where it is principally found. It was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internatio ...

* 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. Historica ...

* Tibetan kyi apso *

Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff is a large Tibetan dog breeds, Tibetan dog breed. Its double coat is medium to long, subject to climate, and found in a wide variety of colors, including solid black, black and tan, various shades of red (from pale gold to deep ...

* Tobet * Tornjak * Vikhan Sheepdog

References

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

Herding breeds

Livestock guardian dog breeds

See also

References