Historians have found that the Neolithic man first used dogs for herding animals. The dog’s role changed from the lovely four-legged companion to a helper, protector, and then a side-kick to help herd livestock.
Did You Know?
Scientists have proved that dog DNA has descended from the Gray Wolf.
Sheep, cattle, and geese have been herded since the civilization of man. The larger the herd, the more difficult it got for man to gather and protect them from other wild animals and nature. Man’s oldest four-legged companion came to the rescue with exceptional herding qualities, fierce strength, speed and courage, to ward off its own ancestors. These almost neglected professional working dogs finally got the spotlight in the movie ‘Babe’ in 1995. The unforgettable herding couple ‘Fly’ and ‘Rex’ showed what work on the herding field is like.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Origin: Wales
AKA: Cardigan, CWC, Cardi
Life Span: 12-14 years
Height: Male: 10-13″ Female: 10-13″
Weight: Male: 30-38 lbs Female: 25-33 lbs
Colors: Fawn, sable, red, black and white, black, tan
Temperament: Playful, bold, outgoing, protective, tenacious, friendly
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Origin: Wales
AKA: Pembroke, PWC, Pem, Corgi
Life Span: 12-14 years
Height: Male: 10-12″ Female: 10-12″
Weight: Male: 22-26 lbs Female: 22-24 lbs
Colors: Black and white, red and white, brindle and white, sable and white, blue and merle, white and merle
Temperament: Active, companionable, alert, intelligent, affectionate, devoted
Swedish Vallhund
Origin: Sweden
AKA: —
Life Span: 12-14 years
Height: Male: 13-14″ Female: 12-13″
Weight: Male: 20-31 lbs Female: 20-31 lbs
Colors: Grayish yellow, mahogany, grayish brown, gray
Temperament: Alert, watchful, friendly, energetic, fearless, intelligent
Australian Cattle Dog
Origin: Australia
AKA: ACD, Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler, Red Heeler, Cattle Dog
Life Span: 13-15 years
Height: Male: 18-20″ Female: 17-19″
Weight: Male: 30-35 lbs Female: 30-35 lbs
Colors: Blue mottled, red speckled, red mottled, blue speckled
Temperament: Obedient, protective, energetic, brave, loyal, cautious
Bearded Collie
Origin: Scotland
AKA: Argle Bargle, Mountain Collie Beardie, Highland Collie
Life Span: 14-15 years
Height: Male: 40-60″ Female: 40-60″
Weight: Male: 30- 35 lbs Female: 30- 35 lbs
Colors: Fawn, blue, brown, black, black, tri-color
Temperament: Gentle, friendly, protective, active, loyal, intelligent
Belgian Shepherd Tervuren
Origin: Belgium
AKA: Belgian Tervueren
Life Span: 12-14 years
Height: Male: 24-26″ Female: 22-24″
Weight: Male: 55-60 lbs Female: 44-45 lbs
Colors: Brindle, black, black and cream, fawn and black, mahogany, black
Temperament: Attentive, loyal, intelligent, energetic, protective, alert
Rough Collie
Origin: Scotland
AKA: Lassie Dog, Collie, Scottish Collie, English Collie, Long-haired Collie
Life Span: 14-16 years
Height: Male: 20-22″ Female: 20- 22″
Weight: Male: 44-64 lbs Female: 39-53 lbs
Colors: Tri-color, white, sable merle, blue merle, sable, sable and white
Temperament: Intelligent, protective, loyal, gentle, active, friendly
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Origin: Switzerland
AKA: Entelbuch Mountain Dog, Entlebucher, Entelbucher Cattle Dog
Life Span: 10-15 years
Height: Male: 17-20″ Female: 17-20″
Weight: Male: 44-64 lbs Female: 44-64 lbs
Colors: Tri-color
Temperament: Agile, self-confident, devoted, loyal, intelligent, independent
Finnish Lapphund
Origin: Finland
AKA: Suomenlapinkoira, Lapinkoira
Life Span: 12-14 yrs
Height: Male: 18-20″ Female: 16-9″
Weight: Male: 33-53 lbs Female: 33-53 lbs
Colors: White, black, sable, brown, red, wolf-sable
Temperament: Calm, courageous, friendly, keen, faithful
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Origin: Poland
AKA: Polski Owczarek Nizinny (Polish), PON, PLS
Life Span: 12-15 yrs
Height: Male: 17-20″ Female: 17-19″
Weight: Male: 31-35 lbs Female: 31-35 lbs
Colors: Gray, tri-color, brown, black, beige, black and white
Temperament: Self-confident, agile, perceptive, intelligent, lively, even tempered
Puli
Origin: Hungary
AKA: Hungarian Puli, Pulik
Life Span: 12-16 years
Height: Male: 15-18″ Female: 14-16″
Weight: Male: 29-33 lbs Female: 22-29 lbs
Colors: Silver, white, brown, brindle, black, cream
Temperament: Faithful, intelligent, obedient, agile, energetic, loyal
Pyrenean Shepherd
Origin: Spain and France
AKA: Pyrenees Sheepdog, Petit Berger, Pyr Shep
Life Span: 15-17 yrs
Height: Male: 16-20″ Female: 15-19″
Weight: Male: 44-55 lbs Female: 30-44 lbs
Colors: Blue merle, black, brindle, white, gray, merle, fawn
Temperament: Bossy, clever, dedicated, energetic, watchful, trainable
Shetland Sheepdog
Origin: Scotland
AKA: Miniature Collie, Sheltie
Life Span: 12-13 years
Height: Male: 13-16″ Female: 13-16″
Weight: Male: 13-26 lbs Female: 13-26 lbs
Colors: Tri-color, white, black and tan, blue merle, sable, sable black and white, merle
Temperament: Playful, affectionate, active, gentle, loyal, reserved, trainable, responsive, strong intelligent, alert, lively
Border Collie
Origin: Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland
AKA: Scotch Sheep Dog, Sheepdog
Life Span: 13-16 years
Height: Male: 19-22″ Female:18-21″
Weight: Male: 29-44 lbs Female: 26-42 lbs
Colors: Brindle, blue merle, black, red, gold
Temperament: Alert, energetic, intelligent, responsive, tenacious
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Origin: U.S.A.
AKA: Catahoula Leopard Dog, Catahoula Hog Dog, Catahoula Cur, Catahoula Hound, Leopard Dogs, Leopard Cur
Life Span: 10-14 years
Height: Male: 22-23″ Female:20-24″
Weight: Male: 35-44 lbs Female: 31-39 lbs
Colors: Black, red, brindle, black merle, yellow, red merle
Temperament: Intelligent, loving, energetic, gentle, inquisitive, independent
Beauceron
Origin: France
AKA: French Shorthaired Shepherd, Beauce Shepherd, Berger de Beauce, Bas Rouge (Red Stocking)
Life Span: 10-13 years
Height: Male:26-28″ Female:25-26″
Weight: Male: 70-100 lbs Female: 66-85 lbs
Colors: Tri-color, harlequin, tan, black and rust, black
Temperament: Protective, friendly, calm, intelligent, fearless
Briard
Origin: France
AKA: Berger de Brie, Berger Briard
Life Span: 10-12 years
Height: Male: 23-27″ Female: 22-26″
Weight: Male:60-88 lbs Female: 50-75 lbs
Colors: Black and gray, white, tawny, black and tawny, black, gray
Temperament: Obedient, faithful, fearless, intelligent, protective, loyal
German Shepherd
Origin: Germany
AKA: Alsatian, GSD
Life Span: 7-10 years
Height: Male: 24-26″ Female:22-24″
Weight: Male: 49-88 lbs Female: 49-88 lbs
Colors: Tan with black saddle
Temperament: Kind, good-tempered, outgoing, agile, gentle, intelligent
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Origin: Czechoslovakia
AKA: Československý Vlčák (Czech Republic), Československý Vlčiak (Slovakia)
Life Span: 12-15 years
Height: Male: 24-26″ Female: 24-26″
Weight: Male: 44-57 lbs Female: 44-57 lbs
Colors: Gray, yellow-gray, silver-gray
Temperament: Quick, active, courageous, lively, sociable, fearless
Groenendael
Origin: Belgium
AKA: Belgian Sheepdog Chien de Berger Belge
Life Span: 13-14 years
Height: Male: 24-26″ Female: 22-24″
Weight: Male: 44-55 lbs Female: 44-55 lbs
Colors: Black
Temperament: Loyal, active, affectionate, powerful, dominant, intelligent
So, if you have a herd, irrespective of the size, or just need an active compadre on the field or around the city or home, you can always rely on man’s oldest, most loyal, and loving companion of all time, your pooch. Herding dogs make excellent pets, be it with kids and other pets. They tend to look at family members or livestock as their responsibility, and are protective towards them. However, if you wish to keep them at home, don’t forget that they need a lot of exercise, besides loving care.
