The Herding Dogs: Did Your Dog's Ancestors Have a Job

Unemployment Among Herding Dogs Could Be a Problem.
It's easy to guess why German Shepherds were originally bred: To herd sheep and other livestock. Other dogs originally bred for bossing the livestock around are the Shetland Sheepdog, the Australian Shepherd, and the Australian Cattle Dog. And of course, the beloved Collie dog, including the Bearded Collie and the Border Collie. But that's not all: the American Kennel Club recognizes 22 breeds as belonging to the herding group.

The herding dogs were bred to have high energy and high agility, and they have those traits to this day.­They do not respond well to unemployment; they need a job to do to be happy. They are task oriented and extremely teachable. They excel at obedience, which is why training them is so rewarding. Whether you need a guard dog . . . Read more . . .