Herding Dog Breeds

🐑 Full Herding Dog Breeds List

(Includes AKC, FCI, UKC + historical and regional herding breeds)

A

• Aidi

• Altdeutscher Hütehund (Old German Herding Dog – varieties like Tiger, Mitteldeutscher, etc.)

• Anatolian Shepherd Dog (livestock guardian with herding roots)

• Australian Cattle Dog

• Australian Kelpie

• Australian Shepherd

• Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

B

• Bearded Collie

• Beauceron

• Belgian Laekenois

• Belgian Malinois

• Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael)

• Belgian Tervuren

• Bergamasco Sheepdog

• Berger Blanc Suisse (White Swiss Shepherd)

• Berger Picard

• Border Collie

• Bouvier des Flandres

• Briard

• Bucovina Shepherd Dog (LGD with herding roles)

C

• Carea Leonés (Spanish herding breed)

• Catalan Sheepdog (Gos d’Atura Català)

• Collie (Rough)

• Collie (Smooth)

• Croatian Sheepdog

• Cumberland Sheepdog (extinct/heritage Collie-type)

D

• Dutch Shepherd

• Drentse Patrijshond (occasionally used for light herding)

E

• English Shepherd

• Estrela Mountain Dog (guardian but historically assisted with herding)

F

• Finnish Lapphund

• Finnish Spitz (some regional herding use)

• French Shepherds (Berger Français – various types)

G

• Garafian Shepherd

• German Shepherd Dog

• German Spitz (regional herding roles)

• German Coolie (Koolie)

• Greek Shepherd (guardian/herding mix)

H

• Huntaway (New Zealand)

I

• Icelandic Sheepdog

• Indian Shepherd Dog (regional types)

K

• Komondor (guardian primarily, but included in pastoral group)

• Koolie (Australian/German Coolie)

• Kromfohrländer (light farm herding history)

• Kuvasz (guardian, pastoral role)

L

• Lancashire Heeler

• Lapponian Herder

• Lithuanian Hound (farm dog with some herding history)

• Löwchen (not herding despite name – included for clarity)

M

• Maremma Sheepdog (guardian/pastoral breed)

• Miniature American Shepherd

• Mudi

N

• New Zealand Heading Dog

• Norwegian Buhund

• Northern Inuit Dog (modern breed with shepherd ancestry)

O

• Old English Sheepdog

• Old German Shepherd Dog (Altdeutscher Schäferhund)

P

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi

• Pyrenean Mountain Dog (guardian, pastoral group in FCI)

• Pyrenean Shepherd

• Polish Lowland Sheepdog (PON)

• Portuguese Sheepdog (Cão da Serra de Aires)

• Pumi

R

• Rafeiro do Alentejo (guardian but used in pastoral work)

• Rottweiler (originally a cattle-driving dog)

• Romanian Carpathian Shepherd

• Romanian Mioritic Shepherd

• Russian Caucasian Shepherd (guardian role primarily)

S

• Sarplaninac (guardian, but pastoral group)

• Schapendoes (Dutch Sheepdog)

• Scotch Collie (heritage breed)

• Shetland Sheepdog

• Spanish Mastiff (guardian but pastoral)

• Spanish Water Dog (solid herding background)

• Stabyhoun (light herding history)

• Swedish Lapphund

• Swedish Vallhund

T

• Tatra Shepherd Dog (Polish)

• Tibetan Terrier (not a true herding breed but a farm/herding helper)

• Tuvan Shepherd Dog (rare pastoral type)

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🧠 Key Traits of Herding Dogs

Herding dogs share several hallmark traits:

1. Extremely Intelligent

• Often among the smartest dog breeds in the world

• Quick learners

• Excel at training, tricks, and commands

• Problem-solvers

2. High Energy

• Bred to work all day

• Need daily physical and mental stimulation

• Love running, hiking, agility, and dog sports

3. Strong Work Drive

• Thrive on having a job

• Love structured activities

• May become unhappy or bored without tasks

4. Natural Herding Instincts

• Will “gather,” “drive,” or “heel” livestock

• May try herding kids, other family dogs, or even bicycles

• Some use the “eye” (Border Collie), others use bark or motion

5. Loyal & Bonded

• Attach strongly to their family

• Typically protective (but not aggressive)

• Often velcro-like companionship

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🧩 Mental Stimulation Needs

Herding dogs need lots of “brain work,” like:

• Agility courses

• Fetch and Frisbee

• Puzzle toys

• Trick training

• Herding trials

• Scent work

• Obedience sports

They become destructive if bored.