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Sheepdogs are known by different names; sheepdogs, sheepdogs and sheepdogs. The American Kennel Club used to include all herding dogs in the Working Dog group, but in 1983 they created a new group because they found that these dogs “share an instinctive ability to control the movement of other animals.” That’s what these dogs do best! In the list below, we will detail 11 types of sheepdogs that come from all over the world!
On farms and ranches, these dogs play an important role in maintaining the care of the sheep, cattle and other livestock. Some breeds herd from behind and drive the herd from back to front. Other breeds tend to lead the pack from the front and cast a stern eye on anyone who steps out of line. Some breeds are watchdogs who treat the herd as their pack and protect them with strength. These are usually larger dog breeds that can withstand extreme weather conditions. The AKC recognizes 31 breeds in the Herding Group, including the popular border collie, Collie and Corgi, but we’ll look at 11 that officially have “shepherd” or “sheepdog” in their title.
1. German Shepherd
These may be the first dogs that come to mind when you think of shepherds. They are often trained to be police dogs or military dogs because of their intelligence and loyalty, but they were originally bred as… sheep shepherds. A German officer, Captain Max von Stephanitz, was determined to breed the best German Shepherd and began developing this breed in the 1800s. They have grown into a versatile dog that still has the herding instincts for which it was originally bred. are german shepherds big dogs weighing 50-90lbs and growing up to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. They have a coarse coat with the most common color being rust with a black face and back.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding sheep, police dogs, military dogs
Make Good Pets: Yes! They are very loyal and easy to train.
2. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds, or Aussies, aren’t actually from Australia! A group of shepherds originally from Europe, the Basques, spent some time on land in Australia. While there, they bred their dogs with other imported European dogs such as border collies. Then they moved to California where they took their new breeds, which Californians took an interest in and further refined the breed on what we now know as the Australia Shepherd. Their popularity lies in their trainability and agility.
Known as great cowboy dogs, they continue to herd sheep, cattle and other livestock to this day. They are also used at rodeos and as therapy dogs. Aussies are a medium sized dog and some have a unique coat called a merle which is a base color with spots of a multicolored blue-gray or reddish tinge. Aussies can have different colored eyes too! They can grow to 40-65 pounds and are about 23 inches tall.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: herding sheep, herding cattle, service dogtherapy dog rodeo worker
Make Good Pets: Yes!
3. Pyrenean Shepherd
The Pyrenean Shepherd comes from the mountainous region of the Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. these hats dogs are still at work in the mountains of that area today. Two of these dogs can manage a flock of 1000 sheep together! They are smaller than a border collie who weighs between 15-30 pounds, but are fast and strong. There are two different types of coats, one that looks like they are having a bad hair day and another with shorter hair that is better cared for. The “rough faces” have a coarser coat and the “smooth faces” have finer hair that comes in a variety of colors.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding sheep
Make Good Pets: Yes!
4. Anatolian Shepherd
These dogs are a large breed of herd guard dogs. They are not as used to herding the flock as they are to guarding and protecting the flock from predators and with a 150lb dog they are good at it. Anatolians are an ancient breed from an area in southwestern Asia. The climate of this area included extremes with dry hot summers and frigid winters, so these dogs were known to be extremely hardy. They have a double coat that is light brown in color with a black muzzle and ears. They are focused protectors, so they make good watchdogs. They are very loyal as pets, but be prepared for a reserved dog.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herdguard (sheep, goats, flame, etc.)
Making good pets: maybe. They are very loyal, but more reserved.
5. Miniature American Shepherd
This is a smaller version of the Australian Shepherd but when you see the word miniature don’t think of a 12 inch 12 pound miniature poodle. Miniature American Shepherds are 13-18 inches tall and can weigh as much as 40 lbs, ranging from 20-40 lbs. Dog enough to get a herd of sheep under control! They are still used to herding sheep and goats and also make great companions, they are affectionate, get along well with children and other dogs. Their coats are similar to the Australian Shepherd with longer coats that come in a variety of colors including the unique blue merle and red merle.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding (sheep and goats)
Make Good Pets: Yes! Great with kids and other dogs.
That’s the list of dogs with “Shepherd” in their names; let’s take a look at the “Sheepdog” breeds!
6. Shetland Sheepdog
Shelties come from the Scottish Shetland Islands and have made their way to many farms, ranches and homes across the US. They look a lot like a collie but are smaller and weigh 15-25 lbs. Shelties were originally called Shetland Collies, but their name was changed to Shetland sheepdog in the early 1900s. They are still used today for herding sheep, but also make great canine sport dogs, taking part in agility and obedience competitions.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding (sheep and goats), service dogs
Make Good Pets: Yes! Great with children and other dogs, loves training and competitions.
7. Old English Sheepdog
Think of the Disney movie “The Shaggy Dog” staring a beloved old English sheepdog. The original movie came out in 1959 with a remake in 2006 featuring another Old English Sheepdog and Tim Allen. Both versions emphasize the comedic antics of these giant fluffy dogs. English Sheepdogs can grow to be 100 pounds, although they are usually 60-80 pounds. They have long fur all over their bodies and it even covers their eyes, but this doesn’t seem to interfere with their work on the land.
The original Old English sheepdogs were used as “cattle drivers”, meaning they would drive a herd of sheep or cattle to market. Today there are so few Old English Sheepdogs left that they are at risk of extinction. They are on the Kennel Clubs watch list because they are afraid that in 2019 only 98 puppies registered in the first quarter. The hope is that their popularity will be revived to bring their numbers up to acceptable levels.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: “Drovers”, herding sheep and cattle, no more working dogs, mainly pets
Make Good Pets: Yes!
8. Belgian Shepherd Dog
The Belgian Sheepdog was originally bred in Belgium where they are famous for their milk chocolate, so there were many cattle ranches that needed the help of these hard-working dogs. Now these dogs are often used as police dogs, border patrol dogs and service dogs. They are known to be workaholics, so pet owners need to keep them active and engaged. Belgians have nice long black coats and pointy ears. They have a medium build with the males weighing 45-75lbs and 22-26 inches tall.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Were herdsmen, now police dogs, border patrols and service dogs
Provide good pets: Yes, for the right owner who can keep them active.
9. Bergamasco Sheepdog
These dogs are not from Jamaica even though they appear to be covered in dreadlocks! Their unique coats, a “flaked” coat, are a combination of three hair types intertwined. These are very warm coats that helped these dogs stay warm in the Italian Alps they come from. It is a large dog ranging in size from 55-85 pounds and growing to 23.5 inches tall. They were bred to herd and guard sheep in the Alps, but are now mainly kept as pets.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: herding sheep and herding flocks, now companion animals
Make Good Pets: Yes!
10. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs look a lot like a miniature Old English Sheepdog. They are shaggy dogs with fur covering their eyes, but they are much smaller, ranging from 30-50 pounds. They were bred in Poland to help herd the sheep, while larger breeds were put in charge of the flock. There is a Polish legend about an honored Polish Sheepdog, Psyche, who could sense when air raids were coming and she barked to warn people so they could go to shelters. Today, these dogs make good shaggy pets!
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding sheep, now companion animals
Make Good Pets: Yes!
11. Icelandic Sheepdog
As the name suggests, this breed hails from Iceland and is actually their only native breed. These dogs are “spitz dogs” with a thick coat, pointy ears, and a tail that curls over its back. They are one of the smallest dogs on our list with a weight between 25-30 lbs and a height of 16.6-18 inches. They were bred to herd and guard sheep, cattle and livestock horses. There are still working sheepdogs in Iceland, but they are also a popular pet because of their easy trainability and friendly demeanor.
AKC Breed: Herding Group
Type of work: Herding and herding (sheep, cattle, horses)
Make Good Pets: Yes!
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