Sheep dog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007) |
A sheepdog is a type of domestic dog whose original purpose was to herd or guard sheep. Sheep dogs are just one category of pastoral dogs. Humans first trained sheep dogs to herd and guard their flocks thousands of years ago. They were able to mold the dogs for the special task of tending sheep and to act on the sound of a whistle or by voice command for the shepherd's advantage.[1][2]
Historically, herding dogs work alongside the Livestock guardian dog who shows no interest in herding. Some breeds such as the Australian Shepherd were valued on the open range for their ability to herd and protect their charges from predators.[3]
Many sheep dogs are now kept as domestic pets or companion dogs. These dogs are very active and intelligent and require both physical and mental exercise which should be considered carefully before purchasing one as a companion dog.
Sheep dog breeds such as Australian Kelpies and Border Collies are also popular for cattle work and cattle dog trials. Australian Cattle Dogs are not used for cattle dog trials, though, as they are primarily a heeling dog.
|
|
[edit] Types of sheep dogs
There are many types of sheep dog, including:
-
-
-
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
-
-
[edit] References
- ^ Hartnagle-Renna, Christine. Herding Dogs: Selection and Training the Working Farm Dog. Kennel Club Books (KCB). pp. 5–7.
- ^ Hartnagle, Jeanne Joy. Herding I, II, III. Canine Training Systems (CTS).
- ^ Hartnagle-Taylor, Jeanne Joy. All About Aussies: The Australian Shepherd From A to Z. Alpine Publishing.
