Herding dog breeds: Origin, characteristics
Herding dogs are a breed of dog related to livestock, originating from European countries. With superior physical strength and personality, this adorable dog breed is very popular with dog lovers around the world. Let’s find out with Dogbreed what makes this dog breed so popular!
History of Herding Dogs
Around 4,000 years ago, evidence suggests that domesticated dogs served as herding animals for Shepherds’ flocks of sheep and goats. Herding dogs have been recorded in Iceland since the 13th century. In the 1570s, Caius, in his writing on “Englishe Dogges,” discussed the role of herding dogs for shepherd in England. He describes a dog that works alongside its handlers and is guided by the handler’s voice and whistle.
Herding dogs were originally developed to move sheep and goats but were eventually used on livestock. Cattle are larger livestock and require different strategies to get them moving. The “heel” herding dog was born from this need.
Herding dog work in three different ways. There are drivers, gatherers and boundary breeders. Although we often think of dogs that have the ability to steer a species in a desired direction when we think of herding dogs, the other two functions can be very important on large farms and small.
Types of herding dogs in the world
Australian Shepherd Dog
This dog breed groups originated from America and was introduced to Australia around the 19th century. Similar to the Becgie dog, the Australian Shepherd is also an extremely popular dog breed and has a strong body, smart and quick mind, so it is very easy to train them. However, instead of a military environment, they are considered a necessary labor force to guard farms or guard children and the elderly.
Bearded Collie
Bearded Collies, or “Beardies” as they are known to their fans, may date back to the 1500s or earlier in Scotland. The popular theory is that Polish herding dogs such as the Polish Lowland Sheepdog or the Komondorok brought to Scotland may have formed the foundation of the breed. No written records have been discovered to provide insight into the origins of the type, but they were working dogs bred to handle Scotland’s harsh environments and move herds. cattle and sheep to their drivers. Their energy, independence and joie de vivre have changed little over the centuries.
Border Collie
The Border Collie is one of three branches of the Collie family and originates from Scotland. They have a balanced, bright appearance combined with long, silky fur, sharp eyes and a powerful gaze. In particular, the Border Collie is also recognized as the most intelligent dog in the world. They not only learn quickly but are also very skillful and flexible. Therefore, this breed is a great choice for circus performances.
Bouvier Des Flandres
The breed almost disappeared again after World War II but found new life in the United States. The working nature of the breed is emphasized by the fact that in Belgium the Bouvier cannot be awarded the title of champion unless it has won an award in a working competition as a police dog, the national defense or army.
Canaan dog
Although there are no written records of how the breed developed, artifacts from around 2,000 BC show inscriptions about dogs that resemble modern Canaanites. Dogs of this type were able to guard, herd and help herd these old shepherds.
Corgi dog
Corgi is a sheepdog breed originating from Pembrokeshire, Wales. Completely different from other sheepdog breeds, Corgi captivates the hearts of the dog lover community with its adorable appearance, short legs, and big butt. Not only that, this “dwarf dog” is also very intelligent and agile, which is also the reason why they are very “useful” when monitoring herds of cattle. Immediately after being introduced to Vietnam, their small appearance Corgi’s message and alert, adorable personality immediately took the pet world by storm.
Appearance characteristics of herding dogs
Herding dogs were originally bred to control livestock on farms. Therefore, most sheepdog breeds have a strong, balanced appearance and extremely sharp and courageous eyes. However, there are still some exceptions with small, adorable bodies like Corgi dwarf dogs.
Personality traits
All herding dog breeds are extremely active, mischievous and very friendly with humans. In addition, they are also known for their superior characteristics, being extremely intelligent, agile but sometimes a bit stubborn.
Popular herding dog coat colors
Because herding dogs have many different species and origins, their coat colors are also very diverse. Some popular fur colors include: dark brown, black, white, chocolate,…