the HERDING Group

Herding Group is the name of a breed Group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds.

Herding dogs assist humans in the movement of livestock. especially cattle, sheep, goats and reindeer. Herding dogs are not livestock guardians, a separate type of dog that also works with livestock. The vast majority of herding dogs, as household pets, never cross paths with a farm animal. Nevertheless, pure instinct prompts many of these dogs to gently herd their owners, especially the children of the family. In general, these intelligent dogs make excellent companions and respond beautifully to training exercises.

The diversity in morphology and temperament among herding dog breeds has much to do with the different demands placed on the dogs in the course of their work. The Australian Cattle Dog and the Welsh Corgi have a temperament and structure suited for "heeling" stubborn cattle; their aggressive confidence and willingness to nip and bark are especially useful in the cramped confines of a stockyard. Border Collies herd with a silent and non-aggressive "eye" (an intense stare and crouch that mimics a stalking predator) which makes them suited for working flighty sheep at great distances from the shepherd over varied terrain. The German Shepherd (despite the name and classification as a herding dog) is genetically clustered with the guardian breeds, and in the century of its existence has been used more for utility work than for stock herding.