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Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd herding sheep.
herding dog
herding dog, any of several breeds of dogs that herd livestock. They also typically make fine family pets or obedience competitors. The rise of herding dogs is closely tied to the domestication of sheep and other livestock during the Neolithic Period. Herding breeds are intelligent, quick and agile, able to work on any terrain, and well suited for short bursts of high speed. These dogs, even the compact breeds, are strong and muscular, possessing proud carriage of head and neck. Herding dogs perceive even the slightest hand signals and whistle commands to move a flock or seek out strays. Notable herding dog breeds include the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, and German Shepherd.
| name | origin | height in inches* dogs (bitches) | weight in pounds* dogs (bitches) | characteristics | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *1 inch = 2.54 centimetres; 1 pound = 0.454 kilogram | ||||||
 | Australian Cattle Dog | Australia | 18β20 (17β19) | 35β45 (same) | sturdy, compact body; moderately short, weather-resistant coat | bred from several breeds, including dingoes and Dalmatians |
 | Australian Shepherd | U.S. | 20β23 (18β21) | 35β70 (same) | medium-sized; lithe and agile; moderate-length coat; bobbed tail | descended from shepherd dogs of Basque region (Spain/France) |
 | Bearded Collie | Scotland | 21β22 (20β21) | 40β60 (same) | medium-sized; muscular body; shaggy, harsh outercoat | dates to the 1500s |
 | Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) | Belgium | 24β26 (22β24) | 50β60 (same) | well-muscled, square body; erect ears; black coat | used during World War I as message carriers and ambulance dogs; three other varieties |
 | Border Collie | England | 19β22 (18β21) | 31β50 (same) | medium-sized; muscular, athletic build; numerous colours with various combinations of patterns and markings | world's outstanding sheep herder; possesses hypnotic stare used to direct herds |
 | Bouvier des Flandres | Belgium/France | 23.5β27.5 (23.5β26.5) | 88 (same) | rugged, compact body; rough coat; blocky head with mustache and beard | natural guard dog, often used in military settings |
 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Wales | 10β12 (same) | 25β38 (25β34) | long, low body and tail; deep chest; large, prominent ears | not as prevalent as its Pembroke counterpart |
 | Collie (rough) | Scotland | 24β26 (22β24) | 60β75 (50β65) | lithe body; deep, wide chest; abundant coat, especially on mane and frill | also smooth variety with short coat |
 | German Shepherd | Germany | 24β26 (22β24) | 75β95 (same) | well-muscled, long body; erect ears; long muzzle | one of the most-recognized dog breeds |
 | Old English Sheepdog | England | minimum 22 (minimum 21) | 55+ (same) | compact, square body; profuse, shaggy coat | loud, distinctive bark |
 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Wales | 10β12 (same) | 25β38 (same) | low-set body, not as long as Cardigan; docked tail | popular with British royalty; smallest herding dog |
 | Puli | Hungary | 17 (16) | 30 (same) | medium-sized; long, coarse coat that forms cords | named for Puli Hou (βDestroyer Hunsβ) |
 | Shetland Sheepdog | Scotland | 13β16 (same) | small-sized; long, rough coat, especially abundant on mane and frill | traces to the Border Collie; excels in obedience competitions | |
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
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