Herding Group

This group harks back to when humans first began employing dogs to guard livestock, and has inherited many of the instincts and traits of its ancestors.

The ancestral stock is believed to have been largely fierce guard dogs. The spiked collars we associate with such dogs were used to protect their throats from the attacks of wild animals.

From these dogs, a number of different strains were selectively bred to enhance the characteristics of today's herding group. For dogs that live in cold climates and must protect livestock from wolves or bears, thick coats (sometimes double), as well as large size and strength, were of the greatest importance.

Their coat protects them from both the cold and from predators, by making their skin difficult to grip. These dogs become instinctively more alert at sunset. Komondors fit into this category.
 
For managing livestock on big farms or ranches, dogs were selected for quick obedience to commands, plus the ability to assemble and herd, as well as to retrieve missing livestock.

The mudi, for example, is known for its extreme patience in chasing straying sheep and cows. Such breeds include collies, Shetland sheepdogs, bearded collies, Welsh corgis, and Border collies.

Before cars and trains, the Bouvier des Flandres and the Australian cattle dog were developed to help drive livestock over long distances from isolated farms to big town markets.

The emphasis in developing herding group breeds has been on effectiveness and performance, such as endurance in bad weather and the ability to keep running at maximum speed, rather than on looks.