Sheep dog. We rank the best shepherd dogs

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Shepherd dogs are not just smart and trainable animals, but also incredibly useful in farming. Any livestock breeder will tell you that without such a dog, keeping livestock would be more difficult. Let's try to make a rating and find out which dog is the most suitable for its "work" and can be an indispensable assistant to the farmer.

Border Collie

Palm in the list of the best shepherd dogs confidently takes the Border Collie. A hardworking animal, the Border Collie can be, as they say, on "legs" around the clock, helping his master. These dogs are distinguished by patience, friendliness and the ability to guard everything that is nearby. Their devotion, trainability and intelligence made it possible to put the dogs of this breed in the first place.

It is worth noting that even scientists from the University of British Columbia recognized the Border Collie as the smartest dog on earth.

It should be noted that the dog of this breed needs regular walking, and can also be overly active and playful. If your temperament does not match the cheerful nature of the Border Collie, it is better not to buy such a dog.

Australian kelpie

The Australian Kelpie can be safely called the silver medalist. This is a truly unique herding dog. She is distinguished wide angle visibility, thanks to which the dog can control everything that happens around him without turning his head. The ability to remain vigilant and attentive has made the Kelpie a real superstar in his homeland, so livestock farms cannot do without this dog.

It is believed that the cute "Australian" descended from the Scottish Shepherd Collie, although there is a version that the dog got its origin from the wild dog Dingo. It is quite possible that there is some truth in both cases: the dog inherited intelligence and respectability from the elegant Scottish Sheepdogs, but the temperament is exactly from a wild dog.

Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is a contender for the bronze "medal" in the ranking of the best shepherds. Its other name is Heeler, which means "heel". This name was not given by chance: Healer follows the object he is guarding, literally on his heels.

Dogs of this breed do not lose their vigilance for a minute, which guarantees the safety of the farm. Healer is characterized by the ability to work both alone and in a team. Dogs of this breed are very fond of children, so you can rely on them in this matter. If you leave a child with him, be sure that the four-legged shepherd will not leave the child unattended even for a minute.

Collie

Following the Australians, we note a wonderful native of Scotland - Collie. This shepherd dog is known all over the world not only for its elegant appearance, but also for its working qualities. Since ancient times, dogs of this breed grazed herds of sheep, for which they were named so according to one of the versions. "Collie" was the original name for sheep with black masks on their muzzles.

The Scottish Shepherd is known for its lively mind, playfulness and quick wit. She is easily trained and obedient, for which she is very popular among farmers. This is not only a magnificent shepherd, but also a devoted companion who can overcome any distance with the owner and take long walks. Universal helper - that's what you can call a Collie.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a shepherd from Switzerland, his desire to please and show devotion to his master knows no bounds. It is distinguished by its enormous endurance and high working qualities, despite its small size. This dog is easily trained, so it is ready to follow any commands. Mind is exactly what distinguishes this breed. And if we add here selflessness, dexterity and cheerfulness, we get perfect friend and companion.

Portuguese Shepherd

A dog from a sunny country - the Portuguese Shepherd - is another representative of the four-legged shepherds in our rating. This dog has excellent guard qualities and is able to follow herds of small and large domestic animals. She can see even the obstinate horses. A dog of this breed is indispensable if you need to collect stray animals in a herd and closely monitor them.

Briard

Briard is a tireless Frenchman who appeared in the 19th century as a guard dog. This breed was in great demand for a long time, because Briards drove cattle, guarded herds and guarded the house. The thing is that these dogs are distinguished by good memory, endurance and learning ability.

Their physical qualities make them a kind of sports dogs that love to be on the move. Fearlessness is another character trait of this breed, which can be safely called an excellent shepherd. In addition, this dog is also distinguished by good nature, which makes it a wonderful family member.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Another Sennenhund in our ranking. This time we are talking About the Bernese Shepherd Dog. Long time dogs of this breed were called peasant dogs, as they were used in farming. Sennenhunds guarded the house, transported goods and followed the herds.

Today, this is not so much a shepherd as a devoted friend, however, the dog has not lost its qualities. Even today, they are used as helpers in animal husbandry and are valued for their good-natured nature.

Bobtail

The shaggy and slightly clumsy Bobtail is the penultimate one on our list. Many years ago, a dog of this breed was an excellent shepherd and "specialist" in cattle. Meanwhile, the peculiarities of their appearance have led to the fact that today the Bobtail has practically lost its purpose and has become an ordinary home bum. The guard and guard qualities of this dog are also inferior to other breeds, so the dog got into our rating in memory of past merits.

In addition, it is known that he is a guide, and also facilitates contact with mentally retarded children.

bullets

Shepherd dog with "dreadlocks" - this is how you can call the last representative on our list herding breeds. Bullets - a dog with unique wool, which resembles tangles hanging down to the ground. Despite the unkempt appearance, such wool is a salvation for a dog in bad weather.

Bullets are smart and funny dogs, but their shepherd qualities are inferior to dogs of other breeds. They are playful, but ready to work. In addition, it is also an excellent swimmer. For the ability to be an assistant to the owner, as well as the ability to work and learn, Puli also got into our top 10.

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Twenty thousand years ago, events took place that greatly changed human life. People began to domesticate animals. Until then, only the dog was the companion of man. In the Neolithic, sheep, goats, cows, pigs were domesticated, tamed ... The way of life has changed ancient man. The hunger that accompanied the failure in hunting receded, food became more diverse - after all, animals gave not only meat, but also milk, and they began to get butter, cottage cheese, and cheese from it. Clothes were made from skins, dwellings were covered with skins. Tribes of people became nomads - pastoralists. They wandered from place to place in search of better pastures. The first pastoralists had many difficulties. The first shepherds grazed their cattle on foot. Sheep, goats and other animals in those days were not yet domesticated enough to obey humans. Try to cope with a large herd of semi-wild animals! This is where the dog comes in handy.
A lot of problems, if not troubles, were delivered to cattle breeders by predatory animals, which were found in abundance in those days. Wolves, bears, tigers, leopards - many hunters profit from easy prey. At night, in fog, in bad weather, and even in broad daylight, animals attacked livestock, causing considerable damage to the farm. And the dog came to the rescue again. You can’t think of a better watchman who can smell and notice the enemy in the dark and in any weather! It was difficult for an ancient cattle breeder to live without guard dogs. It is not for nothing that among all pastoral peoples, of all matters, the care of dogs was in the first place. The climate, conditions, lifestyle, the desire of the shepherds to get the best helpers led to the formation of many different breeds guard dogs. The fact that people came up with the idea to use strong and powerful dogs to protect domestic herds. understandable: watchdog reflex - an innate quality of dogs. But how did the first nomadic pastoralists ensure that dogs did not touch animals? After all, dogs themselves are predators and excellent hunters, and hunting and protection are two opposite lines of animal behavior. Try to trust the wolf to guard the sheep or the chicken coop! One has only to wonder at the talent of ancient people and their knowledge of the habits of animals. What are the requirements for a guard shepherd dog? The four-legged helper must be courageous, strong and hardy. He has no right to leave the flock in trouble under any circumstances. The dog vigilantly monitors the safety of the herd and immediately drives those who are lagging behind or step aside, but does this in such a way as not to frighten timid animals. Moreover, not only does it not touch the animals entrusted to protect it, but it should not even have a desire to hunt for, so to speak, foreign game (hare, roe deer, etc.). The feeling of a guard should be above all in her. This feeling is especially important at night, when a person cannot see predators and thieves sneaking up on a herd.
The ancient shepherds found, noticed the necessary qualities in dogs, improved them and fixed them hereditarily, and the polishing of innate qualities each time was brought about by skillful training. The importance of the shepherd dog in ancient times is evidenced by the finds of remains in the burial grounds of pastoralists along with grave goods.
The first shepherd dogs helped to graze cattle and at the same time guarded it. With the advent of a horse in a person and the further domestication of animals, the value of a dog is increasingly reduced to the duties of a watchman. Large and strong dogs are selected for this work. Their purpose is to guard and protect the herd. In the old days, when guard dogs had to fight wolves, the owners of the herds cut off the ears and tails of the dogs so that it would be difficult for the predatory beast to grab the dog. But one can imagine how the shepherds felt if, suddenly, in a night fight with wolves, they mixed up and killed their dog friend. Therefore, guard dogs with white or light coats were often selected and bred, which easily stood out from the attacking wolves, especially at night. Some of these ancient breeds of guard dogs have survived to this day, and serve in those places where there are now practically no predators left.
One of the most common herd pets is the sheep. The dogs that guarded the sheep were called shepherds (from the word "sheepdog" - a worker caring for sheep). This name began to refer to dogs, different in origin, but doing one job - guarding the herds. So, the Tibetan Great Dane was called the Tibetan Shepherd Dog and, accordingly, the Great Dane-shaped dogs of Asia - the Mongolian Shepherd Dog, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog ... At the same time, northern sharp-eared European dogs, such as German Shepherd etc. The most ancient of the shepherd dogs were the Great Danes of the East, and we will talk about them. The Tibetan dog - strong, courageous, vicious, large in size - could well resist predators, and its innate boundless courage made it a wonderful watchman. Shepherds-cattle breeders of all countries adjacent to Tibet used this dog to guard their flocks. In China, India, Ancient Assyria, Mongolia, this breed of dogs spread almost unchanged.
Asian Shepherds spread west along with eastern culture. With pastoral tribes, Asian guard dogs reached the Caucasus. Other natural conditions, climate, and the influence of local dog breeds have somewhat changed the shepherd dogs. This is how the breed of Caucasian Shepherd Dogs was formed. Caucasian Shepherd dog of great stature, head with a massive broad skull. Her ears are often cut to make it harder for the wolf to cope with the dog. Highlander shepherds put on these dogs collars with metal spikes outwards. The antiquity and primitiveness of the Caucasian Shepherd Dogs is proved by the fact that they are among those few domestic animals that are able to live in natural conditions and without human help. The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the oldest herding dogs in Asia. It has undergone little human influence and has retained its original type in purity. Her puppies do not have congenital shepherd reflexes. It appears only with age, as young dogs learn from adults. But on the other hand, they are naturally endowed with strength, courage, viciousness and careful attitude towards sheep. They are capable of long migrations in very difficult conditions. These dogs are distrustful and sensitive - they have unsurpassed qualities of guard dogs. In the 1st century BC e. shepherd dogs helped the Armenian king Tigran II repel the invasions of the Roman legions. In Georgia, the heads of shepherd dogs were depicted on the coats of arms of some Georgian princes. As guard dogs, shepherd dogs began to be used in the Middle Ages in Turkish army. There are written testimonies about shepherds of the times Russian-Turkish war 18th century.
The command of the Russian army drew attention to the large and vicious dogs guarding the enemy garrisons. In 1765, even a special order was issued by the commander-in-chief "On the use of shepherd dogs in the formations of the Russian army for guard duty in all the fortresses of the theater of operations." For these dogs, dugouts were arranged in front of the fortresses. Sheepdogs were taught to bark at the sight of people in uniforms of the enemy army. This bark warned sentries about the approach of the enemy. There were shepherd dogs trained to carry cartridges. But truly military dogs did not work out of shepherd dogs. Them main job- guard the flocks. Together with sheep, they spread to Iran. In Iran, the two largest branches of Great Dane Shepherd Dogs crossed: Caucasian and Central Asian.
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog and the Central Asian Shepherd Dog have been around since time immemorial. reliable assistants shepherds. The living conditions in the flock, in their severity, differed slightly from the living conditions of animals in the wild. Natural selection inexorably dominated, leaving alive the most resilient, not afraid of either the harsh climate or the scarcity of food, who cope well with the duties of wolfhounds.
Everything flows, everything changes - such is the dialectic of life. We must clearly understand what kind of f.o. we need. today, tomorrow and in the days and years to come. A paradoxical situation has developed around the breed, many experts and breeders quite seriously say that k.o. should not show aggression towards a person if the dog is not on its territory, that such anger is not typical for the breed. It turns out that the most valuable manifestation of the psyche of dogs in the paddock, we appreciate what the shepherds in the flocks appreciated! Is it correct? Indeed, in our time, the role of a guard dog, a bodyguard dog comes out on top. A shepherd dog is, for most representatives of the breed, already in the past. We must clearly understand that dogs living in new conditions (in the conditions of the city, and not in the flock) must have new useful qualities based on characteristics characteristic of the breed. Someone may object that the need for the areas of the original distribution of f.o. has not disappeared. in wolfhounds. Yes, that's right. Where there is such a need, there are such dogs. And they will be there as long as there is work for them. They are vital there as wolfhounds. Of course, the criteria for evaluating dogs are different there, preference is given to dogs that show great aggression not on humans, but on animals (wolves). We need to get used to the idea that economically useful traits determine the conditions of life. Living conditions in cities and towns are different, and therefore there should be other criteria for assessing the working qualities of Caucasian shepherd dogs.

Since ancient times, cattle have provided people with meat, clothing and helped in the transportation of goods. But keeping and protecting livestock from predators is as difficult as caring for them. To make things easier for themselves, farmers began to train dogs to guard and herd sheep and other farm animals. And our Top 5 shepherd dog of the Bergamo breed opens, bred just for this purpose.

The purpose of the shepherd breeds

It is believed that several thousand years ago, dogs first appeared among the tribes of Asia, trained to protect their master's herds from attacks by people, wolves and even bears. Since that time, the image of shepherd dogs began to be outlined. Initially, all shepherd breeds were called Sheepdogs, and only over time the breeds received different external qualities and different names. It became clear that in addition to good instinct, courage and courage, the dog also needs special external qualities: it must have a special color that would not allow it to be confused with any predator, thick skin and warm wool, which would protect from any weather conditions.

The Europeans decided to develop a breed that would meet all these qualities and began to cross the fluffy shepherds with local dogs until they achieved the desired result. It is also believed that the militant Romans made their contribution to the development of shepherd breeds: they paid special attention to ensuring that the shepherd dog could repel the attack of the largest and most evil beast.

In addition to the ability to graze cattle, as well as to protect it, the dog was a constant companion and friend of its owner, she gladly went hunting for small game to satisfy her owner's hunger.

Rating of cattle dogs

Each country with a developed cattle breeding sought to breed an ideal shepherd dog that would feel great in certain conditions and protect the owner's livestock from a certain beast. Especially thick-coated dogs appeared, such as the Bergamasco Sheepdog, the fast Mallorcan Sheepdog, the small Picardy Sheepdog, the sociable Basque Sheepdog and the unusually colored Catahoula Leopard Dog. We will discuss each of these breeds in more detail below.

One of the most unusual-looking shepherds is the Bergamo Shepherd Dog. She got her name due to the fact that her homeland is the province of Bergamo, in Italy. Italian farmers use the dog mainly for grazing sheep in the valleys of the Alps, near the Po Piedmont River, where they descend with their flock for the winter.

There, in a fairly cool climate, the Bergamo Sheepdog is protected from the cold by its coat, which looks matted and forms flat, hanging cakes. This is what gives the dog such an exotic look.

The quick-witted, patient and balanced Bergamo Shepherd Dog, in addition to protecting and grazing sheep, is also an excellent companion to its owner. The animal treats the predator with all ferocity, however, she honors her master and unquestioningly fulfills all his orders, understanding him perfectly.

It is believed that the Bergamasco shepherd dog has such a delicate sense of smell that it can literally distinguish the sheep of its flock by smell. The animal is unpretentious in terms of food, and on long pastures it manages with what it has, without being picky. An animal is genetically designed to live in open spaces, therefore, the Bergamo Shepherd Dog will not get along in apartment conditions.

The Mallorcan Shepherd Dog, as well as the Ca de Bestiar in Spanish, is a black dog, of medium height and strongly built. The coat of a dog can be long or short, but the short-haired look is more common. This breed first appeared off the coast of Spain, on the Balearic Islands in the 16th-17th centuries. It is believed that the Mallorcan Sheepdog was bred by crossing local peasant dogs with animals imported from Castile.

Initially, the Mallorcan Sheepdog was used to herd sheep, goats and even cattle. Her appearance is due to invisibility at night. After a while, when dog fighting gained popularity, the breed began to be used as a fighting, and soon a guard breed.

The Mallorcan Sheepdog breed is very loyal to its owner, but it is suspicious of other people and can show hostility. In 1975, the Mallorcan Sheepdog received an approved standard.

The Picardy Sheepdog is from France. It is believed that her ancestors were still Celtic dogs, the image of the breed is also found on engravings of the 9th century, this particular century is considered the century of the origin of the breed. For many centuries, the Picardy Sheepdog was used as a shepherd and guard dog, and at the end of the 19th century it was decided to present it at the exhibition, but its simple and slightly sloppy appearance did not ensure its success.

To date, the Picardy Sheepdog is found only in the north of France, in the Pas de Calais region, but in other places almost nothing is known about it.

Independent and intelligent, the Picardy Sheepdog is easy to train, but can become stubborn from time to time, so she always needs the control of a strong owner. The industrious Picardy Sheepdog hardly gets along in apartments, because she always needs to occupy herself with something, her character deteriorates from idleness and she can begin to spoil furniture.

Baskak Shepherd Dog

This breed is bred in Spain, in the northern Basque Country, where the use of the Basque breed in shepherding is already considered a tradition. According to some assumptions, this breed takes its roots from the Central European shepherd sheep dogs. The dog is distributed mainly in its homeland, but it is not considered rare.

The Basque Shepherd Dog has a coarse golden coat, general view strong, compact. The dog is very devoted to the owner and his family, he can be wary of strangers. In addition to grazing livestock, the dog is used as a guide and in search operations.

For the first time, the Catahoula Leopard Dog appeared in the United States, Louisiana, where it was bred by colonists. It got its name for two reasons: because of the similarity of color with a leopard, and also in honor of the Catahoula district, where it is very popular.

In 1979, the Catahoula Leopard Dog became the official state dog of Louisiana.

The most remarkable thing about the appearance of the dog is its amazing color. These are various spots on short hair, creating an interesting pattern. Among breeders, blue eyes are highly valued.

Video about how to train a Catahoula dog.

Catahoula Leopard Dog - true friend, patient shepherd, good hunter and guard. Maintains warm relations with the owner, but can show hostility in the territory entrusted to him. The Leopard Dog is used for grazing and guarding large and small livestock.

Like any other cattle breed, the Catahoula Leopard Dog does not get along in apartment conditions and even on small areas. The perfect place for such an animal - a small farm, where he can always find something to do.

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