2006-12-13 02:33:34 · 17 answers · asked by marcocollyer 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
depends on what type of sheep and what you need to do with them. I am guessing you mean herding, not just guarding...
I have 1 sheltie, 2 border collies, 1 sheltie x b.c., and an Aussie. These are all good for herding. One of the bc's is a pure mover, the other a well balanced lurcher...
I do have a friend with a GSD and a collie and I must admit they are good workers and quite effective too... but watching the borders work enchants me... dunno why, but they do. So my vote for the sheer beauty of the work is the border collie.
2006-12-13 02:44:32 · answer #1 · answered by dedum 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English Sheep Dogs
2006-12-13 10:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Border Collies are. They hold the first place on the smartest dogs' list. They can learn up to 400 commands. They need a lot of practice during the day. Like a race, they are obedient, loyal, good with children, except they will try to herd them :)))
Border Collies tend to ruin the house if they are kept in like a house pets, without conditions to run, exercise a lot outside. So they are perfect sheep dogs!
2006-12-13 10:42:27 · answer #3 · answered by crazy blond 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have an english shepard (they look kind of like boarder collies) that we use to round up the goats and horses. She has a great instinct and with training could do excellent- right now, she will round them up for us on command- but doesn't actually bring them to us (We have never trained a sheep dog, so have no clue how to go about it) .
The good thing is that unlike most border collies, she will not try to round up people- she just does animals, and only when we want her to (or thinks we want her to...she is a little overzealous)
2006-12-13 10:39:33 · answer #4 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Corgis, Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Kelpies, and there are more...
My opinion is that Australian Shepherds and Border Collies are equally valued as herding dogs. I live on a ranch and have two Australian Shepherds and one Border Collie, with 12 sheep. They all sorta work together to herd the group, but my one Aussie, Sheero, takes the lead everytime. She is faster and more agile and therefore COULD get the job done on her own.
All of my dogs are active, but my aussies and border collies are agility fanatics. They run until the sun goes down, and no sooner.
I hope you find what you are looking for.
2006-12-13 11:06:14 · answer #5 · answered by LiaChien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English Sheep Dogs are wonderful! My neighbor has one and it's the coolest dog ever! It walks through town with her everyday and doesn't even need a leash. They are well behaved and sweet as can be.
2006-12-13 11:23:13 · answer #6 · answered by Corinne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you looking for dogs to help move the flock around (shepherds), or dogs to stay with the flock and protect it from predators (guardians)?
Herding dogs - Border Collies, hands down.
Guardian dogs - Great Pyr, probably, but I have a soft spot for Anatolians.
2006-12-13 10:44:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a whole list of breeds, including dogs you might not traditionally think of as herding dogs, such as Rottweilers (yes, they have herding dog background too):
http://www.herdingontheweb.com
I don't do much herding but my at least one of my GSD's siblings has herding titles and quite a few people in my Shiloh Shepherd organization have herding titles, all on sheep. I know people who use Shilohs on cows, as well, though for actual work rather than competition.
2006-12-14 01:38:22 · answer #8 · answered by FairlyErica 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of good breeds. I'd have to say a well trained dog- border collie or Australian Shepherd or Catahoula
2006-12-13 10:35:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Border Collies are pretty darn good herding dogs!
2006-12-13 10:35:36 · answer #10 · answered by Shadow's Melon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋