Three well-known examples of herding dogs are the Border Collie, the Australian Shepherd, and the German Shepherd.
10 Popular Herding Dog Breeds and What They Do
Herding can be divided into three main styles: driving, fetching and tending. Driving is what most people think of when they think “herding”. Driving is where driving dogs (like blue heelers and Australian shepherds) get behind a flock of sheep and push them forward.
Some of the most popular herding breed dogs include: Border Collie: Known for their incredible intelligence, agility, and work ethic, Border Collies are often considered the quintessential herding breed.
The Australian Cattle Dog was first known as the Australian Heeler, although it is still called the Blue or Queensland Heeler today.
Bluey is a Blue Heeler, also known as an Australian Cattle Dog! This breed is renowned for its intelligence, agility, and herding capabilities. The Blue Heeler's distinctive blue or red-speckled coat and energetic demeanor make it a perfect choice for representing a lively, imaginative character like Bluey!
There are several dogs that are closely associated with dingoes, including the rare Carolina Dog and the wild New Guinea singing dog. But the Australian Cattle Dog is the dog breed that was developed in the 19th century by crossing a Blue Merle Collie with a dingo.
Border Collie has incredible focus and is arguably considered the world's best herding dog. This breed needs to have something to do because he can wreak havoc in your home if he's bored. Agile, athletic, and highly intelligent, the Border Collie has an iconic intense stare.
A $10,000 dog often refers to rare, purebred dogs with exceptional lineage, such as Tibetan Mastiffs, Samoyeds, Chow Chows, Löwchens, and rare French Bulldogs, where pedigree, breeder reputation, size, and unique traits drive high costs, making them status symbols or investments for elite owners. These prices reflect the rarity and specialized care these breeds demand, with some even fetching much higher prices globally.
The most common signs of a dog that is about to start herding are when they crouch down and stare intently at a moving animal/object. Herding is different from hunting because there is not an intent to kill, just to control. Usually herders will vocalize, whereas a hunter will remain silent.
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a widely used guideline that outlines how a dog typically progresses during the first 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months in a new home. While every dog is unique, this rule helps adopters set realistic expectations during the early adjustment phases.
Australian Kelpie. Australian Kelpie or just “kelpie” dogs are tenacious herders known for their intensity while moving livestock. Like heelers and aussies, the breed has strong herding instincts but with a little more aggression.
Some breeds—like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and other herding dogs—naturally stare more because they're bred to fixate during work. Individual personality also plays a role: some dogs are naturally more focused or inquisitive than others.
Herding breeds — including shepherds, Collies, Great Danes, Huskies and Sheepdogs — are watchful, alert protectors that were bred to assist with guarding livestock and property. In addition to responding well to training, they're also highly intelligent and make excellent companions.
The "heartbreak breed" refers primarily to the Great Dane, nicknamed this due to their affectionate nature combined with a relatively short lifespan (around 7-10 years) and susceptibility to serious heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), making losing them particularly difficult for their devoted owners. Other giant breeds like Irish Wolfhounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Saint Bernards also face significant health challenges, including cancer and heart disease, often earning them similar sentiments from owners.
The primary dog breed used by U.S. Navy SEALs is the Belgian Malinois, prized for its agility, intelligence, and trainability, often working alongside handlers in high-stakes missions like the Osama bin Laden raid. Dutch Shepherds are also used, while Labrador Retrievers are common in other military roles, though Malinois are preferred for special ops due to their compact size for air/sea insertion.
Low-Cost Pups Make First-Rate Pets
Every year the American Kennel Club releases our ranking of the most popular dog breeds based on AKC registration statistics for the previous year. The French Bulldog continues to top the rankings at the No. 1 spot for the third year in a row.
Top 10 Rare Dog Breeds from All Over the World
The Border Collie is widely recognized as the dog breed with the highest "IQ," consistently ranking first in intelligence studies for their exceptional ability to learn commands quickly (under 5 repetitions) and obey them (95%+ of the time). Other top breeds include the Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Doberman Pinscher, all known for their trainability and problem-solving skills.
The Top 10 Hardest Dogs to Train
Most loyal dog breeds are good family dogs, though some might be better suited for older children.
9 Calm Dog Breeds
It is known as the "wolf killer". The Karakachan dog was also later used in Bulgaria as a border army watchdog. The breed was almost extinguished, and was only preserved through the fierce protection and dedication of the Bulgarian shepherds in the mountain regions.
Cane Corsos and children
We really wouldn't recommend having a Cane Corso if you have small children as they could get hurt if they are accidentally knocked over. They suit adult-only homes best, or families with older children or teenagers who understand the breed.