Herding dogs: origin, description and tips for choosing

For millennia, dogs have helped people drive livestock, herd herds and guard domestic animals. They can be excellent watchmen, able to move heavy loads and rescue a person in trouble. Obviously, herding dogs are very important, these days they often perform the functions of a guard and companion who serve their owner faithfully.

Shepherd dogs are active animals that need daily physical activity. Representatives of these breeds are characterized by strength, responsibility, friendliness and the ability to make quick independent decisions without human participation. These dogs have a sociable character, and in addition, they are very hardy and well-developed physically.

Historians believe that the very first representatives of cattle dogs appeared among the nomadic tribes of Asia several millennia ago.

Over time, these dogs spread all over the world, as a result, they ended up in Europe, where breeders began to further improve them. It was there that the decision was made to make this dog not only strong and sturdy, but also beautiful - so that the animal stood out sharply against the background of livestock.

The ancient Romans made a special contribution to the formation of guard dogs - they trained the animals not only to protect, but also to engage in battle with wild predators, and in order to make the breed stronger, the Asians were crossed with the largest European dogs. In the twentieth century, dog breeding continued, this is how German shepherds were bred, and already in the Soviet Union, East European shepherds adapted to the cold climate appeared.

The main advantages of herding dogs include:

• a medium-sized torso combined with a proportional and beautiful physique;
• developed muscles, thanks to which the dogs can withstand even the most increased loads and a long period of activity;
• thick and shiny coat with undercoat, which warms the animal in the northern and high mountain regions;
• underdeveloped hunting instincts - this feature allows dogs to more efficiently perform their duties;
• complete absence of any trust in strangers, the ability to pursue a stranger for a long time;
• sociability;
• loyalty to its owner.

Herding dogs have an exceptional set of positive characteristics, but they also have disadvantages. In particular, they require special conditions of detention - the space and the possibility of constant walking are important for dogs. In city apartments, they are cramped, and from a lack of activity, animals begin to hurt and wither.

Considering that these are rather large animals, they should not be left alone with small children - they do not show conscious aggression towards babies, but, playing too much, they can accidentally cause harm.

Let us dwell in more detail on the description of the most popular breeds of herding dogs.

This dog is better known as the Scottish Shepherd Dog, it has a very beautiful, truly luxurious thick coat and at the same time is distinguished by a rather high intelligence. Initially, the collie was bred in order to graze flocks of sheep and protect the owner's children, but over time, her beauty attracted the attention of royalty, after which she turned from a working dog into a luxury pet. Nowadays, an animal of this breed easily performs any of these roles, and besides, it is often in the service of the police.

This shepherdess is considered one of the best in the whole world. We can safely say that the boarder is the dream of every dog ​​breeder, since she can literally memorize up to 25-30 commands on the fly. It has been used as a shepherd for a long time, and can do all the necessary work on its own, without human participation.

Outwardly, the boarders are not particularly beautiful, they are more reminiscent of ordinary black and white mongrels that run in flocks in every village, nevertheless, these are expensive dogs, the cost of which in kennels is 20-50 thousand rubles.

This four-legged shepherd is better known as the Australian Shepherd Dog. The breed was developed after extensive crossbreeding between dogs of various breeds, including the wild dingo. As a result, a rather intelligent, but at the same time stubborn dog was born, which copes without problems even with the most difficult tasks. In critical situations, this animal can take quick independent decisions, however, the herd instinct is not very pronounced in the dog.

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, which is a strong, powerful and very large animal. These are very serious dogs with a tough, restive temperament.For many centuries, they grazed flocks of sheep in the mountains and guarded the homes of local residents from uninvited guests and wild animals. Alabai often became participants in dog fights, therefore military qualities and a desire to win are in the blood of these animals. Nowadays, alabai are most often purchased for the protection of country cottages and villas.

This breed is also called "Bryansk Shepherd Dog". The animal comes from Switzerland, it is distinguished by its unusual appearance - it is no coincidence that this dog breed received the title of the most beautiful in the world.

Farmers actively bred the breed for the protection of ungulates and grazing. Bernese are distinguished by physical strength, endurance and excellent obedience. Show class puppies in our country can be bought for 50-70 thousand rubles.

By the appearance of this dog, one can rather assume that this is a companion pet, and in no way a serious shepherd and shepherd. The dog has a very cute playful appearance, and the sizes are the smallest in this category of dogs. At the same time, pets are silent, smart, hardy and extremely efficient. Due to their small stature, they easily pass under the sheep, bite them on the limbs, thereby driving them into a circle.

Dog of Hungarian descent, which can be recognized by its incredible "hairstyle". The fact is that this animal has a very long and thick hair, which, as it grows, twists into dense bundles. Dogs are even jokingly called "mops" for their funny and disheveled appearance.

These dogs do an excellent job with the tasks of a shepherd, and in addition, they can guard houses and even play with babies. The Hungarian shepherdess is very smart, but at the same time very stubborn, she has almost perfect sharp eyesight, although the eyes themselves are not visible because of the bangs.

This is a real giant among dogs with a good-natured character. White dogs have become ideal shepherds, wise and decisive guards, and in addition, they can carry out guard duty. From the outside it may seem that this is a real shaggy lump, but in fact the animal is very nimble, intelligent and affectionate. Due to the color and appearance of the coat during grazing, the dog merges with the flock of sheep, so it is rather difficult to distinguish them. The cost of one puppy of this breed ranges from 15 to 30 thousand rubles.

Caucasian shepherd dogs are the descendants of wild wolves, these animals do an excellent job of a shepherd. Nowadays, shepherd dogs are widely used for the protection of departmental facilities, as well as at customs. These animals are often in the police force, they are intelligent, decisive and extremely hardy.

In previous years, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs often participated in dog fights, so many consider these dogs dangerous and aggressive, however, with proper education and good training, they will grow into quite friendly and obedient pets that will faithfully defend their home and owners.

The English Bobtail is a beautiful shaggy dog ​​that is a true friend for sheep and a real thunderstorm for wolves, and these animals often emerge victorious from fights with predators.Animals do not show aggression, they love children and are ready to act as a nanny all day.

Nowadays, the shepherd's service of these animals has long been a thing of the past, but the instincts of dogs remain unchanged, so the pet will take care of its owners and his family members day and night.

In fact, there are many more herding dogs in the world. They are found in almost every corner of the world where there is a need to graze livestock. Each country has its own breed: Turkish, Azores, Scottish, Swiss, French, English, Italian, Czech, German, Irish, as well as Mongolian, Alpine, Old German, Languedoc, Portuguese and Swedish cattle dogs are known.

In Australia and Scotland alone, over 5 species of these animals have been bred. They can have a very different appearance, but each breed has one common quality - they are completely devoted to their owners.

Before choosing the optimal breed of herding dog, first of all, some nuances should be taken into account.

• The purpose of the institution. If you only need a dog to guard the herd, then it is quite possible to get by with pet-class animals. But if you intend to take part in exhibitions and competitions with your pet, then preference should be given to animals of the show category.
• Free space... Physical activity and constant activity are extremely important for a herding dog. It will be optimal for her to be kept in a large house with a spacious backyard, where the pet can run freely all day long. In a city apartment, the animal will be cramped, in conditions of a lack of physical activity, the muscles will lose their tone, which will lead to a weakening of the body.
• Free time... If you are a couch potato or a workaholic who spends all day at work, give up the idea of ​​buying a herding dog. If you live in a city apartment, then you will have to walk the dog at least 2 times a day and not less than 2 hours. It is optimal if the walk will take place in a forest belt or on a dog's playground so that the animal can warm up.

Before proceeding with the selection of such shepherds, be sure to answer the question to yourself if you are ready to change your daily routine, devote a lot of time to your dog, get up earlier in the morning and give up your usual activities in the evenings. Not every breeder can do this.

Experts recommend adhering to the following rules.

• When choosing shepherd puppies, preference should be given to reliable kennels with a proven track record. Inquire about the seller in advance and, if possible, talk personally with buyers of past litters.
• Make sure that the animal offered to you has a veterinary passport confirming its health and absence of hereditary diseases.
• Do a little test of your puppy's mental health. To do this, you need to go up to the animal and clap your hands over its head or throw some noisy object next to it. If the animal did not show interest, but also did not bark, run away and assume postures of submission, then most likely you are in front of a dog with a strong psyche.

A few years ago in Moscow there was such a case: a resident of the capital bought himself an alabay to guard his dacha in the summer. All the warm months the puppy ran around the site and felt great. However, with the onset of cold weather, the owner moved the dog to a city apartment, but soon realized that it was not possible to keep such a large animal there. Then he built a small aviary near the garages and put his dog there.In this prison, the animal existed for several months, until representatives of animal protection organizations drew attention to it - they took the dog and forced the breeder to sell it to more responsible people.

Shepherd dogs need space, and also a so-called observation post must be present in the house. It is extremely important for this pet to keep everything that happens under control, they are able to hide and just watch for several hours. It is for this ability that animals are often called phlegmatic. However, in case of danger, shepherd dogs can show miracles of reaction, ingenuity and dexterity.

As we said, shepherd dogs need to walk often, but genetic memory makes animals especially vigilant in the dark. Therefore, if you are walking in the evening or there is a strong smog or fog in the city, take a leash with you - in such conditions, the animal can react to any situation that seems to him potentially dangerous, even if it really is not. At other times, shepherds walk calmly without muzzles and leashes.

It is very important to pet your pet, it will be useful to take him with you to crowded places and to encourage good behavior with a treat. - in this way you will bring up a reliable faithful companion in him. Please note that he won't stop barking anyway - the peculiarities of cattle dogs are such that by nature it is intended for them to notify the district that there is a guard near the herd, and it is extremely undesirable to come close.

This loud and loud barking makes keeping animals in an apartment building quite problematic and serves as further evidence that these dogs need to be kept in private homes. We draw your attention to the fact that it is in the houses, and not in the enclosures built in the corner of the yard - any exclusion from the family circle will become a great stress for such a dog. By the way, such an educational measure as ignoring is also not welcome with these dogs.

Dogs of these breeds need a complete and balanced diet enriched with vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and probiotics.

If you are a supporter of natural food, then keep in mind that meat and offal should make up at least 70% of the animal's diet. The remaining 30% are cereals, vegetables, lactic acid products and chopped greens. Additionally, the diet should include mineral and vitamin supplements.

These dogs do not require special care, however, they need to be brushed periodically and, if necessary, bathed with special shampoos. Once a week, you should treat the auricles with a cotton pad dipped in boric acid, and wipe the pet's eyes with chamomile infusion.

It is advisable to accustom the animal to daily brushing of teeth, and it is also necessary to include in the diet from time to time cartilage and moles, which help to strengthen the muscles of the jaw and remove tartar.

See below for details on caring for herding dogs.