Quick Take
- Herding dogs and the dogs that protect sheep look similar even though they have fundamentally different jobs that most people confuse. See the key differences →
- One dog can manage a flock far larger than most people would guess, and the range is truly staggering. Discover flock sizes →
- The instincts that make a herding dog brilliant in a field can also make it a challenging pet, and there are reasons why that is the case. Explore the dog's instincts →
- What looks like a dog simply chasing sheep is actually a precise, instinct-driven strategy. Watch how it works. Watch the strategy unfold →
When we think of great pets, dogs are usually near the top of the list. They can be loyal, affectionate companions, but dogs were also bred for an enormous variety of jobs. The American Kennel Club currently recognizes 205 breeds, and many working and herding breeds were developed to do much more than spend the day waiting on the couch. Herding breeds in particular tend to be energetic, intelligent dogs that need plenty of physical and mental activity. The dog in the video below gets exactly that while showing off the job its instincts were built for.
Watch This Video Below!
Dog Herds Sheep
The Instagram reel posted above shows a dog working to gather a large flock of sheep spread across an open pasture. The video was shared by the Animals Doing Things Instagram account, which features clips of animals ranging from birds and horses to rabbits, cats, kangaroos, and bears.
Sheep Rally Around and Follow the Dog
At the beginning of the video, sheep are scattered across a wide-open pasture. Gathering that many animals and moving them in the same direction would be a serious job for one person on foot. Fortunately, that is exactly what herding dogs were bred to help livestock handlers accomplish.
Suddenly, we see a dog dart into the field and begin working the flock. According to the Oregon Humane Society, herding breeds are typically industrious, athletic, energetic, focused, intelligent, quick to learn, and loyal. Those qualities make sense when you watch this dog work. By moving around the edges of the flock and influencing the sheep’s direction, the dog gradually brings the scattered animals together and guides them toward the fenced area.
How Many Sheep Are in a Flock?
Large adult rams can weigh around 300 pounds.
©Klanarong Chitmung/Shutterstock.com
When sheep form a group, it is commonly called a flock. A flock does not necessarily have to be enormous. According to Ontario Sheep Farmers, flock sizes can range from just two sheep on a hobby farm to operations with around 1,500 ewes and their lambs. Managing a flock at the larger end of that range is one reason trained working dogs can be so valuable.
Sheep can also be vulnerable to predators such as wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, bears, and even domestic dogs. However, the dogs used primarily to protect sheep are generally different from the herding dogs used to move them. Livestock guardian dogs live closely with the flock and help deter predators, while herding dogs work with a handler to gather and direct sheep. Both can be invaluable on a working farm, but they have very different jobs.
