Paws Up: The Herding Group

BREED MATTERS

Every dog has a distinct personality based on its breed, there is individual personalities within each litter; however general behavior to expect can be determined by choosing a breed that's profile fits best with your family and lifestyle. A reputable breeder is going to help match their puppies to the best home possible, and should be willing to turn someone away (giving them a referral to another breeder if possible) if they aren't confident that they have the right canine partner for someone. There is over 150 AKC recognized breeds , so there is definitely a dog out there for you! This post will focus on the Herding Group.

Some questions to ask yourself :

What do I want my dog to "do" in my life? be mostly a companion? a guard dog? good with kids? a running partner?compete in obedience or other dog sports? become a therapy dog?

Does my new dog need to get along with other dogs, cats , or share the home with other pets ?

How much time and energy do I have to commit to grooming and exercise needs? Will I be likely to keep and care for this animal for the next several years ?

Can I afford vet expenses, feed, supplies and other costs?

Am I going to be moving soon and possibly have to find a new home for this dog or prepared to possibly have my search for a new house complicated by needing to find a place to live that will allow a pet?

Do I want a puppy or an older dog? (think about teething, housebreaking, training)

The Herding Group breeds share the ability to control the movement of other animals. A remarkable example is the low-set Corgi, perhaps one foot tall at the shoulders, that can drive a herd of cows many times its size to pasture by leaping and nipping at their heels. The vast majority of Herding dogs, as household pets, never cross paths with a farm animal. Nevertheless, pure instinct prompts many of these dogs to gently herd their owners, especially the children of the family. In general, these intelligent dogs make excellent companions and respond beautifully to training exercises. Please note that these photos are not to scale.