Shepherd dogs are wonderful, intelligent, and energetic breeds that deserve a special place in their owners' lives. But let's be honest: shepherd dogs aren't for everyone. While their loyalty and work ethic are impressive, they also have specific needs that not everyone can meet. You shouldn't choose a shepherd dog based on its appearance, but on its temperament, energy level, and your own lifestyle.

Shepherd dogs are wonderful, intelligent, and energetic breeds that deserve a special place in their owners' lives. But let's be honest: shepherd dogs aren't for everyone. While their loyalty and work ethic are impressive, they also have specific needs that not everyone can meet. You shouldn't choose a shepherd dog based on its appearance, but on its temperament, energy level, and your own lifestyle.

This blog discusses various herding breeds, each rated on a difficulty scale ( 3 to 5 stars ). This scale helps you understand which breed best suits your experience and situation. Whether you're an experienced dog owner or just starting out, this blog provides valuable information to help you make an informed decision.

Please note: More explanation about the stars can be found at the bottom of this blog. It's not an official method, but a way we've developed to give insight into the challenges a herding dog can present. Always choose a breed that suits your lifestyle; never choose a dog solely based on its appearance.

Anatolian Shepherd ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a quintessential guard dog, originating from Turkey. This imposing breed was bred to protect flocks from predators and has a strong protective instinct. It is independent and intelligent, but this can also make it stubborn. This breed thrives in an environment with plenty of space and a clear leader who understands how to provide consistent guidance. While loyal to its family, it can be wary of strangers. Early socialization is crucial. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog requires intensive daily exercise and is suitable for experienced owners.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Appenzeller Mountain Dog ⭐⭐⭐

The Appenzeller Sennenhund is an energetic and versatile herding dog from Switzerland. With its alert and playful nature, it's a wonderful companion for active families. It is strongly attached to its family and has a natural protective instinct. This breed requires a lot of daily exercise, such as long walks and challenging games. Its high intelligence makes it easy to train, but it can quickly become bored if it doesn't get enough mental stimulation. The Appenzeller needs a consistent owner who can provide both love and guidance.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Australian Shepherd ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Australian Shepherd is an active, energetic dog originally bred to herd livestock in the US. This breed is known for its intelligence and versatility. It excels in canine sports such as agility and flyball and loves to work with its owner. This herding dog needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation; a daily walk is not enough. It is social and friendly, but can sometimes be reserved with strangers. For active and involved owners, the Australian Shepherd is a perfect choice.

Physical activity requirement: 120 minutes per day, 45 minutes of training per day

Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Malinois, Tervueren, Groenendael, Laeken) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Belgian Shepherd Dogs are exceptionally intelligent and energetic. They are often used by police and rescue services due to their speed, stamina, and work ethic. The Malinois is the best-known variant, favored by professional trainers. These dogs have a strong bond with their owner and thrive in a task-oriented environment. They are less suitable for inexperienced owners due to their high energy and training needs. However, with sufficient exercise and challenge, they make loyal and devoted companions.

Physical activity needs: 120-150 minutes per day, 45-60 minutes of training per day

Border Collie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Border Collie is often considered the smartest dog in the world. This breed is naturally a master herder and excels at any task it is trained for. It needs not only physical challenges, such as long walks or runs, but also mental stimulation, such as puzzles and dog sports. A bored Border Collie can exhibit unwanted behavior. It is very focused on its owner and learns quickly, but its high energy makes it only suitable for owners who can give it sufficient attention.

Physical activity requirement: 150 minutes per day, 60 minutes of training per day

Catalan Sheepdog ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Catalan Shepherd Dog, originating from Spain, is an energetic and intelligent dog that is perfect for active families. This breed is naturally an excellent working dog, specifically bred to herd sheep in the mountainous regions of Catalonia. It is alert, loyal, and very attached to its family. The Catalan Shepherd Dog needs daily physical and mental challenges to prevent boredom. It learns quickly and excels in dog sports. Due to its friendly nature, it is also a wonderful family dog, provided it receives sufficient attention.

Physical activity needs: 90-120 minutes per day, 30-45 minutes of training per day

German Shepherd ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile dog breeds in the world. It's often used as a police dog, assistance dog, or family pet. Its intelligence, loyalty, and trainability make it a popular choice. This breed has a strong work drive and needs daily challenges with physical and mental exercises. It's prone to boredom, so consistency and variety in training are important. With sufficient exercise and attention, it's an ideal family dog.

Physical activity needs: 90-120 minutes per day, 30-45 minutes of training per day

Dutch Shepherd ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Dutch Shepherd is a rare but versatile Dutch breed. Intelligent, energetic, and possessing a strong work ethic, this breed is often used in canine sports and for guard and police work. It requires a consistent and experienced owner who can provide structure. The Dutch Shepherd thrives with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation and is loyal to its family.

Physical activity requirement: 120 minutes per day, 45 minutes of training per day

Icelandic Sheepdog ⭐⭐⭐

The Icelandic Sheepdog is an energetic and friendly breed known for its ability to herd livestock in harsh conditions. Affectionate and playful, it adapts well to family life. This breed requires daily exercise and enjoys challenging activities, such as agility or long walks. Its sociable nature makes it great with children and other pets, but it can be vocal at times.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Caucasian Shepherd Dog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a large, imposing guard dog from the Caucasus region. It is independent and protective, making it suitable as a guardian of land or livestock. Due to its size and strong temperament, it is not suitable for inexperienced owners. It needs plenty of space and an owner who is consistent and patient.

Exercise needs: 60-90 minutes per day, 20-30 minutes of training per day

Lapinporokoira (Lapland Herding Dog) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lapinporokoira is a rare herding dog from Scandinavia, specifically bred to herd reindeer. It is energetic, intelligent, and has a friendly temperament. This breed forms a strong bond with its owner and is loyal to the whole family. While generally obedient, it can sometimes be independent-minded. The Lapinporokoira needs a lot of exercise, such as long walks or challenging activities. It is less suitable for people who have little time to train or play with their dog.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Mudi ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Mudi is a versatile herding dog from Hungary, known for its striking, wavy coat. This medium-sized breed is active and intelligent and excels in canine sports such as agility and obedience. The Mudi is strongly focused on its owner and requires a consistent, patient approach. It enjoys physical challenges, but also mental stimulation, such as puzzles or obedience training. For families who enjoy being active with their dog, the Mudi is an excellent choice.

Physical activity needs: 120 minutes per day, 30-45 minutes of training per day

Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail) ⭐⭐⭐

The Old English Sheepdog, also known as the Bobtail, is a striking breed with its thick, fluffy coat and friendly disposition. Originally bred to herd livestock, it is now primarily a companion dog. It is gentle and sociable, but needs sufficient daily exercise. The Bobtail requires regular grooming due to its thick coat and can be somewhat stubborn, making consistent training important. It is an ideal dog for families willing to invest time in its care and activity.

Exercise needs: 60-90 minutes per day, 20-30 minutes of training per day

Pyrenean Shepherd Dog ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Pyrenean Shepherd Dog is small but powerful. This French breed was bred to herd sheep in mountainous terrain and has an energetic and alert temperament. It bonds strongly with its owner and thrives with plenty of exercise and training. This breed is ideal for active owners who enjoy hiking or sports. These dogs are also used to protect livestock from wolves.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Tatra Shepherd Dog (Owczarek Podhalanski) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Tatra Shepherd Dog is an impressive and powerful guard dog from the mountains of Poland. Originally bred to protect sheep from predators, its protective instincts remain strong. It is loyal, calm, and confident, but can also be stubborn. The Tatra is suitable for experienced owners who can provide clear leadership. It needs plenty of space and enjoys long walks outdoors. Early socialization and training are essential to ensure it retains its friendly nature and gets along well with people and other animals.

Exercise requirement: 90 minutes per day, 30 minutes of training per day

Swiss White Shepherd ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Swiss White Shepherd is an elegant variant of the German Shepherd, recognizable by its beautiful white coat. This breed combines intelligence, loyalty, and a gentle nature, making it a fantastic family dog. It is slightly more sensitive than the German Shepherd and needs an owner who uses a gentle, consistent approach. The Swiss White Shepherd is active and needs plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation. Whether it's long walks, dog sports, or obedience training, this breed enjoys activities with its owner.

Physical activity needs: 90-120 minutes per day, 30-45 minutes of training per day

Explanation of the Difficulty Level in Stars

Herding dogs are intelligent and energetic, meaning they need an owner who can provide them with sufficient challenge and structure. The difficulty level is rated on a scale of 3 to 5 stars, where:

• 3 stars : Suitable for owners with some experience. These are breeds that can be challenging but are relatively easy to train.
• 4 stars : For owners with a lot of experience or time. These dogs have a strong work drive and require a lot of physical and mental stimulation.
• 5 stars : Only suitable for very experienced owners. These dogs are often independent, stubborn, or extremely energetic and require intensive training and attention.

At Fidello, we want to help you choose the right dog that suits your lifestyle and experience. That's why we've developed a difficulty level that assesses herding dogs based on their energy, drive, and training needs.

Why at least 3 stars?
Shepherd dogs are naturally intelligent and energetic working dogs. Even the "easier" shepherd breeds require more attention and challenge than many other breeds. Therefore, they never score lower than 3 stars.

No official method
This star rating system was developed by us and is for informational purposes only. It is not an official rating, and opinions may vary. We want to show that some herding dogs can be very challenging and are not suitable for everyone. It is important to carefully consider the needs of a herding dog before getting one.

Every dog is unique.
While this scale provides a helpful indication, every dog is unique. The best choice is made by doing thorough research and honestly assessing what you can offer a dog.

Conclusion: Share Your Experiences with Shepherd Dogs

Shepherd dogs are wonderful companions, but their energetic and intelligent nature makes them unsuitable for everyone. We hope this blog has helped you gain a better understanding of the different breeds and their needs.

Do you have experience with a herding dog? We're curious to hear your stories and tips! By sharing your experience, you'll help other dog lovers make an informed choice and prevent dogs from ending up in situations that aren't right for them.

Share your experience with customer service at klantenservice@fidello.nl or share your story via our social media. Together we ensure that every herding dog finds the right home.

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