sheep dog
Flock-minding hound
A sheep dog is a dog bred or trained to herd sheep, keeping flocks together and moving them where the shepherd directs.
Border collies and Australian shepherds are common breeds.
The term extends to any dog that guards livestock.
Figuratively, a sheep dog is someone who protects or guides others: He saw himself as the sheep dog watching over his community.
Also spelled sheepdog.
- border collieHerding breed, exceptionally smart
- bobtailTruncated animal tail
- herdingManaging animal groups
- working farmAgricultural land actively cultivated
- collieScottish herding breed
hand signals · kelpie · guarding · gather · trials · outrun · come by · lie down · livestock · heel · Shetland · flock · rounding up · pasture · obedient · agile · farm · loyal
- working animalsherding, guarding, pulling, detection, workhorse
- working dogsK9, sniffer dogs, K-9, search and rescue, Belgian Malinois
- Outbackoutback, station, red sand, cattle station, dust storm
- Wool Farmingwool production, shearing shed, woolshed, wool shed, fleece
- pastoralshepherds, shepherdess, flocks, meadows, pastoral scenes
- sport animalsracehorse, greyhound, polo pony, show horse, rodeo bull
working dog function
sheep dogguard dog
Trained protective canine
attack dog · protection dog · war dog · police dog · lap dog