Known to much of the public for decades as a "toy Collie" or the "little Lassie dog," the Shetland Sheepdog has in recent years come into its own as a distinguished, popular breed — and, happily for its devoted fanciers, the public has moved beyond these inaccurate nicknames. Indeed, although the Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, […]

Aficionado may not be a strong enough term to describe partisans of the Belgian Sheepdog. It takes the word appassionata to really convey the keen devotion of the breed's fanciers toward their dogs. The Belgian Sheepdog inspires such intense loyalty because they themselves live and love with such great passion. Their unique combination of intelligence […]

With their long, profuse double coat, the Old English Sheepdog (OES) is the quintessential shaggy dog. You can't help but know one when you see one. But what about the Bearded Collie (Beardie)? Can you recognize those as readily? In fact, it can be easy to confuse these two members of the Herding Group. You might be lucky enough to […]

The Icelandic Sheepdog's roots go back more than a thousand years. About 1,100 years ago, Norse settlers sailed west across the Norwegian Sea to Iceland. These seafaring pioneers set about creating a new Scandinavian country on the otherwise uninhabited island. Among the cultural touchstones they brought from Norway were the Nordic language and a taste […]

As a child with a passion for dogs, constantly bringing home the strays that crossed her path, Sylvia Calderwood read every book written by Albert Payson Terhune, the beloved author who was also a renowned Collie breeder. So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that her heart was eventually captured by the Shetland […]

For decades, Lassie has been the star of books, movies, and television shows. This brave and intelligent dog character is a rough-coated Collie, and her incredible personality mirrors the breed's typical characteristics. Thanks to Lassie, Collies are beloved and admired. They are also effortlessly recognizable. But did you know there's a similar breed often mistaken […]

Linda Brady has been involved in dog training since 1978 but nothing quite prepared her for what she dealt with in early December. A resident of Oxford, Michigan (population 3,586), she was alerted shortly after the shootings at the town high school on November 30. “You always think something like this is never going to […]

The Puli is a serious herding breed with a history that may date back to A.D. 900 and a place in the hearts of Hungarians to this day.

This is not just another shaggy-dog story. Also known as the Polski Owczarek Nizinny, or PON for those of us who are Slavicly-challenged, the hearty Polish Lowland Sheepdog joined the Herding Group and became AKC-recognized in 2001. On the cuteness scale alone, it was no surprise that this dog stirred up a lot of enthusiasm […]

The shaggy Old English Sheepdog is a lovable pet, but they're also a hard worker and smart companion. Here are some facts you may not know about the breed.

It's kind of fitting that a dog named "Snowhill’s Zygmund Marley" is a Polski Owczarek Nizinny (PON in the United States) who answers to a name like Ziggy. Chances are, this is a breed (Polish Lowland Sheepdog) many of you have never heard of. In 2019, the breed ranked 173 out of 193 in popularity. […]

Highly intelligent, energetic, and athletic, the Shetland Sheepdog is also a devoted family companion. See why Sheltie owners are in love with the breed.

For Devon and Randy Rauenzahn, it was going to be a typical Christmas week visiting family in Eastern Washington. "Typical" was not quite how it actually turned out. The couple, who work in Spokane and operate Heaven With a D Rescue in nearby Deer Park, found themselves suddenly in the middle of a large Shetland […]

Penny Kelley of Sandusky, Ohio, has had Icelandic Sheepdogs for 11 years. The dam of her first litter, Ch. Valhalla’s Heart O’ Gold, is the first Icelandic Sheepdog to earn an AKC championship (shown by Kelley) and is the mother of nine AKC champions, and six of those are Grand Champions AKC: How did you get started in breeding dogs? Kelley: I got started in breeding Icelandic Sheepdogs nine years ago after my first girl, Ch. Valhalla’s Heart O’ Gold (Stella), became […]

The Icelandic Sheepdog is as old as Iceland itself. The ancestors of these Nordic spitz dogs arrived on the island with its first human inhabitants in the late 800s, and were used to herd and guard sheep, horses, and cattle. Today, these small-to-mid-sized working dogs make loyal, loving family pets.

The Croatian Sheepdog is an agile, helpful and humble shepherd dog, self-reliant to his owner, brave and trustworthy. He is the true master of his flock, often running through the back of the herd to get to the point of intervention as soon as possible.

The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is an extremely intelligent, quick, and obedient herder from Scotland’s remote and rugged Shetland Islands. Shelties bear a strong family resemblance to their bigger cousin, the Collie.

The Portuguese Sheepdog is exceptionally intelligent and lively. Very devoted to the shepherd and his herd, he can be somewhat wary of strangers and vigilant at night. Today, he is also an excellent companion, sporting and guard dog. He is known for his skillful ability to keep livestock in pastures and also for searching out […]

A shaggy-coated herding dog who thrives on exercise and hard work, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is clever, confident, and a bit stubborn. Compact, alert, and adaptable, they are beloved companions and watchdogs of Polish city dwellers.

The Old English Sheepdog is the archetypical shaggy dog, famous for his profuse coat and peak-a-boo hairdo, a distinctive bear-like gait, and a mellow, agreeable nature. The OES is a big, agile dog who enjoys exploring and a good romp.

The Icelandic Sheepdog, Iceland’s only native dog breed, is a charmingly friendly and faithful all-around herder of small-to-medium size. A densely coated Nordic spitz-type breed, Icelandics are enthusiastically devoted to their humans.

Generally happy with kids and other animals, the low-maintenance and robustly healthy Bergamasco is much more than a show-stopping hairdo. Eager to please, smart, and stubbornly devoted to work, Bergamascos are patient but protective.

The Belgian Sheepdog is a highly trainable herder whose versatility and intelligence is the stuff of canine legend. This is a breed built for hard work, and plenty of it. These sensitive souls crave human companionship and abhor neglect.

Courtesy of Mary J McKennan, AKC Breeder of Merit   The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a hard worker and a loyal companion. It's most popular in Poland, naturally, but it also has a community of devoted owners in the United States. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about the Polish Lowland Sheepdog. […]

It's awesome to watch dogs do what they were bred to do, but from this vantage point it is truly breathtaking. These herding dogs are such diligent, hard workers! We are mesmerized. See it for yourself.   .video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; } .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container […]

Meet Willey Boy and Cheswick, two Old English Sheepdog buddies who are registered Pet Partners therapy teams in Bellingham, Washington. Willey and his handler, Barb Webb, have been a registered therapy team since 2010 with more than 300 hours donated. Cheswick and his handler, Judy Davis, have been a therapy team since 2013 and have […]

Are you considering adding a Belgian Sheepdog to your family? Get to know the breed and see if they're a good fit for you!

My advice to others over the years has always been to look to the dams of the stud dogs. Tail-male charts are interesting, but they leave out a very important element of the story: the bitch. It is the bitch who provides the complement to the sire and determines the distinction among his offspring, both […]

From “Times Past,” AKC Gazette:  1. Say “shaggy dog” and the Old English Sheepdog is the breed most people think of first. Beneath the profuse double coat is a square, muscular, big-boned herding dog standing 21 or 22 inches at the shoulder. Their eyes (when you can see them) are dark brown, or blue, or […]

Three Breeds Gain Full AKC Recognition The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to welcome the Cane Corso, Icelandic Sheepdog and Leonberger as the 165th, 166th, and 167th AKC recognized breeds. The Icelandic Sheepdog will join the Herding Group while both the Cane Corso and Leonberger will join the Working Group. The new breeds became […]