Glossary

Herding Group

The AKC group of breeds developed to gather, drive and guard livestock, including the Border Collie, German Shepherd Dog and Corgis.

Also called: herding dogs, AKC herding group, sheepdogs, stock dogs, cattle dogs

The Herding Group holds breeds that control the movement of livestock. It was created in 1983 when the AKC separated herding breeds from the Working Group. Members include the Border Collie, the German Shepherd Dog, the Australian Shepherd, the Shetland Sheepdog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Old English Sheepdog.

Herding breeds tend to be alert, quick and very sensitive to movement. Without enough work, a family herding dog may try to herd children, cars or other pets. Owners can channel that drive into a herding trial or sports such as dog agility.

The group is defined by the original job. It is not a promise of temperament in any individual dog. The group winner at a show can advance to Best in Show, and other registries may group these breeds differently.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Working Group The AKC group of larger breeds developed for jobs such as guarding, pulling sleds or carts and rescue work, including the Boxer, Rottweiler and Siberian Husky. Sporting Group The AKC group of breeds developed to help hunters find and retrieve game birds, including retrievers, spaniels, pointers and setters. Herding trial A competition in which a dog gathers, drives and pens livestock such as sheep or cattle under a handler's direction, judged on control and ability. Dog agility A timed sport in which a handler directs a dog over an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and ramps, open to purebred and mixed-breed dogs.