Sheepdogs or grazing dogs , since the world began, represent the most functional link between animal and man and the evolution of both : work, settlement and defense are the areas in which this partnership has moved over time and in the space.

• Origin
• Characteristics
• German Shepherd
• Croatian shepherd
• Italian shepherd
• Dutch shepherd
• Scottish Shepherd
• Belgian shepherd

Origins of Sheepdogs

Sheepdogs are considered to be the primordial dogs in the classification of canine macro-characteristics. Already in Roman times their appellation was Canes Pastorales , testifying that the Latin language had already given it a functional definition.

Nomadic peoples dedicated to herding can include the use of various breeds of shepherd dogs, based on the latitude of the territories in which they moved, herd dogs, Scottish shepherds, German and Italian shepherds.

The classification of dogs with certain working characteristics is very broad. Over time, with the change in the economic structures of man and the more permanent settlements , the characteristics linked to the shepherd dog in general have also changed.

Characteristics of Sheepdogs

Sheepdogs are essentially “guardians” . Even those who originally were flocks have channeled their nature into functions of protection and guard, of the house, of the family and its members.

This was made possible from an evolutionary point of view thanks to their particular intelligence and great sensitivity , in the sense of perceptive and intuitive abilities.

They are therefore used in various fields :

• Watch dogs; 
• police dogs; 
• dogs for civil protection and rescue;
• assistance dogs for the blind and deaf;
• pet therapy.

From a morphological point of view, they are generally particularly structured, muscular, resistant specimens, equipped with protective hair and undercoat for thermal excursions, agile.

Temperamentally, shepherd dogs are balanced, independent and strong, not aggressive but able to “pull out their teeth” in case of defense of their role.

Some reference breeds are explanatory to better understand the nature of these dogs.

German Shepherd Dog

It is the most explanatory representative of the sheepdog category and also the most famous. The German Shepherd is a powerful, structured, agile specimen. It can weigh around 40 kg for a height of 64cm at the withers.

Short-haired but with a double coat , it is a very resistant dog , used to provide aid, to assist the police and civil protection in particular searches, the German shepherd has a marked intelligence and for this reason it lends itself easily to training practices. .

Suitable for family coexistence , it needs open spaces for movement, as it is an athletic dog.

Croatian Shepherd Dog

Its original name is Hrvatski Ovcar , used in the past as a herding dog for flocks . It is an agile, muscular breed, not very large , of medium size, it can weigh around 20 kg for a height of 50 cm at the withers. It is characterized by a black hair, with a long, wavy, sometimes curly coat.

The character of the Croatian shepherd is docile and meek, very affectionate towards his family. It is easy to manage, not aggressive at all, it adapts to the spaces available but needs a garden to vent its athletic and playful nature. It is the ideal choice for family environments with children or elderly people, on whom it pays attention and protection.

Italian shepherd dog

This breed falls into the category of wolfhoids , with erect ears. The Italian Shepherd is a rustic, very resistant breed , originally from Abruzzo.

It can weigh around 45 kg for a height of 70 cm at the withers. It has very strong and muscular limbs and webbed feet. The coat is short and the undercoat dense, solid, black, fawn or cream, of great size but extremely agile.

One of its peculiar characteristics is the expressiveness of the gaze , which denotes its maximum attention to different situations. Equipped with a balanced temperament , the Italian shepherd is a very serious guardian who can show aggression towards strangers, towards whom he is very suspicious.It is not a dog for everyone : it marries with very strong human character aspects.

Dutch Shepherd Dog

The original name of this breed is Hollandse Herdershond or also Dutch Shepherd Dog . There are 3 types based on the hair: short, long and hard. The most common version is the short-haired one.

The Dutch Shepherd is medium in size , weighing about 30 kg for a height of 62 cm at the withers. It is a muscular and agile dog with an elongated head and muzzle with straight ears. The coat is brindle, generally tawny-brown in color.

It has a balanced character, loyal and reliable, very intelligent and easily trainable, does not have an aggressive nature. It is used as a rescue dog, it needs to live in large environments with open air spaces to run.

Scottish Shepherd Dog

The elegance of this breed has made him a symbol of the Scottish countryside and appears in many pictures and paintings, the famous Collie . The variants classified are two: Smooth with short hair and Rough with long hair.

The Scottish Shepherd is a medium- sized dog , which can weigh about 34 kg for a height of 60 cm at the withers. It is an agile and muscular dog. The coat can be two-colored or three-colored, with combinations of fawn, white, black hair. It was used for flocks , its character is mild and affectionate.

Ideal for family livingthe Scottish shepherd is very fond of his family and children, does not like solitude and adapts to living in an apartment as well, as long as it is close to his family.

Belgian Shepherd Dog

It was born as a herd dog, but has essentially become a companion dog . The Belgian Shepherd is a breed that has undergone a complex evolution and comes to the present day with 4 different standards: Belgian Shepherd Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd Laekenois, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Belgian Shepherd Tervueren.

They differ slightly in size, color and coat length. The Belgian Shepherd is medium in size, weighs about 30 kg for a height of 62 cm at the withers.

It is a breed that invests in itself the role of guardian, slender, agile and muscular with an elongated muzzle and well erect ears, it needs free spaces to run, but it loves being next to its owner and looking after his family, almost in symbiosis. Andat times it manifests forms of jealousy.