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The Herding Group - Collies, and Sheepdogs, and Cattle Dogs, Oh My!
A Border Collie "Gives Eye" to some Sheep 
There are some pretty amazing dogs in the Herding Group. If you have seen the movie, Babe, you probably recognize what the Border Collie is doing in the photograph above. By simply "giving eye" (or staring at the sheep), along with making barking sounds, this amazing breed is able to keep the flock together. It is somewhat like "ruling through intimidation," but it is very successful! The Herding Group members were all bred to do similar tasks throughout history. Can you imagine how relieved farmers and ranchers were when they learned of a way to keep their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle together as they drove them from ranches and farms to market? 
It is pretty amazing to watch a small dog, like the Corgi (below), nip at the legs of huge steers and help direct a whole herd, simply by leaping up and nipping.The dogs who are members of the Herding Group have both very good and very challenging behaviors, when looking at the attributes of a good family dog. One of the very good things about these dogs is that they were bred to work closely with people. They are extremely intelligent dogs that take direction well in training , and they also problem-solve well on their own. But their intelligence and need to work is so intense, they bore quickly if not given interesting work to do or puzzles to solve. If you offer challenging training that creates new learning opportunities, and lots of room to run, you will create a happy herder. If not, weird behavior will follow. Herding Group dogs, pace, stare, spin and will pretty much drive you crazy if you do not offer them appropriate challenges. Your children *ARE* little lambs, that is for sure, but herding dogs will actually *TREAT* them like sheep or cattle, nipping at their heels as they race by, or herding them into the time-out corner! This is something that you can work with in training, but be prepared to have both patience and time to fix this inherited trait. Lucky for you, the majority of these dogs are gentle and many are quite affectionate and playful, too.
Currently, the American Kennel Club's Herding Group consists of a total of nineteen breeds. Listed from smallest to largest, they are as follows: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdog, Puli, Polish Lowland, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Canaan Dog, Bearded Collie, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Old English Sheepdog, Collie, Briard, German Shepherd Dog, Beauceron, and Bouvier des Flandres. If you haven't read our Choosing a Dog page, we suggest that you do so now, to learn more about the reasons that we recommend certain dogs over others on this site. Reading the information there, as well as taking our Selection Quiz for Choosing a Dog will help you learn more about your own needs and what our site goals are to see if they align well together. If you are looking for a great family dog, we think you have come to the right place for good information on how to find the best dog for you! Our Favorites from the Herding GroupFrom this group of nineteen breeds, we have two breeds that we highly recommend for families with children, and three additional breeds that we can recommend with some reservations.First, let's look at the two breeds that we like the very best for family dog choices - the Bearded Collie and the Collie (both the Rough-Coated and Smooth-Coated varieties). Bearded Collies, or "Beardies" as they are often called, are big, bouncy and definitely shaggy. If you are someone who cannot commit to spending a lot of time brushing your dog, don't even consider this breed. You will also need to spend some time with your dog, socializing and training him, because like other dogs in the Herding Group, the Bearded Collie will nip at the heels of your children in attempts to herd them, and will be tempted to chase your kids, bikes, cars - and many other moving objects! 
To the right, you will see a picture of a Rough-Coated Collie, made famous in the 1960's in the Lassie TV series. ("What is it, girl?.... Is Betsy drowning in the river?? Take me to her, girl!") Collies are easy to train and loyal to their families. They jump a lot (and high!) and are prone to chasing, so be sure that you can confine them properly. Socialization is important. What better way to help socialize a dog than take him through a training class! Your Collie will learn what you expect, which will build needed trust in you as you spend time learning together. Collies generally enjoy other animals, which is good news if you already have other pets. Prepare to spend time brushing and grooming your dog if you choose the rough-coated variety. Smooth-Coated Collies require minimal coat care. Although we generally love to recommend shelters, be sure to find your Collie through a reputable breeder or possibly a Collie Rescue that is very familiar with the dogs it is placing. Because of the popularity of the breed due to the Lassie television show, unscrupulous breeders have created some high strung dogs with behavior problems. If you find a good Collie though, your family will have a devoted friend for life! Other breeds in the Herding Group that we can recommend with reservations are: the German Shepherd Dog More on these dogs later.... From Herding Group to the Home Page
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You might have seen Tim Allen's remake of The Shaggy Dog, but I bet you didn't know that the real lead in the movie was the Bearded Collie who was his alter-ego.