I'm a new foster home for Georgia Humane, but not new to rescue. For years I've owned and rescued various herding dogs. In the right family, herding dogs make great pets. You'll usually find that even herding dogs who have never been taught to herd anything will exhibit herding behavior. Your pet sheltie or cattle dog may nip at your heels. Your border collie or catahoula may use more eye contact and body language to try to get you to go in the direction he chooses.
Herding dogs are intelligent, active, highly trainable, and loyal. No dog should be left alone in a yard, and that goes double for herding dogs, who thrive on companionship and having a "job." Many people believe herding dogs need a lot of space and should live on a farm or acreage, but that isn't necessarily true. Their personalities vary, and as long as they're kept intellectually stimulated and get plenty of exercise, some can even live in apartments.
Some examples of herding dogs are Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, Australian cattle dogs, Catahoula leopard dogs, border collies, collies, and German shepherds. Because herding dogs are my special love, watch Georgia Humane Society's rescue list for more herding dogs in the future. Right now, Topher the Australian cattle dog is looking for his forever home; you can find him on Petfinder.
