Sisalwool’s Fun Guide to Sheepdogs

Ahead of International Dog Day on 26 August, we’re celebrating some of the hardest-working colleagues in the countryside

Following our guide to Britain’s sheep breeds, it felt only right to turn our attention to the dogs that help keep those woolly characters moving in the right direction.

There is no single “best” sheepdog. The right dog depends on the landscape, the size and temperament of the flock, the job at hand and, most importantly, the handler.

But whether they gather, drive, bark, heel or politely apply the world’s most intense stare, these dogs bring generations of instinct and serious stamina to the field.

Here are ten of the best-known sheepdogs and pastoral breeds you may spot working around the UK......

1. Border Collie

The precision operator

The Border Collie is the sheepdog most people picture first and for good reason.

Developed around the Anglo-Scottish border, it is the UK’s iconic working sheepdog: quick, clever and capable of gathering sheep with remarkable control. The International Sheep Dog Society registers working sheepdogs, Border Collies, in its stud book, reflecting the breed’s enduring place in UK livestock work.

Best at: Gathering sheep, trial work, precise commands and all-round farm work.

Pros

·       Exceptionally intelligent and responsive to training.

·       Agile enough for hills, gates, pens and sudden sheep-related curveballs.

·       Uses a distinctive, intense “eye” to control stock quietly.

·       Works brilliantly with a skilled handler.

Cons

·       Needs proper daily work, training and brain exercise—not just a brisk walk.

·       Can become obsessive when under-stimulated.

·       May attempt to herd children, bicycles, footballs or the postman (watch out Pat).

Sisalwool verdict: The project manager of the field: focused, efficient and never afraid to look at a problem until it moves.

2. Welsh Sheepdog

The hill-country driver

The Welsh Sheepdog is a traditional, practical farm dog with a strong connection to Welsh livestock country.

Unlike the classic “strong-eyed” Border Collie, it tends to work more upright and more loosely, often making it particularly useful for driving stock away from the handler across open ground.

Best at: Driving sheep, large flocks and working independently over Welsh hills and rough ground.

Pros

·       Hardy, athletic and bred for long days outdoors.

·       Often excellent at driving sheep forward rather than only gathering them back.

·       Strong feet, stamina and a no-nonsense working attitude.

·       Bred for ability rather than a uniform “show” appearance.

Cons

·       Working style can feel less precise to someone expecting a Border Collie’s close control.

·       Less common, so finding a proven working line can take effort.

·       Still needs skilled handling and plenty to do.

Sisalwool verdict: Built for the hills, the weather and the job, rather like a good natural insulation system.

3. Huntaway

The bark-powered mover

Originally developed in New Zealand, the Huntaway is now familiar on some larger UK farms. Where a Border Collie may use stillness and eye contact, a Huntaway uses its voice: its bark helps move stock across big, open areas.

Best at: Driving sizeable groups of sheep over wide, open ground.

Pros

·       Powerful, resilient and bursting with stamina.

·       Voice-led working style can shift sheep confidently over distance.

·       Useful when a handler needs stock moved forward rather than gathered.

• A strong presence around larger flocks.

Cons

·       The clue is in the name: it is not a quiet worker.

·       Can be too much dog for a smallholding or compact setup.

·       Needs structure, work and experienced handling.

Sisalwool verdict: Less “quietly persuasive”, more “team briefing at volume”. Very effective.

4. Australian Kelpie

The yard athlete

Another import that has earned a place on UK farms, the Australian Kelpie is famous for its speed, balance and ability to work tight spaces. It can even “back” sheep….moving across the top of a packed flock to reach the far side of a pen.

Best at: Pens, yards, handling systems and moving large groups efficiently.

Pros

·       Fast, agile and exceptionally athletic.

·       Confident in crowded yards and close stock work.

·       Can cover ground all day when properly conditioned.

·       Often a very useful complement to a gathering dog.

Cons

·       Has a huge work drive and energy reserve.

·       Can be intense, quick and a little too enthusiastic for novice handlers.

·       Needs purposeful work, not a life spent waiting for the next walk.

Sisalwool verdict: The warehouse logistics specialist: fast, fearless and somehow already on the other side of the job.

5. Bearded Collie

The shaggy Highlander

Dogs resembling today’s Bearded Collie have worked livestock in Scotland for centuries. Beneath that glorious coat is a tough, active pastoral dog with a heritage in managing sheep and cattle across challenging country.

Best at: Mixed-stock work, all-weather farm life and anyone with a very good grooming routine.

Pros

·       Hardy and energetic, with traditional Scottish pastoral roots.

·       Weather-resistant coat is well suited to a damp British day…or 200 of them.

·       Bright, engaging and capable of working with different types of livestock.

·       More charm per square inch than is strictly necessary.

Cons

·       That coat collects mud, burrs, twigs and occasionally its own postcode.

·       Working-bred examples are less common than show or companion lines.

·       Needs regular grooming as well as regular work.

Sisalwool verdict: Proof that a bit of natural insulation can be both practical and magnificently fluffy.

6. Rough Collie

The elegant all-rounder

The Rough Collie belongs to the wider British collie family and has a long pastoral heritage. Today, many are family or show dogs, but the breed’s intelligence, sensitivity and livestock-working background remain part of its story.

Best at: Lighter stock work, watchful farm companionship and looking exceptionally composed in a gale.

Pros

• Intelligent, gentle and highly people-oriented.
• Strong historic connection to livestock work.
• Usually an attentive, trainable companion.
• Has undeniable main-character energy.

Cons

• Modern lines are often bred more for companionship or showing than sheep work.
• Working ability varies considerably between lines.
• Long coat requires upkeep.

Sisalwool verdict: The country-house edition: heritage credentials, excellent presentation, still ready to lend a hand.

7. Smooth Collie

The practical cousin

The Smooth Collie shares the Rough Collie’s heritage but comes in a far more field-friendly short coat. Historically used as a herding dog, it offers much of the same intelligence and sensitivity without the daily de-burring operation.

Best at: Lighter farm work, active homes and anyone who prefers less mud in the bathroom.

Pros

• Bright, responsive and athletic.
• Short coat is much easier to maintain after wet-weather adventures.
• Retains the classic collie watchfulness and trainability.
• A sensible option for a practical pastoral look.

Cons

• Finding a proven working line can be harder than with Border Collies.
• Usually less specialised for high-level sheep work.
• Still needs mental stimulation and regular activity.

Sisalwool verdict: All the useful instincts, fewer grooming invoices.

8. Shetland Sheepdog

The small but mighty one

The Shetland Sheepdog (or Sheltie) comes from the Shetland Islands, where compact, hardy animals made sense in a demanding environment. It was developed as a small herding dog and remains an alert, agile pastoral breed.

Best at: Smallholdings, lighter stock and keeping a very close eye on absolutely everything.

Pros

• Small, nimble and impressively intelligent.
• Adaptable for smaller-scale setups.
• Loyal, responsive and quick to learn.
• Proof that “small” is not the same as “low effort”.

Cons

• Not built for moving a huge, stubborn flock over a fellside.
• Can be vocal.
• Often better suited to light duties than hard, full-time sheep work.

Sisalwool verdict: Compact format, substantial performance.

9. Lancashire Heeler

The pocket-sized grafter

The Lancashire Heeler is a compact British breed with historic farm duties that included herding cattle and dispatching rodents. It is not the first name people reach for in a sheepdog conversation, but that makes it a great addition to the list.

Best at: Smallholdings, mixed farm tasks and being underestimated.

Pros

• Small but tough, alert and full of character.
• Useful around compact farms and mixed livestock settings.
• Practical coat and manageable size.
• Typically very enthusiastic about having a job.

Cons

• More associated with cattle driving and general farm work than specialist sheep gathering.
• Not the right choice for extensive upland flock work.
• Can be lively and strong-willed.

Sisalwool verdict: Small footprint, serious output.

10. Old English Sheepdog

The big, shaggy drover

• A distinctly pastoral breed with a genuine livestock-working history.
• Strong, intelligent and energetic, with a robust build for a full day outdoors.
• Weather-resistant double coat suits variable British conditions. 
  

• The coat requires a lot of grooming and will happily collect mud, seeds and half the hedgerow.
• Modern dogs are more commonly companions or show dogs than working farm dogs.
• It needs significant exercise, training and mental stimulation; a fluffy appearance should not be mistaken for a low-maintenance lifestyle.

The real secret ingredient

The best sheepdog is not necessarily the cleverest, quickest or fluffiest. It is the dog that suits the flock, farm, terrain, handler and task.

A Border Collie may be the precision expert. A Welsh Sheepdog may shine when driving a flock across a hillside. A Huntaway may be exactly what is needed to shift sheep over open ground. And somewhere, a Corgi is almost certainly organising people who did not ask to be organised.

What they all share is a remarkable willingness to work alongside people, often in weather that would make the rest of us reconsider our career choices.

And of course, we’re not the experts….this is just a bit of fun to celebrate International Dog Day.

Over to you

Do you work with sheepdogs, live with one, or have a favourite four-legged farm colleague? Share a photo or tag us in your sheepdog stories this International Dog Day.

And, in case you missed it, our guide to the sheep themselves….Fleece Fighters: The Sisalwool Guide to British Sheep….is also available to read and download.

The sheep may supply the wool, but the dogs deserve a little credit for keeping the operation moving.