Herding or Working?

GSD Fan · 09-24-2010, 06:03 PM

Some sites and people place the German Shepherd breed in the herding group, others place the German Shepherd breed in the working group. So which one is it Herding or Working?

**JKlatsky** · 09-24-2010, 06:30 PM

While they seem to do more work than the working breeds now a days...I would say their characteristics are much more in line with herding breeds than working breeds.

Watching the dogs in SchH, there are more similarities between Mals and Shepherds and the other herding breeds than there are between the Rotties and the Dobermans.

sagelfn · 09-24-2010, 06:37 PM

Herding

ShepHERD

I think people confuse it because GSDs do work, more than any other breed but they are a herding breed

**Cassidy's Mom** · 09-24-2010, 06:56 PM

They were categorized as part of the working group until sometime in the '80s, and then they became part of the herding group. Maybe that's why there's some confusion.

ETA: I looked it up, and the herding group was created in 1982 - the working group was split into two sections.

**lhczth** · 09-25-2010, 11:44 AM

Ignoring how the AKC categorizes the breed, the GSD is a working breed. It was developed using herding breeds (among others), but is not a specialized herding dog like the Border Collie. The same could be said of the Belgian Shepherd and the Dutch Shepherd who are also working breeds. Herding, BTW, is work.

Whiteshepherds · 09-25-2010, 01:09 PM

This is the best historical reference you'll find on the roots of the GSD.

The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Pictures by Max von Stephanitz. (breed founder)

Welcome to Dogwise.com

PupperLove · 09-25-2010, 01:49 PM

I have also seen them in both categories. It makes more sense to me to have them in the Herding group. IMO Herding dogs ARE working dogs, but working dogs are not necessarily herding dogs.

crisp · 09-25-2010, 01:54 PM

The terms are muddied a little bit because of the nature where they are used...the dog show world. The dog was and is intended to be a 'working' dog, regardless of what type of 'work' it performs.

crisp · 09-25-2010, 02:15 PM

Here is a good quote from the breeds founder:

"The breeding of Shepherd dogs must be the breeding of working dogs, this must always be the aim or we shall cease to produce working dogs. In contradistinction to working and utility breeding is 'sport' breeding, which produces a temporary advance but is always followed be deterioration, for it is not done for the sake of the dog, nor does it make him more useful, it is done for the vanity of the breeder and the subsequent purchaser."

onyx'girl · 09-25-2010, 02:30 PM

That was quite the look into the future by the Captian...he already knew what was to come.

09-24-2010, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
GSD Fan Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Posts: 1,128	Herding or Working? Some sites and people place the German Shepherd breed in the herding group, others place the German Shepherd breed in the working group. So which one is it Herding or Working?

09-24-2010, 06:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	While they seem to do more work than the working breeds now a days...I would say their characteristics are much more in line with herding breeds than working breeds. Watching the dogs in SchH, there are more similarities between Mals and Shepherds and the other herding breeds than there are between the Rotties and the Dobermans. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02

09-24-2010, 06:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	Herding ShepHERD I think people confuse it because GSDs do work, more than any other breed but they are a herding breed __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

09-24-2010, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,946	They were categorized as part of the working group until sometime in the '80s, and then they became part of the herding group. Maybe that's why there's some confusion. ETA: I looked it up, and the herding group was created in 1982 - the working group was split into two sections. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04 Last edited by Cassidy's Mom; 09-24-2010 at 07:02 PM.

09-25-2010, 11:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,695	Ignoring how the AKC categorizes the breed, the GSD is a working breed. It was developed using herding breeds (among others), but is not a specialized herding dog like the Border Collie. The same could be said of the Belgian Shepherd and the Dutch Shepherd who are also working breeds. Herding, BTW, is work. __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

09-25-2010, 01:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Whiteshepherds Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northeastern Connecticut Posts: 2,771	This is the best historical reference you'll find on the roots of the GSD. The German Shepherd Dog in Word and Pictures by Max von Stephanitz. (breed founder) Welcome to Dogwise.com

09-25-2010, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
PupperLove Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,084	I have also seen them in both categories. It makes more sense to me to have them in the Herding group. IMO Herding dogs ARE working dogs, but working dogs are not necessarily herding dogs. __________________ ~Laura Jackson, nicknamed "Gehngi" GSD, 5/5/10 www.youravon.com/lauranicole

09-25-2010, 01:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
crisp Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Palatine IL Posts: 492	The terms are muddied a little bit because of the nature where they are used...the dog show world. The dog was and is intended to be a 'working' dog, regardless of what type of 'work' it performs. __________________ chris and clark (whelped 07/18/2008)

09-25-2010, 02:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
crisp Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Palatine IL Posts: 492	Here is a good quote from the breeds founder: "The breeding of Shepherd dogs must be the breeding of working dogs, this must always be the aim or we shall cease to produce working dogs. In contradistinction to working and utility breeding is 'sport' breeding, which produces a temporary advance but is always followed be deterioration, for it is not done for the sake of the dog, nor does it make him more useful, it is done for the vanity of the breeder and the subsequent purchaser." __________________ chris and clark (whelped 07/18/2008)

09-25-2010, 02:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	That was quite the look into the future by the Captian...he already knew what was to come. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement