Herders, also known as shepherd dogs, are intelligent, full of energy and not too difficult to train. Some are still used for their initial purpose – controlling and moving livestock – but over the years, many of these breeds have become popular pets that have never even seen a farm.

It’s not uncommon for breeds in the herding group, that don’t live on a farm, to act on their natural instincts when it comes to interacting with family members. An eager nudge here and there might not seem that bad, but it’s far from ideal when you have small children to think about, even though this behaviour is not aggressive.

Before making a herder part of the family you need to remember that they’re working dogs that need ample exercise, mental stimulation and obedience training to ensure that they lead a happy, healthy life. Something like agility training offers a two-in-one solution that provides physical and mental stimulation at the same time. Training should start as early as possible to ensure that certain behaviours, such as nipping at ankles, don’t become habits.

BORDER COLLIE

For many people, this is probably one of the most well-known herders. They have amazing stamina, are super intelligent and can be trained to be wonderfully obedient. Many are still sheep herders; some are involved in dog sports; others are lovely companions for active, involved owners.

ROUGH COLLIE

Remember Lassie? Well she was a Rough Collie (or Collie). These long-haired dogs are known for their loyalty, either to a family or one individual. Socialisation should start early as Collies can be shy around unfamiliar people, even though their regal posture and alertness make them seem confident.

OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG

This breed is as old as it sounds. These long-haired, purebred dogs are large, yet wonderfully playful.

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

These caring, fun-loving dogs, also known just as Shetlands, are super intelligent. They almost look like mini Rough Collies and their talents include agility, tracking and obedience.

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD

Being highly trainable, these clever dogs know how to help out and perform. They’ve been used for service purposes, military and police work, search and rescue missions and they’ve even participated in horse shows and rodeos! Don’t let the name fool you, because they’re actually bred in the Western United States.

AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG

Some believe that Australian Cattle dogs are descendants of wild dingos (and it’s not too hard to believe). Due to the continent’s expansive, tough terrains, Australian settlers needed a smart, athletic breed capable of efficiently driving their livestock. Australian Cattle dogs need stimulation in the form of agility training and other vigorous physical activities.

GERMAN SHEPHERD

Today German Shepherds are mostly associated with police and military work, but they were actually bred to herd sheep! They are popular pets as well, but they need a purpose as they’re very athletic and trainable. Their confidence and courage are also valued qualities.

BELGIAN MALINOIS

Some Belgian Malinoises may look similar to German Shepherds in terms of colouring and built. They’re also intelligent, confident and full of energy making them ideal for high-energy activities and jobs.

CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI

This one might be a surprise, considering their size and shape, but Cardigan Welsh Corgis are intelligent, highly trainable and adaptable herders, just like many of their ancestors. They fare well in cities as well as on farms, but they’re not low maintenance in terms of exercise. Once you know it’s a distant cousin to the dachshund, the appearance of the Cardigan line makes more sense.

PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI

Generally, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are either born with short tails or no tails at all. They’re also smart and affectionate, with plenty of stamina, so regular stimulation is a must.

Dogs are companions and pets, but they can also be working animals. Some breeds, in terms of size, senses, intelligence and trainability, are better equipped than others to play a working role, for example, in the police force.

These special animals are trained from a very young age to assist their owners with duties they need to perform in their jobs.

Let’s jump into our list of brave, intelligent, hard-working police dog breeds.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd claims the number one spot according to numerous sources. Apart from being highly intelligent, they’ve got lots of personality and are extremely loyal and reliable. Once properly trained, they can show restraint or attack on command. They’re also known for their search and rescue abilities. Their ability to follow instructions, and persist until the job is done, is remarkable. They are brave, even when it comes to apprehending armed suspects.

Rottweiler

Even though they’re not the biggest breed out there, Rottweilers are often seen as strong, scary and aggressive dogs, but they’re not naturally aggressive. However, they can be protective and territorial. Their strength as well as fearless and courageous traits also make them great police dogs.

Belgian Tervuren

The Belgian Tervuren might not seem as dangerous as a Rottweiler, but most people will think twice about upsetting its owner, especially if it’s an authority figure. Almost wolf-like in appearance, these hairy dogs should not be underestimated, even though they have a loving side. The Belgian Tervuren is always ready for action when its human companion demands, but can also be used for drug detection and bomb sniffing.

Doberman Pinscher

Lean, but super strong and fast, the Doberman Pinscher is a very capable police dog. They can chase and catch criminals and they don’t give up. This loyal, reliable breed, that’s up to police force standards, should not be crossed.

Giant Schnauzer

Compared to the miniature breed, a Giant Schnauzer makes quite the statement and can intimidate humans and other animal. For some they may seem fluffy, or even funny with their long facial fur, but there’s a reason they’re used as police dogs. With a large body and confident stance, they demand respect and their jaw strength should not be underestimated. Still, they are loyal companions and trustworthy police dogs that are very capable of fulfilling their duties.

Dutch Shepherd

When considering different breeds for a police dog, the Dutch Shepherd or Dutch herder is an excellent choice. With an expected lifespan of up to 15 years, they are amazing assets, as long as their health and wellbeing are prioritised. They can fulfill their duties for years which may contribute to sustainable breeding.

Labrador Retriever

Also known as great family dogs, Labrador Retrievers should not be underestimated for their working capabilities. As police dogs, they are used for bomb sniffing, drug detection and picking up sensory messages humans can’t always or immediately sense with their ears and eyes.

Boxer Dog

With the proper training, Boxers can be great police dogs. Both the Schutzhund Boxer and Deutscher Boxer are fit for the demanding work. They’re specifically popular because of their agility and ability to jump.

Bloodhound

The first thing many people notice when looking at a Bloodhound is its lovely long ears! But don’t let this long-faced, gorgeous hound fool you. They are strong, disciplined and natural hunting dogs with the nose and instincts to go after bigger ‘prey’ than just fluffy rabbits.

German Short-Haired Pointer

These guys, more commonly known for their hunting skills, have been around for ages and make great police dogs. They are intelligent, keen to please and highly trainable hounds that are great trackers thanks to their keen sense of smell. These beautiful dogs may not look intimidating (in fact, they’re quite friendly if you’re one of the good guys), but they know how to get the job done.

The biological family of cats consists of many species, with the domestic cat being the most recently evolved. 

This family consists of three groups namely:

• Cats that Roar
• The Cheetah
• All Other Small Cats

The classification is, however, more complex in terms of distinguishing species. There might be eight distinct lineages.

COMMON FEATURES

• Predatory hunting mammals
• Keen senses: smell, sight and hearing
• Rounded head and skeletal structure

All 37 recognised species within the cat family may have a common ancestor that lived in Asia 10 to 12 million years ago. Apart from the Arctic, Antarctic and Australia, many types of cats were found all over the globe 3 million years ago.

Geographical and climate changes led to conditions and locations that enabled many species to migrate and thrive. Their natural instinct to seek their own territory probably also contributed as well as the need to follow and secure prey.

Most cats are solitary animals with males and females sharing a similar appearance apart from slight size differences (except lions in terms of living in groups and the male boasting a mane), but they are all territorial and highly developed carnivorous hunters.

They all have: Five digits on their front feet, four digits on their hind feet

• Digits protected by pads with retractable claws (apart from the cheetah in terms of retractable claws)

With a wide range of coat colours, which evolved through the ages, they are able to blend in with their environments to facilitate hunting.

THE EVOLUTION AND ADAPTATION OF THE DOMESTIC CAT

Fossil records indicate that humans and cats have co-existed since the development of early human settlements, even though the cats may have been wild. Earlier, domestication (or taming) of the African wildcat as it has been identified, was believed to have occurred about 3 600 years ago in Egypt. This species, now from Asia and North Africa, is probably the major ancestor of today’s modern domesticated cats.

Later evidence, of a cat deliberately buried with his owner in the Middle East, shows that feline domestication could’ve occurred 10 000 years ago already. 9 500 years ago, an owner and cat were also found in a grave in Cyprus. This may be the earliest true record, which is interesting, as there were no native cats on Cyprus, so domestication could’ve begun earlier.

THE HUMAN POPULATION, RODENTS AND WILD CATS

It is believed that the first human stores of grain could be found in Israel more than 10 000 years ago. As the grain stores developed, the rodent population increased, specifically the species we today call the house mouse. The rodents likely attracted wild cats which eventually, due to the close proximity with humans, required a taming process.

Evidence suggests that cats were commonly associated with human settlements in The Fertile Crescent some 3 700 years ago and that they became an official deity (goddess Bastet) 2 900 years ago. Cats were sacrificed and mummified in large numbers then which indicates that they were actually bred by the Egyptians. It is further thought that the spreading of cats throughout Europe started 2 000 years back.

MODERN CAT FACTS

• Today’s modern house cat and the African wildcat share an almost identical DNA.
• The African wildcat, with a similar appearance to domestic tabby cats, are still around.
• Generally different species cannot interbreed, unlike the domestic cat and African wildcat which has led to:

  (a) feral and stray cats causing problems in many countries and
  (b) a diminishing population of genetically distinct purebred wildcats.

• Carolus Linnaeus classified the domestic cat as Felis catus in 1758, but some believe it should rather be seen as a subspecies of the Wildcat (termed Felis silvestris catus).

DOMESTICATION OF THE CAT

In terms of domestication, cats have not undergone the same major changes as dogs. Their behaviour has remained similar to their ancestors. They can survive in the wild and could revert to a wild state if necessary or desired. Breeding, care and reproduction are also not totally controlled by humans (only pedigree pet cats, a small portion of the total cat population, are almost completely ‘controlled’ by humans).

Today, there are several traits that make cats as pets appealing to humans, including their small size, social nature, body language, love of play and high intelligence. Their natural wild side is also fascinating as they often mimic characteristics of their ancestors.

They are also able to survive with very little water and can tolerate extremes of heat.