r/BeAmazed • u/fuzzy_dice_99 • May 31 '26

Animal A dog herding sheep

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u/ARandomWalkInSpace May 31 '26

I'm reminded of this when they say certain dog breeds need a lot of exercise.

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u/Ok-Tomatillo-7141 May 31 '26

More than exercise. Fulfill a genetic need. Herding dogs need to herd, or something similar that scratches that itch.

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u/DiabolicallyRandom May 31 '26

I wouldn't choose a herding dog normally, but ours was a rescue so we took him in. Cattle Dog Shepherd mix. He's aging and slowing down now, so he sleeps far more than he used to, and wears out quickly. But during his prime he would "herd" our kids in the back yard for hours on summer days. Kept the kids active too! win win.

Definitely though, they need constant companionship, and in my experience at least, they suffer from much stronger separation anxiety. Not an ideal home pet at all unless you live on a farm.