sheepdog

IPA/ˈʃiːpdɒɡ/
IPA/ˈʃiːpdɔːɡ/

sheepdog — noun

  • sheepdogsingular
  • sheepdogsplural

1. a dog whose job is to guide, gather, and move sheep from one area to another, su

1.nounB1
Definition

a dog whose job is to guide, gather, and move sheep from one area to another, such as into a different field or a holding pen.

Example

Ayesha watched the sheepdog guide the flock into a fresh field before sunset.

guide + flock + field — typical objects and direction

The farmer trained his young sheepdog to follow whistle commands from across the valley.

trained + to follow + whistle commands — training context

Common collocations
  • trained sheepdog
  • working sheepdog
  • farm sheepdog
  • sheepdog handler
  • sheepdog trial
Synonyms
  • herding dog

    broader term — includes dogs that herd cattle, goats, or other livestock, not only sheep

  • shepherd dog

    less common synonym, used mainly in older or regional English

Usage Note

The term emphasises the dog's trained function more than its breed. A mixed-breed animal that has learned to herd sheep is still called a sheepdog.

Common Mistakes

The shepherd guided the sheep across the road.' (when referring to the dog)
The sheepdog guided the sheep across the road.
shepherd is the person who handles the dog; sheepdog is the dog itself.
I saw a German Shepherd herding sheep in the field.
I saw a sheepdog herding sheep in the field.
German Shepherd is one specific breed; sheepdog is a broader term for any dog that herds sheep.

2. a type of dog that belongs to a breed traditionally used for herding or guarding

2.nounB1
Definition

a type of dog that belongs to a breed traditionally used for herding or guarding sheep, such as the border collie, Old English sheepdog, or Belgian sheepdog.

Example

The Old English sheepdog has a thick, shaggy coat that needs regular grooming.

Old English sheepdog — breed name used with physical description

Wei adopted a sheepdog from the local animal shelter and named it Buster.

adopted from shelter — pet adoption context

Common collocations
  • purebred sheepdog
  • sheepdog breed
  • sheepdog puppy
  • Old English sheepdog
  • Belgian sheepdog
Synonyms
  • collie

    narrower — refers specifically to long-haired herding breeds from Scotland and northern England

  • herding breed

    broader category — includes any breed of dog developed for managing livestock

Usage Note

Frequently combined with a breed name before the word, as in 'Old English sheepdog' or 'Belgian sheepdog.' The focus is on ancestry and physical type, not necessarily on current training.

Common Mistakes

Border collies are a breed of shepherd.
Border collies are a breed of sheepdog.
shepherd refers to a person; sheepdog refers to the dog breed.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five terms relate to dogs that work with sheep, but their scope differs. 'Sheepdog' is the most general word for a dog trained to herd sheep — it says nothing about breed. 'Herding dog' is even broader, covering any breed trained to move livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, or ducks). 'Collie' refers to a specific Scottish breed developed for herding, typically with a long coat and pointed nose. 'Border collie' is a more focused category within the collie family, prized for intense eye contact and crouching posture when working sheep. 'Shepherd dog' is a slightly older synonym for sheepdog but is less common today; it can also cause confusion with 'shepherd' (the person). In conversation, you might say 'That border collie is a fantastic sheepdog' — mixing breed and function — because the two perspectives often overlap in real life.

sheepdog ↗herding dogcollie ↗border collieshepherd dog

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sheepdog training
  • sheepdog demonstration
  • sheepdog championship

Prepositions

  • of (a breed of sheepdog)
  • with (a sheepdog with a thick coat)

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'sheepdog' is a compound formed from 'sheep' (a grazing animal raised for wool and meat) and 'dog' (a domesticated canine). Both parts come from Old English — 'scēap' for sheep and 'docga' for dog. The combination has been used since at least the 18th century to describe dogs that work with shepherds to manage flocks.