Dog Breeds in the Working Group

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This Group used to be very much larger numerically; until several years ago it covered what is now the Pastoral Group but as new breeds were introduced it became so unwieldy that it was split by giving the herding breeds a Group of their own and the Leonberger who had previously sat rather uncomfortably in the Utility Group was brought in.

There remains a cross-over between dogs in the Pastoral and Working Groups because many mainland European breeds are multi-purpose.  The Hovawart, for example, herds and guards, whilst the Bouvier combines herding, carting and general guarding duties.

In the UK the wolf became extinct by 1680, so the native British Pastoral breeds had just herding duties - no need to protect the flock from large predators.  This accounts for the very different size and temperament between the multi-purpose herders found in the Working Group and those of the Pastoral Group.

What all these breeds have in common is their intelligence and eagerness to please their owners, all highly trainable although their historic uses are variable.  The Great Dane, for example, hunted boar and stag, the Bernese and a number of other breeds were carting dogs, the Newfoundland hauled nets for fishermen and the Spitz breeds were and are used for sled pulling.  The Dobermann was created by a tax-collector  as a protection dog and the Mastiff breeds, descended from the Roman Molosser were used as guard dogs and for centuries were used as war dogs.

What all these breeds have in common is their intelligence and eagerness to please their owners, all highly trainable although their historic uses are variable.  The Great Dane, for example, hunted boar and stag, the Bernese and a number of other breeds were carting dogs, the Newfoundland hauled nets for fishermen and the Spitz breeds were and are used for sled pulling.  The Dobermann was created by Herr Dobermann, a tax-collector,  as a protection dog and the Mastiff breeds, descended from the Roman Molosser were used as guard dogs and for centuries were used as armoured war dogs.