shepherd dog
1
2.7
- noun
- /ˈʃɛpərd dɔɡ/
:
perro pastor
- Shepherd dogs are naturally good herders and make the sheep feel comfortable around them.
- a German shepherd dog
Examples
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Shepherd dogs are known for their intelligence and loyalty, making them great companions.
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And so all shepherd dogs need purpose and they need to serve.
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There are three big German Shepherd dogs in the factory.
Fiction book (1994) -
Shepherd dogs are those dogs that are trained to herd.
Blog text (28) -
Shepherd dogs can be found on large sheep farms.
Blog text (28) -
The shepherd dog skillfully guided the flock of sheep across the meadow.
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My friend recently adopted a shepherd dog that loves to play with the children.
Synonyms
19
2.0
A dog with long, silky fur and a narrow head that herds sheep
13
2.1
A dog trained to move and protect sheep on a farm
1
3.5
A small dog with a long thick coat like a Shetland sheepdog
1
5.3
A large strong dog with a long shaggy grey and white coat used for herding sheep
A small dog with a long thick coat that looks like a small collie
A strong active dog from Belgium used for herding and police work
A strong, intelligent dog from Belgium that herds sheep and helps in jobs like police or rescue
How Skilled
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a dog bred for herding and guarding sheep' is directly derivable from combining 'shepherd' (a worker who guides sheep) with 'dog' (a canine); the first noun specifies the dog's function. This noun-noun attributive composition is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Shepherd dog comes from a simple picture: a shepherd and a dog working together to guide and protect sheep. So today shepherd dog means a dog bred to 'herd' and 'guard' sheep.