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sheepdog

sheepdog

13 2.1
A dog trained to move and protect sheep on a farm
  • noun
  • /ˈʃipˌdɔg/
translation icon : perro pastor
  • Trained from a young age, the sheepdog is essential for managing the farm's sheep.
  • Shetland sheepdog
  • English sheepdog
  • sheepdog trial

I grew up with a Polish lowland sheepdog Rory right here.

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Examples

  • Grandfather's three sheepdogs ran beside the sheep, turning back stragglers.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Today he walks in to find a big sheepdog trotting in circles in the middle of the room, kicking up dust.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • And the sheepdogs will do it if they have to.

  • Nothing more or less than a well-trained sheepdog could do.

  • Huge amounts of energy and effort, and at one time I seriously thought of getting a sheepdog to help me with Giles.

  • I found a beautiful dog, possibly a sheepdog, wandering on Godfrey Road today.

    Blog text (12)
  • The sheepdog that gets the lambs back on track when they stray off the path.

  • We put a dog guide harness on Grinch, an oversized, Delta-certified, obedience-titled Shetland sheepdog.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The sheepdog expertly rounded up the flock of sheep, guiding them back to the pen.

  • During the competition, the skilled sheepdog demonstrated its herding abilities with precision.

Synonyms

collie
vssheepdog
19 2.0

A dog with long, silky fur and a narrow head that herds sheep

is about dogs trained for both herding and guarding, not just occasional herders
Border collie
vssheepdog
5 3.0

A smart dog used to herd sheep that often has black and white fur

describes trained dogs used to herd and guard sheep rather than breed reputation
shepherd dog
vssheepdog
1 2.7

A dog with long hair that herds and guards sheep

allows dogs of any coat type and focuses on trained herding and guarding
Sheltie
vssheepdog
1 3.5

A small dog with a long thick coat like a Shetland sheepdog

is the general term for trained herding and guarding dogs, not a breed name
1 5.3

A large strong dog with a long shaggy grey and white coat used for herding sheep

is not limited to large or shaggy types, covers any trained herding dog
Shetland sheepdog
vssheepdog
5.8

A small dog with a long thick coat that looks like a small collie

is used for herding and guarding regardless of size
Shetland
vssheepdog
6.8

A small dog like a collie that herds sheep

is broader, covering any size of trained herding and guarding dog
Belgian shepherd
vssheepdog
3.2

A strong active dog from Belgium used for herding and police work

also covers dogs trained to guard sheep as well as to herd them
Belgian sheepdog
vssheepdog
4.5

A strong, intelligent dog from Belgium that herds sheep and helps in jobs like police or rescue

also covers dogs trained to protect as well as herd sheep

Compounds

A large strong dog with a long shaggy grey and white coat used for herding sheep

A strong, intelligent dog from Belgium that herds sheep and helps in jobs like police or rescue

A small dog with a long thick coat that looks like a small collie

How Skilled

sheepdog
13 2.1
working dog
3 2.5

Surface Forms

sheepdog singular
sheepdogs plural

Morphology

sheepdog = sheep + dog (transparent) = sheep + dog

A straightforward compound of two common nouns; learners can infer 'sheepdog' = a dog associated with sheep.

Etymology

The word sheepdog is made from two everyday words, sheep and dog. It literally means 'a dog for sheep', so a sheepdog is a dog trained to herd and guard sheep.