Pastoral dogs

Pastoral dogs were bred to herd livestock, from the small Shetland Sheepdog to the large German Shepherd Dog — most carry a weatherproof double coat and a strong need for mental work, not just exercise.

Example breeds in this group: German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Australian Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

• Puppy and junior

  Herding-breed puppies need controlled exercise while growing, early coat handling, and — in several collie-line breeds — an early look at inherited eye conditions.

• Adult

  Most herding breeds need serious daily exercise and mental stimulation, and this is one of the few groups with a documented multidrug-sensitivity gene that's worth knowing about before your vet prescribes certain medicines.

• Senior

  German Shepherd Dogs have the best UK research base in this group and show clear joint and neurological themes with age — six-monthly checks are the general recommendation as any herding breed gets older.