Within the working group, you'll find dogs such as the Australian Shepherd Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Collie, Doberman, German Shepherd Dog, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, Samoyed, Siberian Husky and Welsh Corgi. This is one of the most exciting dog groups to talk about since many of the more recognizable and popular breeds fall into this group. For the purposes of this review, I've included both the herding and working dogs into the working group (relatively common practice). As a combined group, this is the largest group containing the most breeds.

These dogs want to work. They've been bred for hundreds of years to guard, herd and act as service animals. They are very intelligent and trainable. However, keep them busy, since they can get board easily. These are not couch potatoes like most Greyhounds are.

If you are willing to take on the challenge of owning a dog that by instinct wants to work or herd, consider a breed such as the Bernese Mountain Dog. The Bernese is a great family companion. They are very intelligent and affectionate. However, keep them active, because they tend to gain weight if not exercised. Other great large breeds include the Boxer, but note they tend to have low life expectancies, approximately 8 years, the German Shepherd Dog, which is a great all-around dog and the Collie. The Collie comes in the very well-recognized rough coat variety, as well as the smooth coat variety. I had a Collie for many years and enjoyed his playfulness and loyalty. When I was young, my Collie protected me from two 130 pound Newfoundlands that cornered me in my yard. My Collie was remarkable!

For those seeking a smaller dog, consider the Australian Shepherd Dog or the Border Collie. Each is beautiful, especially the Australian in my opinion, but be aware that they really love to herd. They'll need plenty of exercise. A fenced-in yard would be great. Lastly, one of my favorites of all time is the Welsh Corgi. There are two main types of Corgis, the Cardigan and the Pembroke. The Cardigan has a long tail and large ears, while the Pembroke normally has a docked tail and smaller ears. Both types are extremely affectionate, don't require much grooming and require less exercise than most working dogs.