sheepdog

[ sheep-dawg, -dog ]

/ ˈʃipˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /

a dog trained to herd and guard sheep.

Origin of sheepdog

First recorded in 1765–75; sheep + dog

Mr. Lavender sighed, and at this manifestation of his grief his sheep-dog redoubled her efforts to comfort him.

The Burning Spear |John Galsworthy
He was a Rip Van Winkle of a sheep-dog—the kind of dog you would picture in a fairy-tale.

Out To Win |Coningsby Dawson
No man could act as sheep-dog for Royalty and retain skill as a detective.

The Hand in the Dark |Arthur J. Rees
Again about midnight he was roused, this time by the whining of the sheep-dog "Nipper."

"Over There" with the Australians |R. Hugh Knyvett

At first he thought he hadn't seen a dog that looked like a cross between an Airedale and a Belgian sheep-dog.

Pushed and the Return Push |George Herbert Fosdike Nichols, (AKA Quex)

sheepdog

/ (ˈʃiːpˌdɒɡ) /

Also called: shepherd dog a dog used for herding sheep See Border collie

any of various breeds of dog reared originally for herding sheep See Old English sheepdog, Shetland sheepdog