Although domesticated for centuries in their native habitats, these dogs are not very far removed from their feral ancestry. They protect those within their flock and within their territory. Their flock may be human and/or animal, and their territory may be as far as they can control. In some countries, flockguardians breeds nearly were decimated by invaders who found they had to kill the flockguardian dogs before they could control a country.
While flockguardian breeds have some characteristics in common, these dogs differ from breed to breed, within breeds, and even among littermates. There are approximately 26 different breeds of flockguardian dogs:
| Aidi | Akbash |
| Anatolian Shepherd | Armant |
| Ca de Bestiar (AKA Perro de Pastor Mallorquin) | Caucasian Ovcharka |
| Estrela Mountain Dog | Great Pyrenees |
| Greek Sheepdog | Himalayan Sheepdog |
| Kangal Dog | Krasky Ovcar (AKA Karst Sheepdog & Istrian Sheepdog) |
| Komondor | Kuvasz |
| Maremma Sheepdog | Polish Tatra (AKA Polish Mountain Dog, Owczarek Tatrzanski, & Tatra Mountain Dog) |
| Portuguese Cattle Dog | Portuguese Watch Dog |
| Pyrean Mastiff | Rumanian Sheepdog (AKA Carpathian Sheepdog) |
| Sarplanina (AKA Illyrian Sheepdog) | Slovak Cuvac |
| South Russian Sheepdog (AKA South Russian Ovtcharka) | Spanish Mastiff |
| Tibetan Kyi Apso | Tibetan Mastiff |
A great deal of research and evaluation should precede the decision to obtain a flockguardian dog. It is just as important to make an honest assessment of personal compatibility and the suitability of home environment for these working dogs as it is to research the individual breeds, breeders, genetic problems, temperament in lines and individual puppies.
