Question: what is a farm dog?

Answer: any dog trained by its owner to work on a farm.

A farm dog, by the very nature of its work, cannot function efficiently if it is overweight. These animals need to scamper about, rounding up sheep, herding the cattle home for milking and alerting their owners to any potential danger. Fat dogs need not apply. A fat dog would be virtually useless out on the farm.

Farm dogs herd, watch over other animals in their care, protect their master and sometimes go hunting with him. They are very territorial and mainly live out of doors in kennels and outhouses.

Because they are used to accompanying their owner and are out in the fields all day, they seldom make suitable family pets.

They have been bred as outdoor animals, and that is how they like to live.