A sheepherder is someone whose job is to watch over and care for a flock of sheep, usually while they graze on open grassland or mountain pastures. Sheepherders spend long stretches of time outdoors with their animals, often in remote areas far from towns, making sure the sheep don't wander off, protecting them from predators like wolves or coyotes, and guiding them to good grazing spots and water sources.

The work requires patience, self-reliance, and a willingness to live simply, sometimes in a small wagon or tent for weeks at a time. A sheepherder might have only a few loyal dogs for company, working alongside them to keep the flock together and safe. These herding dogs, like border collies, help by running around the edges of the flock and responding to whistles or calls.

Sheepherding has been an important job for thousands of years across many cultures. In the American West, sheepherders historically moved their flocks across vast ranges of public land. Today, the word sheepherder is used mainly in the western United States, while people in other English-speaking countries usually say shepherd instead. Both words mean essentially the same thing, though shepherd sounds more traditional and appears often in historical or religious writing.