diff --git a/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5tools.py b/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5tools.py
index 4c8eea983..7a644f0b7 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5tools.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5tools.py
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ def copy_file(self, **kwargs):
             {'name': 'exhaust_dci', 'type': bool,
              'doc': 'If True (default), exhaust DataChunkIterators one at a time. If False, exhaust them concurrently.',
              'default': True},
-            {'name': 'herd', 'type': 'HERD',
+            {'name': 'herd', 'type': 'hdmf.common.resources.HERD',
              'doc': 'A HERD object to populate with references.',
              'default': None})
     def write(self, **kwargs):
diff --git a/src/hdmf/backends/io.py b/src/hdmf/backends/io.py
index 6ec6e6e65..35023066f 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/backends/io.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/backends/io.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def read(self, **kwargs):
         return container
 
     @docval({'name': 'container', 'type': Container, 'doc': 'the Container object to write'},
-            {'name': 'herd', 'type': 'HERD',
+            {'name': 'herd', 'type': 'hdmf.common.resources.HERD',
              'doc': 'A HERD object to populate with references.',
              'default': None}, allow_extra=True)
     def write(self, **kwargs):
diff --git a/src/hdmf/container.py b/src/hdmf/container.py
index 2d4cf9ba4..614fbbccd 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/container.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/container.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class HERDManager:
     This class manages whether to set/attach an instance of HERD to the subclass.
     """
 
-    @docval({'name': 'herd', 'type': 'HERD',
+    @docval({'name': 'herd', 'type': 'hdmf.common.resources.HERD',
              'doc': 'The external resources to be used for the container.'},)
     def link_resources(self, **kwargs):
         """