Liberty Lighthouse Journal: The Wonderful Herding Dog

Humanity has used herding dogs for a long period of human history since the Neolithic era more than 10,000 years ago. They were first used to gather animals on a hunt making it easier to kill game. Dogs have been bred for thousands of years as not just companions, but working animals.
Through breeding over thousands of years certain dogs have been associated with certain civilizations and cultures. It wasn't until the 19th century that such popular breeds have been so prolific. It was the British that began the practice of recording pedigrees of pets and livestock.
Breeding dogs have been trained over the ages using their predatory behavior as wild dogs and wolves and channeling it for herding.

Different breeds of herders use different techniques. Australian Cattle/Sheep Dogs nip at the heels of livestock, where they got the nickname "Heelers". The Cardigan Welsh Corgi and Pembroke Welsh Corgi were used in like fashion in Wales - and after all, Australians came from Britain and brought certain aspects of culture and traditions with them. Something you rarely see in the United Kingdom today.

Border Collie puppy training with ducks
[Wikipedia]

Border collies have a different method of herding. They get in front of the animals and stare them down to get them to go where they want them to. This keeps the herd in a group and then push them forward. The Australian Kelpie and Australian Koolie use this method with sheep and also once in a pen will traverse across the backs of sheep. German Shepherds are also herders who keep sheep from wandering off a trail.
In the United States, Australia and New Zealand these dogs are called "working dogs". Because Australia has large cattle and sheep stations their use of herding dogs is most well-known. Why hire an extra hand when one has a herding dog?

German Shepherd herding in Ireland

German Shepherds of course got their breed name by what they were used for, but also has been used as war dogs and police dogs even today.
In the late 19th century, a man in Northhumberland Scotland bred several breeds to produce an ideal herding dog. Intelligent and athletic, the Border Collie uses eye contact rather than force. The Border Collie was ideal for the hilly rocky country of Scotland and Northern England and thus the name "Border" Collie, border between Scotland and England. Scottish sheep herders brought these dogs to the United States and so the black-and-white collie became bred into popularity.
Beginning in the late 19th century and up to 1942 36 million sheep grazed open ranges in the United States much to the anger of cattle ranchers who claimed that sheep was eating and destroying precious grazing land. While Border Collies from Scotland had become prolific, the majority of foreign shepherd dogs originated from Basque from the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France from Spain. The bobtail dogs went west and to Australia that became today's Australian Shepherd.
Australian Cattle Dogs are also known as Queensland Heelers and Blue Heelers (by their coloring) or just "Heelers".

Hangin' Tree Cowdogs working crew - Charlie's Cowdogs

Over 25 years ago an Oklahoma cowboy, Gary Ericsson was visiting a sheep-dog trial and was convinced he could come up with a tough dog that was sensitive to commands and could help guide cattle. He combined several breeds and the result was the "Hangin' Tree Cowdog" - named for his ranch brand. They have the characteristics of the Blue Heeler and the Border Collie. They have become popular on the American Western ranches.
Wikipedia has an entry of a long list of the herding dog breeds.
Wikipedia entry has a list of common herding dog commands. The commands are often supplemented with hand and whistle commands to the point that voice commands are not necessary. Herding breeds are highly intelligent and athletic.
And that comes to the point of having a herding dog as a family pet. The collie breeds are most common with Australian breeds becoming more popular because of their short hair and coloring.

Frisbee is a good exercise and in this case a form of training.

They sometimes as the grow older from puppy stage to nip at the family's heels using their herding instincts. They can be trained to channel such instincts elsewhere. Herding dog breeds are active and need to exercise, not just their bodies, but their minds. Today there are dog toys available that can activate the dog's intelligence and frequent exercise like playing Frisbee is best. Warning, cattle/herding dogs often focus upon one person in the family, especially the one who spends the most time with them.
The next photo is a family dog named "Blue" because he had one blue eye and one hazel eye. He crossed the "Rainbow Bridge" a while ago. He always had herding instincts. In this photo Sharon Lehman is walking him in a fund raiser that helped raise money for local Humane Society in Door Peninsula.