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Comment by Joanna Kimball on February 5, 2010 at 8:11am

It's not quite that simple - they are supposed to make the sheep/cows/goats/ducks move in the correct direction, and the methods they choose to do that will depend on how well-trained they are and what the sheep or cows are doing. A herding dog is supposed to escalate the pressure on the animal (first looking, then moving, then rushing, and only using their mouths as a last resort) until it moves. If they're trying to turn the animal they will move toward its head or in front of it; if they're trying to move it forward they will go behind.

I've seen an ACD ("heeer") bite a cow in the face when she refused to move and I've certainly seen the same dog go for different areas of the animal to turn it or move it. However, the better trained they are the less they get physical with the animal, period.

Any trained herding dog is expected to be able to both push the sheep away and gather them to the handler.

The only real difference between corgis and border collies is that a corgi is an up-headed loose-eyed herder as opposed to a hard-eye herder. A good border collie will use its eye (head down, stare at the sheep, creep forward; psychological pressure) for most of its work. A good corgi will keep its head up and use little rushing motions and physical pressure.

Comment by Beth on February 5, 2010 at 7:04am

As a herder, they are a drover, which is more of a "heeler" as opposed to the gathering dogs (though they will gather as well). Not sure if that is what your neighbor meant, though!

Comment by Richard Hayes on February 4, 2010 at 11:40pm

in team roping, the header ropes the head and the heeler ropes the legs. not sure how that relates to corgis.

Comment by Sam Tsang on February 4, 2010 at 11:28pm

neither :)

Heeler - Blue Heeler or Red Heeler are Australia Cattle Dogs, specialty is driving cattle by nipping at the heel.