To give more context on herding breeds. There are a lot of videos I sadly can’t share as they’re on private groups. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XhpMtDrgFII

Heeler vs border collie

Nowadays a lot of people are focused on a grittier border collie type dog. Rather than breeding or taking time to try to train heelers to herd like a border collie. Like the lady in the video describes. They just want a tougher border collie. They don’t need to be quite as much of a firecracker as most heelers. Particularly nowadays.  There is a split between cattle bred border collies and sheep bred border collies though.  Some of them can be similar to heelers in that they can trend towards being too tough on sheep and some sheep bred BCs are too soft for cattle. 

8 minutes in: Excess stress from dogs can cause issues particularly in pregnant ewes. Common joke that sheep are born looking for ways to die.  Lower stress is far more important in sheep than cattle based on species differences. 
 

12 minutes in: She has some bad info there. Stumpy tailed cattle dogs and Australian cattle dogs are 2  different breeds. In the US Stumpies probably were mistaken as ACDs and that is likely why there are natural bobtails and the trend towards docked tails in the US.

Very unimpressed with this owner, she’s just letting her dog harass her cows. Stuff like this is how dogs wind up getting shot by neighbors as the dogs learn bad habits. But it shows a bit on how intense he is

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a_PZB-3Zvpk&pp=ygUVSGVlbGVyIGhlcmRpbmcgY2F0dGxl

Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U0OISRAUFVY&pp=ygUfaGVlbGVyIHZzIGJvcmRlciBjb2xsaWUgaGVyZGluZw%3D%3D

Not a bad dog but keep note of how often he is going after heels even when the cattle are moving as needed. This is when pressure should be taken off. No reason for that dog to be biting on them at that moment. Extra stress and injuries on the cattle. More chances for the dog to get hurt as well. This is more on the handler there he should have backed him off. This kind of show a little bit on being too hard on stock. Lots of unnecessary biting. 

Heeler working sheep nicely.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0vTpwS6qMbM&pp=ygUSQ2F0dGxlIGRvZyBoZXJkaW5n

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bxTBF5ixRNg&pp=ygUdYm9yZGVyIGNvbGxpZSBwdXNoaW5nIGNhdHRsZSA%3D

Keeping control of the dog to avoid stirring them up too much. Trying to stay below threshold to where cattle start getting crazy and bolt but keeping the pressure on them to keep them moving. Shaping border collie natural tendencies. Dog is willing to bite but little reason to need him to.  

Trying not to not take over Sol’s thread with this discussion. 
 

My pup is border collie/kelpie/whippet. She’ll be used for ranch work. Both of her parents are working herders on a ranch. The whippet is used to add more heat endurance and speed. The herder adds more biddability to the whippet. You usually see border whippets in sports like flyball or in hunting over herding though. 

The English shepherd puppy is a neat guy. He’s got a harder temperament which I like (not difficult just not real soft tempered like a lot of labs/border collies etc.) He’s from a program working to get more solid tempered english shepherds as the breed is pretty inconsistent and reactivity/fear is common. Kind of moving towards best suited for the modern age. He’s a bit too social for me. But that’s partially due to some lower impulse control. Think overly friendly golden temperament. The whole line struggles with being confined/boundaries. Not really fond of being fenced in or kenneled.  Very high food drive. 

Depending on how he matures he would be good as a for fun herding dog but not serious work, lowkey sports dog, or just a nice active pet. He needs somebody who will be really firm and fair and set clear boundaries if he’s going to be a pet in town, or just be a country dog pet where manners etc. aren’t as big of a deal. 
 

That’s your dog in the picture? Cute.

Are you training the foster? What will happen to him?

That is the foster puppy. 

Training and evaluating him so he can be placed into an appropriate home that’s interested in being a part of the program. Trying to avoid him getting bounced all over. 
 

If I had time and space  I'd consider keeping him. All of my other dogs absolutely love him. 
 

You will find a home for him. We can’t keep every dog.