I grew up with a German shepherd-something cross who was born to herd cattle; I wasn't old enough to know how Dad trained him, but you told him to bring the cattle in fom the pasture, and it was done. We replaced him with an English shepherd pup, the only supposedly purebred dog we ever had (and the only dog we ever payed money for). Guaranteed to herd cattle. By the time we saw that he was never going to herd anything, he was a member of the family. We had to alter all the barn door latches, though; he soon became very adept at opening them, all on his own initiative. I have no idea if Dad lacked the right technique for teaching that dog to herd, or if it was just that dog. He (the dog) was always a good old buddy.