I agree RD, I visit her blog daily
One thing that needs to be pointed out....
Herding is a canine instinct, no a breed specific instinct. Many different breeds can carry the herding instinct and follow it to a certain level. Some breeds tend to be better than others yet there is no guarantee.
You have a larger variation of the trait within a breed as compared to variations in canines as a whole. There are those (such as Pippa ) that are born to it, while others need varying levels of training to do the job yet they will never be quite as good as a natural. And, as we all know, there are those of the breed that are at the opposite end of the spectrum and couldn't herd their kibble in a round bowl!
The fact that theres an APBT with a herding title blows breed specific traits right out the window.
The fact that any herding breed dog, (work, pet or show), shows a minimum herding ability/instinct is no surprise as it's a common trait among many breeds.
It's those that go beyond and not only DO the job, but do it well and love it, that's a goal worthy of striving for in a breeding program.