My stock dog is a purebred German Shepherd.
We don't ever have to worry about freelance cattle chasing, because if she's alone, and I'm not there to need 'protecting', the work ethic is just not there. :wink: Most of the time she's a gate dog. With her typical German attention to detail and requirement for everything to be IN IT'S PLACE, nothing comes out a gate that's not supposed to!
When we need to move cattle out of a pen, I tell her it's time for "work", and she lights up like she's going to Disneyland. She knows she is going to get to clean the pen out. Nine times out of ten when I'm checking a pen, I don't need her, and she stays at the gate, but you just say that magic word, and she's ready to go.
She works slow and easy, and only barks when an animal comes back. It's funny to watch her when the last animal goes through the gate. She comes to me for a pat, and then she's gone! Back to the house, job done. Chute work bores her. :roll:
She generally just works with feeders and calves though. Cows only on occasions when the donkeys aren't with them. She's the perfect dog for us, because with the donkeys we have, an eager border collie would get itself into a world of trouble around here. You don't chase donkeys with a dog, and the donkeys are usually with the cows. :shock: