I may be off base but I feel the thread in the past is not in favor of cow dogs.
I still feel the ones not using a good dog have just not had the chance. But there are many out there that think they have a good dog that will create more problems than anything else.
I feel a good dog is of more help than a good horse on a day to day basis here as most of the cattle are within a 1/4 mile area and I can stand in one place and send the dogs for them - - - have never had a horse I could do that with.
But it takes training on both the dog and handlers side. The dog needs to learn to know the propper distance a cow will defend and that the distance will change with calving. A cow that has never been worked with a dog needs training as well.
I will quit preaching and go feed my calves. Sold most of them yesturday and feel I did very well on them.