If you have a herding dog, don’t blame him for trying to herd your family. If your dog was bred to protect you, don’t get on him for barking at noises outside. Even mixed breed dogs show behaviors that come from their unique mix of genes. Chances are, your dog’s personality and tendencies are the result of thousands of years of breeding. Don’t fight them, instead redirect those tendencies to behaviors you want. Give a herding dog ways to satisfy that particular instinct. Give a protection dog the satisfaction of feeling like they are keeping you safe. It’s in their genes.