I see a lot of behaviors excused or labeled as herding instinct when what all they really are is just being a dog and sometimes not a well - behaved dog. Herding is directed prey drive. Back in July I had the fortune of chatting a bit about herding with the breeder/owner of the first Dual Champion male Pembroke. That means he has both his conformation championship and his AKC herding championship. I was telling her about Munchee's outing with the ducks. And he rarely used his mouth or did any nipping at them.
What herding is not - chewing on toes or biting at ankles. This is a puppy thing and I have yet to meet a puppy purebred or Heinz 57 that did not go through an ankle biting stage. I've had everything from Maltese to Berner puppies attached to my pant leg at one time or another. Just because a corgi puppy nips at you does not mean there is any herding instinct present, it is a behavior that needs to be corrected.
Now if you are throwing a party and your corgi begins sorting your guests into groups, then you have some herding instinct present.
Debbie