I suggested the Border Collie specifically because they are NOT a "nipping" type of herder..
A nipping instinct is not desirable in a family dog.. ( Little fingers..)
A simple Google search for terms "herd dogs" or "sheep dogs" or "shepherd dogs" will produce more sites than you can shake a stick at..
Yeah the healing isn't a very desireable trait. I have always kind of liked Border Collies as well. I love it when they are blue merle. They always seem to be the winners of fly ball competitions and frisbee - stuff like that. They're pretty cool.