Don't have any idea about tradition. I know sheepherders (Basques) from growing up in the San Joaquin Valley of California. As I noted, the sheepherders and the sheepdogs eat mutton there - mutton the sheepherders butchered themselves. Period.
My point in all this is to point out (in spite of all the glowing sentiment about our soldiers [which I approve of]) is that we need to stop being like sheep! Self-defense is a positive good and Americans need to stop delegating that natural right to others.
I agree - that's what I said in a post above. You're responsible for your own safety -- human beings are not sheep.
I'm sure the sheepherding traditions vary from country to country. But Scottish shepherds will put down a dog that bites the sheep, so I guess they figure they shouldn't encourage them by feeding them mutton.
Now, I have a Lab and she'll eat ANYthing but has no inclination to worry sheep or cattle or horses. She's associated with so many Border Collies (agility) that she does like to herd stuff -- children, other dogs -- but she doesn't have "the eye" and doesn't nip their heels.