I have a 19 month old male Border Collie. He is a friendly ,quite obedient nice dog in most respects - but with a very strong herding instinct - which is OK as he is intended to herd our little flock of Angora Goats. He seems to be quite a "natural" and is getting rather usefull already - but I think he has a problem with lack of confidence ......... or is it something else. He is very uncertain around young animals - be it puppies or goat kids. He will quickly withdraw and run away - a bit away that is . I have seen him be fine with rather stubborn grown up goats - but he just seems to want to run a way with small little creatures - and he looks bothered. What could this be ?? Could anyone enlighten me please ?
(He is not very good with other dogs either - as he either throws himself down on his back - or goes into "orbit". After a while he relaxes and is Ok - just a bit of cirkling now and then)

Did he ever meet any young animals when he was younger?

If you mean baby animals I suppose the answer is yes - some. Our other dog of small breed was only six months when he arrived - and soon after we had two small Kune Kune pigs arriving - - - I am sure he was a bit excited about them - but then he was just a puppy. He still loves trying to herd them. Then there are chickens - and he often goes over to the neighbours and "help out" with the cattle - so he has seen lots of small calves. And then there is the neighbours Jack Russel who was but a puppy when they met

I have been wondering whether he isn't really "afraid" - but keeping "the right distance" for herding ..... Still -he appears slightly alarmed. ( And we have just had a litter of puppies - he found them frightening little creatures and tried not to look at them. The last three days when there were only three left he has been much better though - even let them come and jump on him - you could tell he was trying to tell himself they were not dangerous )