They are an excellent matenal breed - they will defend their lambs to the death - well handled "tame" hebs will happily throw themselves at hurdles if you separate them from their lambs - Shearing them is usually done with lambs in site otherwise the lambs call for the ewe and they wont sit still.
They are also a breed that a working dog Needs to know and be familiar with, seen too many dogs try to round mine up and end up being chased round the field and cornered - some of my older ewes will chase anything that moves that isnt a hebridean, that includes anything white and wooly, people, dogs, dog walkers, horses.
yet with me they are either tame, ignor me to the extent I can often grab them, or just show a total indiference and observe me.
As a breed they are something else, but once you learn their weird ways, no more or less work than any other breed. Apart from perhaps this weeks latest plan - Dont let david leave the field by the whole flock going to the gate and sitting down, every day.