The History of the Border Collie
I have had
the great opportunity to work with sheepdogs and Border Collies for the
past 30 years and their incredible herding instinct and their
love of their work have been a real inspiration
to me over these years. As my life has changed directions, emigrating
to Canada and later on having the chance to start farming on
my own, plus the various moves to different farms and geographic
areas, my Border Collies have always been the one real constant in
my life. Through ups and downs my working dogs have always been
there.
Border Collies and other working sheepdogs, such as the Beardies
and the Welsh Collies, have been a part of the shepherd's life for
many generations. The sheepdogs on the South Downs, where I was
brought up, were the Old English Sheepdog. With their long matted
coats they were best known as a driving dog rather than a gathering
dog. To the West of the English countryside, the farmers and
shepherds of Wales developed the Welsh Collie, and then to the
Northern parts of England and across the Scottish borders, came the
beginnings of the stylish Border Collie.
Today, the most common working stockdog throughout the Islands of
Britain, across the Atlantic to the vast ranches and farms of North
America, and in many other parts of the world, remains the wise and
intelligent Border Collie. Not only have they become the most sort
after sheepdog, but the Border Collie has also become a strong
worker on beef and dairy farms all over the
world.
(Border
Collie training information)
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