Border Collie Rescue -
On Line - Border Collie History
Quote - "Outside of a dog, a book is probably mans best friend; inside a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
Articles, Etc. Snapshots of the Border Collie's history
Introduction to the 'Historical' section.
In this section you will find old newspaper articles, etc., about Collies, Sheepdogs and Border Collies, sheep, maybe farming and environment - if it seems relevant.We have copied these articles from the original pages in our library archives as faithfully as possible
We believe that the information displayed on these pages is as relevant to the Border Collie owners today as in the past. In some cases it shows historical precedence of well recognised behavioural traits and problems.
Absorbing it helps us understand some aspects of the evolvement of the breed and its relationship with humans.
If we cannot learn from our past, what can we learn from?
<----- The sliding menu on the left has links to various articles.
You will have to bear in mind that there will be no mention of Border Collies in any Kennel Club shows or events prior to 1976, because before that date the breed did not exist as far as the KC was concerned.
There will be no mention of the Border Collie before 1906, because the name had not been applied to the breed before that time and the Border Collie was simply one variation of many 'landrace' collie dog types.
The type that later became the Border Collie had been around, developing, over 400 or so years in the borders of Scotland / England and had been in wide use in the Border Marches before the days of the Border Rievers.
In these regions and elsewhere, any good working sheepdog was called a 'Collie Dog' - a 'Useful Dog'
This popularity, in a rather unique and introverted society, was a result of the versatility of this collie 'type'.
The same versatility led to the eventual spread of the type over the rest of the UK as shepherds and stockmen realised the potential of these dogs and later resulted in the formation of the International Sheepdog Society and the creation of stud book registering the Border Collie as a breed for the first time.
Later still, in 1906, the term 'Border Collie" was created to recognise the origin and usefulness of the breed.
The most prolific and very early member of this new 'breed' was 'Old Hemp' who belonged to shepherd and breeder, Adam Telfer from Northumberland and credited as the 'Father of the Border Collie Breed'.
The title 'Father of the Breed' is a good indication that the genes of Old Hemp can probably be found in every 'pedigree' border collie alive in the world today although, over time, that influence diminishes.
But there is more than pedigree to a Border Collie. There are two 'Stud Books'.
The Kennel Club runs one - it relies on genetics and conformity to qualify.
The ISDS stud book allows registration by 'merit' which means that if a dog is a good enough worker and qualifies at sheepdog trials it can be accepted onto the stud book and it's genes will be introduced to the breed.
If you are interested in adopting a Border Collie from us, please phone 07707 485813 during office hours.
(2 pm to 5 pm Tuesdays to Thursdays)