History of the Border Collie

Border Collies have been well known to farmers as early as the 1700-1800s. Border Collies are the descendants of herding dogs used in many countries to help shepherds manage huge flocks of sheep and other cattle. This breed of herding dog that originated in the border country of England and Scotland. They are widely regarded as the most intelligent dog breed. Border Collies are highly energetic. They are known for their incredible herding instinct and their keen intelligence. They are still frequently used on farms all over the world for assisting with the handling of livestock, and they have also become popular as pet and sport dogs. Though known to be reserved with strangers, these dogs can also be protective of a human family member and affectionate to those they know.

But didn't become famous until the end of the 19th century, when the first official sheep dog trial held in Bala, Wales, fanciers of all sheep dogs were eager to win the competition. Old Hemp, a Border Collie from Northumberland, England, won the trial in 1894 and continued his success later on. He is considered the forefather of all modern Border Collies, of how a Border Collie should look. The winner of prestigious competitions weighed about 45 pounds and stood approximately 21 inches at the shoulder. His color pattern, black and white, is still preferred by many Border Collie lovers. Semi-erect ears and straight coat are mentioned in the modern breed standard. In other words, Old Hemp became a certain model for Border Collie breeders.

Old Hemp, a tri-color dog, was born September 1893 and died May 1901. He was bred by Adam Telfer from Roy, a black and tan dog, and Meg, a black-coated, strong-eyed bitch. Hemp was a quiet, powerful, keen working dog that sheep responded easily. Undefeated at trials any many shepherds used him for stud. Old Hemp's working style became the Border Collie style. He sired more than 200 dogs, and a countless number of bitches. Old Hemp was bred for his looks and impeccable working ability.

Old Hemp sired many famous dogs, including Old Kep: Born in 1901, Old Kep was a very kind and friendly dog. One of his contributions to the breed was his "Eye" which resulted in 45 first place wins at trials. Don, a son of Old Kep, was exported to New Zealand where he contributed to the Australian Border Collies.
There was one other dog that became very famous, his name was Winston Cap. The dog that the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) badge portrays in the characteristic Border Collie herding pose. He was the most popular stud dog in the history of the breed, and appears in a huge percentage of pedigrees today. Bred by W. S. Hetherington and trained and handled by John Richardson, Cap was a biddable and good-natured dog. His bloodlines all trace back to the early registered dogs of the stud book, and to J. M. Wilson's Cap, who occurs sixteen times within seven generations in his pedigree. Winston Cap sired three Supreme Champions and is grand-sire of three others, one of whom was E. W. Edwards' Bill, who won the championship twice.

These dogs were traditionally known simply as "collies," but terms like working collie, old-fashioned collie, and farm collie have also been applied to them. It was in 1915 that James Reid, Secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society in the United Kingdom, first used the term "Border Collie" to distinguish those dogs registered by the ISDS from the Kennel Club's "Collie," which originally came from the same working stock but had developed a different, standardized appearance following its introduction to the show ring in 1860.