A BRIEF HISTORY
Over the centuries man has found it impossible to control sheep without the use of dogs. There are many herding dogs in the world, but no breed has been as successful and ubiquitous as the border collie, which is, even today, the number one sheepdog throughout the world. He evolved on the border area between England, Scotland and Wales, from a strain of shepherd's dogs loosely known as “Collies”.
One of the earliest descriptions of the shepherd's dog in Great Britain was by the Welsh King in 943AD. He was so impressed by them, he declared that a good sheepdog was worth a prime ox! An excellent description of the breed was made by Dr. John Caius' "Treatise on Englishe Dogges" written in 1570. He mentions a dog of medium size, which answered to his master's every command and would bring the sheep to the place of his master's choice. The legendary power of the Border Collie's "eye" is not mentioned until the writings of James Hogg, the "Ettrick Shepherd", where he accepts it as a well established charactereistic in the 1800's.
One of the earliest descriptions of the shepherd's dog in Great Britain was by the Welsh King in 943AD. He was so impressed by them, he declared that a good sheepdog was worth a prime ox! An excellent description of the breed was made by Dr. John Caius' "Treatise on Englishe Dogges" written in 1570. He mentions a dog of medium size, which answered to his master's every command and would bring the sheep to the place of his master's choice. The legendary power of the Border Collie's "eye" is not mentioned until the writings of James Hogg, the "Ettrick Shepherd", where he accepts it as a well established charactereistic in the 1800's.
The first Sheepdog Trial was held at Bala in 1873, but real trialling only started with the Hawick Trials in 1883, where the crowd was awed by the outstanding performance of William Wallace and his dogs. He worked them by the merest of hisses, and when too far away, a quiet whistle. This set the pattern, which is still followed today. In 1906 the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) was established in Great Britain in order to maintain the health & welfare of the sheepdog, a Stud Book was established in 1915, at which time they were officially named the "Border Collie". The collie’s natural working prowess, further honed by sheepdog trials, increased the demand for “Trials-Bred” dogs dramatically, not just in Britain but throughout the world.
"OLD HEMP"
Known as the 'Father of the Breed'. Born in 1893 Bred by Adam Telfer. Number 9 in the Stud Book, as the registrations were done retrospectively. Bred from the good-natured, plain working, black & tan Roy Out of the strong-eyed, shy, black coated Meg He won every sheepdog trial entered in his entire life, a record never beaten. The sire of well over 200 puppies, his offspring were all superior workers; Trials & International Winners |
Shepherd's dogs of the 'Collie Strain' first arrived in South Africa at the turn of the last century before & after the Boer War. Their popularity grew as sheepdogs, and in about 1930 the first informal trials were held, mainly as an added attraction at the Agricultural Shows. The South African Sheepdog Association (SASDA), was formed in 1960 to arrange sheepdog trials, demonstrations, training courses and to maintain our local register. Trials became better organised, more competitive and because of international exposure more sheepdogs were imported from Australia, New Zealand, UK and USA.
Willie Ross
With some of his Family's Sheepdogs (1931) He remembers that his father had a 'little, black, prick-eared sheepdog" in 1914 which was bred by a farmer from Bughersdorp. |
Floss SASDA.B560. SA Sheepdog Ch 1981,1984;
SA Sheepdog of the Year 1981,'82, '83, '84, '86. The famous Spot B222 /Floss B560 line was much in demand and is still to be found in the pedigrees of top trialling dogs. It is one of the most successful matches ever done in SA. |
Soon, border collies found their way into towns, and in the years following World War 2 there has been an increasing upsurge in doggy pursuits; and while new disciplines have proliferated for the hobbyist; more serious jobs have been found to be suited to this breed as well. The border collie has captivated the urbanites with his exceptional aptitude, ability, versatility and willingness to please. It is very common to see Obedience classes composed entirely of border collies; they excel at Agility and Jumping; their Tracking ability is excellent; while their Scent Discrimination skill has led them to be trained in varied fields such as Substance Detection (e.g: Abalone; Gunpowder; Drugs); Arson Detection (e.g.: presence of petrol, explosives, etc); Search & Rescue. Many are trained as Police Dogs while their friendly attitude has made them popular as therapy dogs. With their high energy and stamina they have also become very popular as jogging or running companions as well as making any would-be mugger think twice about accosting a lone runner.
Up until the late 1980's they were only allowed on the 'Working Register' with KUSA; but this was about to change when KUSA followed the Kennel Club of Great Britain's lead in accepting Border Collies onto their breed register (with the necessary 5 generation pedigree) and allowed them to compete in the breed ring. Initially everyone showed their home bred farm or obedience dogs, but as showing became more popular, the quality was improved by new importations from the U.K., New Zealand and Australia, where a show-type had already emerged. They are now a familiar sight at Breed Shows, often at the highest levels of competition.
Up until the late 1980's they were only allowed on the 'Working Register' with KUSA; but this was about to change when KUSA followed the Kennel Club of Great Britain's lead in accepting Border Collies onto their breed register (with the necessary 5 generation pedigree) and allowed them to compete in the breed ring. Initially everyone showed their home bred farm or obedience dogs, but as showing became more popular, the quality was improved by new importations from the U.K., New Zealand and Australia, where a show-type had already emerged. They are now a familiar sight at Breed Shows, often at the highest levels of competition.