Breed Feature – Border Collies

BORDER COLLIE

Border Collies have all the characteristics of a working dog – intelligent, agile, active and faithful with an inherent desire to please... But most importantly all his love and dedication to his owners will be lifelong and will never waiver.

The Border Collie is a loving companion to anyone who will provide dedication to fulfilling his need for plenty of exercise, letting him use his intelligence in many different ways and of course giving him all their love.

Border Collies have all the characteristics of a working dog – intelligent, agile, active and faithful with an inherent desire to please. They can also show great patience and control. Border Collies need daily exercise and will relish taking part in games such as catch, frisbee and other athletic activities.

Be it droving sheep on a station, showing off amazing athletic skills in the agility ring, or bringing a great source of pleasure in the show ring to their owners and breeders, the Border Collie is indeed man’s best friend.

But most importantly of all his love and dedication to his owners will be lifelong and will never waiver. Old Hemp

(published with the permission of the Border Collie Club of NSW)

HISTORY

The Border Collie originated in the United Kingdom, or more specifically, in the area bordering Scotland and England. The breed was originally known as the “Working Collie” in the early 1900s and through the selective breeding of outstanding sheep dogs the Border Collie we see today evolved.

In 1893, Adam Telfer, a farmer living in Otterburn, Northumberland produced Old Hemp, from his collies Roy and Meg. Old Hemp is regarded as the foundation sire of the breed. Old Hemp didn’t look like the Border Collies of today with his tri-colored coat and minimal amounts of white fur, but he was an extraordinary dog.

One aspect of Old Hemp’s herding style that made him unique among other sheepdogs is that he did not rely on barking to do his job. Instead, he used his body positions. He also seems to know how and where the sheep would be moving and was able to quickly and easily head them off.

Old Hemp’s owner, Adam Telfer, was quite experienced with sheepdogs but had never before seen a dog of Old Hemp’s caliber.

Telfer was once quoted as boasting about Old Hemp by saying that he “flashed like a meteor across the sheepdog horizon”. He added, “There never was such an outstanding personality.”

Old Hemp’s reputation as an outstanding herder made him highly sought after as a stud dog. People around the region wanted puppies sired by the legendary herding dog so they brought their dames to Telfer.

Old Hemp was recognised as the quintessential working sheep dog and his services were in great demand. Not only did he sire some two hundred puppies before he died in 1901, but he seems to have been capable of transmitting his own pre-potency to his offspring with the result that Border Collie pedigrees are about as clearly defined as any in the livestock world.

BORDER COLLIES IN AUSTRALIA

The first recorded import of a Border Collie into Australia was Hindhope Jed in 1901.

In the late 1890s James Lilico imported, from the United Kingdom, several of the new ‘Border’ strain of collie into New Zealand, amongst these dogs were Hindhope Jed, Maudie, Moss of Ancrum, Ness and Old Bob. It is unclear whether Hindhope Jed was a descendant of Old Hemp.

At the time of her departure to New Zealand, Hindhope Jed was already in pup to Captain, another of the then new “Border” strain. Hindhope Jed had won three trials in her native Scotland, and was considered to be the “best to cross the equator”.

In 1901 the King and Mcleod stud, created by Charles Beechworth King, his brother and Alec McLeod (NSW) brought Hindhope Jed to Australia, where she enjoyed considerable success at sheep dog trials.

A FARMER’S BEST FRIEND

It is acknowledged that the Border Collie – since first coming to Australian shores – has made a huge contribution to the sheep and cattle industries in this country. For many years Australia’s wealth “rode on a sheep’s back” and the Border Collie played an important role in Australia’s sheep and cattle industries becoming major income earners for the Nation and putting us on the world map as producers of some of the best sheep and cattle and associated products which were the envy of many throughout the world.

Their innate herding abilities along with their desire to work hard for their owners have made them an integral part of station life – some say a good working Border Collie is worth the equivalent of five working men.

Today the Australian Border Collie is used in a variety of different situations. They are used on smaller sheep, cattle and dairy farms in high rainfall areas through to large scale sheep and cattle stations in the hot and dry heart of Australia. They are used to muster sheep and cattle in the paddock as well as help draft thousands of sheep through yards and pen up in shearing sheds.

After work these same dogs are able to then compete in sheep and cattle trials. Their versatility, intelligence and drive for work is what has made them the most used stock dog in the world.

They are happy to do all this for a pat on the head and the chance of doing it all again tomorrow.

IN THE SHOW RING

Research has led us to believe that the breed was first shown under the name in 1907.

In 1933 Border Collies were exhibited as “Any Other Variety” at the Sydney Royal, but by the following year they were exhibited as Border Collies. Later, they were shown in the non-sporting group and in 1953 a separate group was formed comprising the Australian Cattle Dog, the Australian Kelpie and the Border Collie.

This was called “The Australian Working Dog Group” and it was at this time that the RAS Kennel Control classed the Border Collie as an Australian Working Dog because it was one of the main working dogs in Australia and greatly relied on in our sheep and wool industry.

This classification has carried through to the present day, although other breeds were added to these in 1961 and the group was then renamed the

The New Zealand Kennel Club and the Sheep Dog Trial Association wrote the first Border Collie Breed Standard in 1927, and evidence suggests working sheep dogs were routinely exhibited in conformation classes.

Tasmania was the first state in Australia to adopt a standard for the Border Collie in the 1930’s and Queensland followed suit in the late 1940’s.

By 1963 the breed had been fully recognised by the ANKC and a uniform Breed Standard had been adopted.

Border Collies are now a significant force in the conformation ring and Australian lines are sort after by exhibitors world wide. THE ALL ROUND DOG SPORTS COMPETITOR

The Border Collie’s intelligence, tractability and stamina are breed assets which have long been recognised and sought after in their sheep dog work.

COLOURS

The official Australian National Kennel Club breed standard for the Border Collie states “Variety of colours permissible. White should never predominate”. The most common colour is Black and White but Border Collies can also come in (amongst others) red and white, chocolate and white, tri colour, merle and blue.

These same traits are now being put to good use by our “suburban” Borders in the fields of obedience, tracking, agility, dancing with dogs, herding and other sport disciplines. In fact in many dog sports disciplines, Border Collies are the “tops” in their fields and have won prestigious competitions world wide including at Crufts in the UK, Westminster in the USA and here in Australia. They are widely recognised as one of the most versatile, athletic and competitive breeds in dog sports.

THERAPY DOGS

The human-animal bond can impact people and animals in positive ways. Research shows therapy dogs can reduce stress and provide a diversion for people who are undergoing all kinds of treatments. Border Collies are particularly suited to this role.

Many Border Collies and their owners visit Nursing Homes throughout Queensland on a regular basis. The residents love these visits and often have treats for the dogs or save one of their morning tea snacks for them.

Border Collies

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BORDER COLLIES IN QUEENSLAND...

The early years

The Border Collie Club of Queensland Inc. was founded in 1992, however the breed itself has a far longer history in the state. In fact one of the earliest Border Collie breed standards in the world was written in Queensland in the late 1940’s. Queensland Border Collie enthusiasts were catered for by the Cattle Dog, Kelpie and Border Collie Club of Queensland for 40 years, until 1992 when the single breed club was established.

By the 1970’s there were several established kennels in the Brisbane Metropolitan area. These included; Kismet, Gadgerrie, Gleniris, Kenkoff, Colliholme, Borderland, Jaize and Panjaz.

Myrtle Layton’s Gadgerrie prefix was represented most notably by her Aust. Ch Gadgerrie Bobby Dazzler. Myrtle herself was a tireless worker for the Club and the current Best In Show trophy is named in her memory.

Mrs Green’s Kenkoff kennels introduced the prominent sire Aust. Ch Sarasota Talisman to Queensland. “Talli” was a litter brother to Aust. Ch Sarasota Saretta and he appears in many pedigrees.

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Aust Ch. Induru Benjamin Boots “Ben” hard at work promoting the Cattle Dog, Kelpie and Border Collie Club of Qld in the 1980s.

Mrs Green’s daughter Mrs Avis Sproles began the Mylawn prefix, with her daughter’s in the 1980’s and Donna and Deanne Sproles are still active committee members of the Border Collie Club of Queensland Inc.

Iris Heale of the famous Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Gleniris prefix also brought a Victorian bred Border Collie to Queensland. This was Aust. Ch. Mollara Prince Glen. “Prince” was a son of Aust. Ch. Epsom Great Glen and his influence extends to many current prefixes through his son Aust Ch. Induru Benjamin Boots and his grandson Aust Ch. Beechwood Boots NAll, both prominent stud dogs who along with Aust Ch. Crestvale Canny Kim formed the foundation of Ron and Janice McKiernan’s Cannyben Border Collies in 1979. Janice McKiernan, a life member, remains active in the Club and is the current Treasurer.

1978 saw Glen and Bev Scott, two future life members of the club, found their Panjaz prefix. Their foundation stock came from Gadgerrie lines and Kismet Razzamatazz was their first stud dog. They also looked to Victorian kennels and introduced Maghera lines into their breeding program, beginning with Aust Ch. Maghera Illustration. Both Glen and Bev were active in the three breed club and served as foundation committee members for the Border Collie Club of Queensland Inc. Bev has held every executive position at one point or another in the 24 year history of the Border Collie Club of Qld Inc. The flow of genetics was not all one way as a Queensland bitch, bred in the late 1950’s, Gabriella, was a foundation of the Victorian prefix, Checkmate. Her granddaughter was the famous Aust. Ch. Checkmate Gay Lady.

Throughout the 1980’s as the older kennels waned, new breeders became involved. Prefixes such as Bawntawn, Perrioak, Trumagik, Beechwood, Gremaric, Lakemount, Talquah and Shallstar were just some of the prefixes that could be found in catalogues.

Many of these breeders continued to import dogs from interstate and from New Zealand to improve their lines.

Dell Keats, Shallstar and Cheryl Brauers, Bawntawn, imported several dogs from Clan Abby Kennels in New Zealand, Aust/ NZ Ch Joy’s Echo of Clan Abby was an influential sire for Bawntawn kennels and appears behind many Queensland dogs today.

Greg Richens’, Gremaric introduced Aust Grand Ch Korella Storm Raider (a son of the famous Aust Ch Lochinbrae of Clan Abby) and combined with his Queensland foundation lines to form one of the most successful kennels in Australia. Trumagik Border Collies looked to blend influential kennels in New South Wales, particularly Loadstar and Crystalledge, with their local lines to produce their world record winning Aust Grand Ch. Nz/Am Ch. Trumagik Tartan Trekker TD and his mother Aust Grand Ch. Trumagik Toucho Tartan, the first red/white Grand Champion bitch in Australia.

Jacqueline Perrins, Perrioak and Suzanne Chandler (Life member), Talquah are active members of the Border Collie Club and serve as our current President and Vice President.

The inaugural committee of the Border Collie Club of Queensland Inc., was President: Jan Edwards (Beechwood), Secretary: Bev Scott (Panjaz), Treasurer: Ruth Halbreich (much loved Life member), future Life members and tireless club workers Peter and Maree Mayne were also foundation members. Much of the club’s focus in the 1990’s was fundraising for CL research and $1000.00 a year was committed to Dr Alan Wilton’s research. Hosting the 4th Border Collie National is without a doubt the largest undertaking in the club’s history.