What were border collies bred for?

Part 1

The short answer: bred to herd sheep

Border Collies are a working dog breed developed to herd sheep. The breed comes from the region along the Anglo-Scottish border. The Border Collie descends from landrace collies found across the British Isles. Northumberland, nearby, later became known for producing the strain that spread around the world. Farms there covered mountains and sweeping moorland, with harsh winter weather of snow, wind and sleet. Without a working dog, gathering sheep across this kind of ground would have needed far more hands than a farm could afford, as the shepherd James Hogg wrote in 1824.

Earlier dogs that lived with flocks worked mainly as guards against wolves and other predators. Border Collies work using a style called gathering, which differs from the traditional herding style used by many other breeds.

Part 2

The traits farmers selected for

To do this work, farmers selected for a specific set of traits. One trait, known as the eye, is a fixed stare that a dog uses to hold and control sheep with its posture and gaze rather than force. A dog with a strong eye uses its planted feet and fixed stare to hold and control sheep. Sheep could be nervous or aggressive, so a dog also needed patience and control, working without disturbing the flock. This calm, controlled approach is sometimes called stealth, a light-footed movement that does not draw the flock's attention until the dog needs it to. Before this, handlers relied on more shouting, waving and barking to move their dogs. Stamina and agility mattered too, since a dog needed to cover mountainous terrain.

Part 3

How herding trials shaped the breed standard

The first recorded trial in Britain was held at Bala, Wales, on 9 October 1873, where ten dogs competed and a Scottish-bred dog took first prize. Trials judged skills such as gathering sheep from a distance, driving them through obstacles, and penning them. The International Sheep Dog Society was founded in 1906, and it keeps a stud book of working dogs. One dog born in Northumberland in 1893, Old Hemp, became so influential that he is described as the father of the breed, and he is thought to have sired around two hundred puppies. Old Hemp's working style spread through his descendants, and purebred Border Collies alive today trace back to him. Decades later, a dog named Wiston Cap became one of the breed's most popular stud dogs, siring three Supreme Champions, and his bloodline runs through most modern lines. Sheepdog trials are still held today.

• Sending the dog out to gather the sheep, known as the outrun.
• Bringing the sheep back toward the handler, called the fetch.
• Driving the sheep away from the handler through gates.
• Separating one or more sheep from the flock, called shedding.
• Placing the sheep in a pen.

Part 4

From working dog to other jobs

Border Collies still work sheep on farms in many parts of the world. With the right home, the breed can be an attractive, companionable dog.

Part 5

What this history means for owners today

Trainers can test for herding instinct directly, checking a dog's interest in sheep, its desire to work, and its natural ability to find a balance point. Puzzle toys, training sessions and games that involve chasing or fetching can also help meet a working dog's need for mental work. With the right home, a Border Collie can be a companionable dog.