THE BORDER COLLIE MUSEUM
"Lambing Time" by New York State artist, Beth Maxwell Boyle
The History of the Border Collie
Centuries before the industrial revolution, Britain's wealth was built on wool. Domestic sheep were herded by Neolithic man and likely sheepdogs were associated with him as well. The Romans brought pastoral dogs to Britain as they did sheep. John Caius, a doctor writing in the 1500s, mentions the "shepherd's dogge". His book, De Canibus Britannicus (Treatise on Englishe Dogges), may in fact be the earliest reference to the way British sheepdogs worked.
In Scotland, when a sheep economy took hold, the sheepdog was absolutely necessary. James Hogg (1772-1835), a shepherd and poet from the Ettrick Valley in the Scottish Borders wrote, "without [the sheep dog] the mountainous land of England and Scotland would not be worth sixpence. It would require more hands to manage a flock of sheep and drive them to market than the profits of the whole were capable of maintaining."
Above, an old tinted photograph from a postcard entitled "Chilly Autumn" shows two shepherds of the
English Downs
in their greatcoats and bowler hats, accompanied by their trusty collie.
(Thanks to Mrs. Barbara Carpenter of Pasters Hill House, Gloucestershire, England.)
Sheepdogs varied more in the past than they do today. There were as many breeds
of working dog as there were breeds of sheep. Most of Britain's breeds of
pastoral dogs have become extinct, not only because sheep predators disappeared,
but for other reasons, as well. Some vanished along with the need for specialized
working abilities. Others disappeared when sheep and cattle were no longer being
driven to market but were taken by rail, and later truck, obviating the need for
a strong driving dog capable of moving large flocks long distances.
In Australia and New Zealand, and in parts of the United States, where there are still huge flocks of sheep and sometimes exceptional conditions, specialized types of sheepdogs have been developed and are still used--heelers, barkers, dogs capable of going over the backs of closely packed sheep or driving them long distances. But in Britain, and in parts of the United States as well, the Border Collie has emerged as the dominant herding dog.
Dogs like the Border Collie existed centuries ago. Old paintings and lithographs show the shepherd's dog as one resembling the Border Collie. Sheila Grew, in her book Key Dogs from the Border Collie Family, Volume II (1985), said "a century ago many of the [working] collies were hard, powerful...dogs, difficult to control and rough with...stock; but their keen...instinct,... concentration and great power over...sheep or cattle were such useful assets it seemed worth trying to find a milder natured type of working collie to cross with [them]." A Northumbrian farmer, Adam Telfer, "succeeded," Grew says, "in finding the right blend of the two types of dog" in 1894. The Border Collie as we know it today is descended from that dog, Hemp 9 (or Old Hemp, as he was known).
Above, a sheepdog on a hillside, artist unknown. Thanks to Beth Maxwell Boyle.
THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "COLLIE"
It appears to be one of the great mysteries of the collie breeds, but where did the word "collie" come from?
In her book, Herding Dogs, Their Origins and Development in Britain (Faber & Faber, 1987), Iris Combe says "'Collie' is a Gaelic word meaning useful." However, Mackenzie, in his English-Gaelic Dictionary (Gairm Publications, Glasgow, 1975) gives these words as definitions of the word "useful" (the translation, in parentheses, from Gaelic to English comes from Dwelly, The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary, Gairm Publications, 1901-1911): feumail (necessary/useful), iomchuidh (convenient/necessary), freagarrach (suitable), stamhor (useful), tarbhach (beneficial), and math (good/useful). These words do not bear any resemblance to the word "collie". (Combe was speaking of Irish Gaelic, which is usually called "Irish", as opposed to Scottish Gaelic, which is usually just called "Gaelic". There are differences in the two languages, but both derive from the same Celtic strain and have many words in common.)
Combe goes on the say that "some say that the collie, or colley in its [early] English spelling, got it's name from the breed of sheep it herded." She posits that the black-faced sheep may have been called "coaley" for black. This idea is also promoted by the often quoted reference in Chaucer's Nonnes Tale "Ran Colle our dogge...", the implication being that he was a black dog, and that's why his name was Colle (like "Blackie").
However, in Jamieson's Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language (Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1889), another definition is put forth that seems to make more sense, and also proves that Combe was not so far off the mark in wanting to attribute the word "collie" to the Gaelic: "COLLIE, COLLEY, s. 1. The vulgar [meaning "common"] name for the shepherd's dog...Gael. culean, a grown whelp, has for its vocative culyie, which is the term used when one calls to a whelp. [In Gaelic] Coo or cu signifies a dog."
Just to carry this a bit further, Dwelly (considered by some to be the Gaelic-English dictionary) gives the definition of cuilean (a slightly different spelling from Jamieson, the vocative being a chuilein!) as "1. Whelp. 2. Puppy...5. Frequently used for a dog of full growth or any age. "
To me, this is fairly conclusive. If you should come across any other explanation to where the word "collie" comes from, please contact me (shepdog@gis.net).
Above, an Irish shepherd and his Border Collie. (Photo by A.J.Marhofke)
How a Border Collie works
Herding dogs are bred for working ability, and genetic makeup is the biggest factor in determining working characteristics. Each herding breed has somewhat different working behavior depending on the stockmen's needs at the time the breed was being developed. It is the working characteristics of the breed that essentially makes it different from other breeds.
Ability to "Gather"
Bred for hill conditions, the Border Collie is outstanding when it comes to working sheep. Unlike "specialists" of the past, the Border Collie is able to perform a variety of tasks. He is born with the instinct to "gather" the sheep to the shepherd and this trait makes him most useful on the hill. In Scotland, where the sheep spend a good part of the year scattered widely on high pasture, a dog must be able to circle around and gather the entire flock for routine management like dipping and shearing.
"Eye"
Above, a Border Collie exhibits "eye" during an indoor sheepdog demonstration in
the 1950s.
It is possible that this is Arthur Allen's Imported Rock, an American trialling
champion of that era.
The Border Collie controls the sheep with "eye" which has a distinct meaning, referring to the amount of concentration on the sheep that the dog shows. The sheep are "held" by the strength of the dog's eye and a dog in which this characteristic is well developed is called "strong-eyed".
"Clapping"
The Border Collie has a tendency to "clap" or go down and face the sheep with its belly close to the ground. This in combination with "eye" gives the Border Collie a singularly predatory look. Dogs were bred for clapping and strong eye for many years, but now some are being bred or trained to stay more on their feet so that they are ready to move quickly if necessary. However, even on its feet, a Border Collie still crouches forward and has a characteristic appearance.
"Intelligence"
Intelligence in an animal that cannot speak is hard to define. The Border Collie is usually considered an intelligent dog. By that, shepherds meant a dog that could think for himself. Border Collies were often sent great distances to gather the scattered flocks. Because they often had to work far away from their handlers, Border Collies had be intelligent and independent as well. They were relied upon to handle unusual situations without the assistance of the shepherd. Stories abound about how various sheepdogs handled themselves in these instances. In today's world, a dog that thinks for himself is not always appreciated, and can get into trouble.
Border Collies can be taught to herd a variety of livestock. Many will naturally herd anything that moves--ducks, chickens, sheep, cats, cars and children. Versatility also makes them excel in fields other than herding and sheepdog trials, and today there are many Border Collies winning Obedience, Agility and Flyball matches for their city and suburban owners.
[See Sheepdog Trials in Britain & Ireland.]
[See The Border Collie in America.]
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