The History of Sheepdog Trials
In the latter part of the 19th century, the best working collies could be found in the border counties between Scotland and England, hence, the name ‘Border Collie’ is used today. Though they are called sheep dogs, these dogs are also used to herd cattle, turkeys and pigs. Border Collies are prized for their skills in gathering, driving, penning, singling and shedding (separating out particular sheep from the flock). They exhibit what is known as ‘eye’, the ability to hold and control sheep with only the force of their firmly planted feet and fixed stare.
In October of 1873, in a field near Bala, Wales, shepherds met for the first time to test their skills and determine individual superiority among their collies. This was the first sheep dog trial. This same trial has been running for nearly 125 years. Since the beginning, these trials have spread to every major sheep producing country of the world. In the United Kingdom alone, there are over 400 trials a year. Since 1922, national trials have been run each year in Wales, Scotland and England, with the twelve highest scoring dogs from each country competing in the International trial. In 1967, Ireland took part in the competition for the first time. There is also a BBC television program called ‘One Man and His Dog’ that is viewed by over a million people.
The purpose of a sheep dog trial is to test and demonstrate the dog and handler’s ability to move sheep over a prescribed course made up of practical obstacles found in everyday work.
In the book, ‘Sheepdogs: My Faithful Friends’ by Eric Halsall, he writes about watching a sheep dog work: “It is magic of the hills which few people other than shepherds and farmers are privileged to see, though thousands of town and city dwellers now thrill to the cleverness of the collie dog at sheep dog trials.”
ABOUT THE CBCA
The Association’s objectives are the encouragement, development and regulation of the breeding of purebred Border Collies in Canada by
- Establishing a standard of breeding and maintaining a system of registration of purebred Border Collies;
- Promoting and fostering the breeding, training and distribution of reliable working Border Collies in Canada;
- Promoting and fostering health improvements in Border Collies;
- Publishing and distributing literature and other communications to educate the public and Border Collie breeders on subjects relating to the well-being of the Border Collie breed;
- Organizing and promoting trials, national championships and exhibitions, either competitive or non-competitive, and either independently or in association with any other societies, bodies or persons.