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The Bearded Collie as we know it today has descended down from a family of shaggy sheepdogs that were found all over Europe. It is safe to say the breed evolved over 500 years ago in the Scottish Highlands, most likely a blend of imported continental herding dogs such as the Polish Lowland Sheepdog and Komondor with local herders. The result was an independent, exuberant shaggy-haired worker particularly adept at driving herds of cattle and flocks of sheep to market. This common stock was not owned by the noblemen or landed gentry, but, by simple herdsmen and shepherds. They probably came to Britain by way of war or trade, and were to be found with the Celtic peoples on the fringes of the country. Probably farmers mated one good working dog to another with an equally strong working instinct, and from that the Beardie began to evolve into one of the three offshoots of the European shaggy sheepdog developed in Britain, the other two being the Old English Sheepdog, and the Welsh Grey.
The Beardie was bred to gather and drove, which requires running and barking and should not be confused with the Border Collie who rounds up the stock by heading off the lead sheep. A Beardie, good at his job, would have been classed as a 'noisy worker', and could often be seen in the days when sheep and cattle were driven long distances to market at the Smithfield market in London. (This is where the Beardie got the name Smithfield from)
ORIGIN OF THE BORDER COLLIE
From a mixed genealogy of dogs, including the Bob-tailed sheepdog, the Bearded Collie, and the Harlequin Collie, the ancestors of the Border Collie as we know today emerged probably about two hundred years ago. The origins of this breed came from the borders of Scotland and England where they were renowned as a keen working sheep dog, hence the name Border Collie.
These agile working dogs were brought here to Australia, from the 1800s, as the settlers found the need to use more land because of the growing number of sheep flocks. The settlers found these dogs so suitable to the terrain and working the sheep, that they soon became a favoured dog amongst our farmers. The breed soon found its way into the Sheep Dog Trials, where the Border Collie was found predominately amongst the top trialling dogs, and still is to this day.
Australians like the rest of the world saw that the Border Collie had much more potential than just working sheep. The Border Collie excels in the Agility ring, Flyball competitions, and Obedience, where its speed and agility makes them one of the most favored types of breed to own.
Although the origins of the Border Collie were in Scotland and England, it was in 1963 here in Australia that they were first recognized as a show dog. The Border Collie once again excelled in this field both in Australia and all over the world.
The Border Collie can make a great family dog, and a wonderful companion.
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