Working Traits:
Border Collie herding a cow.
A knowledge of the animal allows for a more spot on assesment of a dog’s abilities, and hence more accurate selection of breeding. If you are ever going to breed top dog’s,then, rather than just thinking that a dog is a’a good dog’, you must be able to break its work down into individual traits, so you know exactly why it is a good dog. A clear understanding of the make-up of the good dog will help anyone to breed better dogs. Only then will you be able to develop a clear goal in your mind of exactly what a good dog is, and what you are trying to breed and select for, so that you aren’t fighting against yourself (which can easily happen).
One vital point is that it is difficult to access many of these characteristics when the dog is seen working quiet stock in a small area, or under tight control. You must see it tested in difficult situations, and left to work on it’s own resources. For example, it is difficult to know how much ‘mob cover’ some dogs have, when they are working a few quiet sheep that plod about and stick together. Only when you see them handling a dozen wild, shorn wethers or similar, which are running and splitting and carrying on out in the paddock, can get you a good idea.
Always make a point of testing a dog beyond it’s limits. Only by seeing it pushed beyond its limits can you see it’s limitations. The modern trend to work dog trials on quietened sheep is deplorable (and this includes not only three- sheep trials but also trials such as the national Kelpie utility trial). Not only do these trials greatly reduce the challenge and skill involved, but also they don’t provide the breeder with a sufficient insight into the dog’s natural abilities.
Many dogs look good on quiet sheep, if they are well trained. But only the high quality natural dog will look good on wild sheep, (or cattle, for that matter). Sheep dog trial handlers with the better natural dogs sometimes comment that the only time they can get amongst the winners is winners is when wild sheep are worked, because with quiet sheep the more mechanical dogs can score highly.
People often reminisce about the ‘old-time kelpie’ and regret that such dogs are rarely seen today. But there is nothing mysterious about those ‘old-time dogs’ , they were simply the product of experienced and knowledgeable stockmen selecting for a certain type of practical dog, without any thought of breeding to win trials. The same can be said about the old-time Border Collie.
The reason those dogs aren’t as common now is because breeders aren’t selecting for them, they don’t understandwhat it was all about old-time dogs that made them the way they were. In particular, most breeders don’t undersatnd the rules and roles that ‘drive’ and ‘minimal activity’ play, or what the ‘right type of eye’ is, or ‘distance’, or the way that a dog should force, or how important a calm, relaxed temperament is.
It is entirely possible to breed such outstanding ‘old fashioned’ dogs from the dogs that are about today, if breeders understand what makes a good dog.
Border collie eyeing off some sheep.
Here is a short list of what helps when choosing your working dog and what traits to look for:
- Temperament and Intelligence.
- Steadiness and Minimal Activity.
- Controlled Force.
- Holding Ability.
- Driving Ability.
- Cast and muster.
