This Is The Collie

I’m always looking for new topics to cover in the blog, and decided to combine our series of book reviews with my love of researching and sharing the history of the collie.  This week I wanted to share another “must have” addition to the our book list, for anyone wanting to learn more about the collie.  The book, This is the Collie, by Esther McCloskey, was originally published in 1963.

My copy was part of my Uncle Fran’s collection, which makes it even more special to me.  The book is well written and covers a variety of topics, from the origin of the collie, coat color inheritance, breeding and whelping puppies, showing and grooming, as well as many other topics.   I also love viewing the old pictures included in the chapters.

In this picture is Sally (Sara) Futh, of Starberry Collies, a well known collie breeder and highly respected judge.
 

I love reading these old books, containing the advice and breeding perspective of past collie experts.  They contain valuable information that might otherwise be lost to us.  I’m including an old dog food commercial that was filmed at Starberry Kennel.  Enjoy!

A Study of the Collie

I feel very fortunate to be a part of preserving a dog breed that has such a well documented history.  Being able to research our pedigrees online, and trace our collies’ ancestry all the way back to the first documented collies, is such an incredible gift.  This is largely due to the efforts of the Collie Club of America, our National club.  The CCA was formed in 1886, making it one of the oldest specialty clubs in America.  The American Kennel Club was formed in 1884, just two years earlier.  The CCA has had countless members working to carefully document and preserve our history.  They have many books and publications available for any newcomers to the breed, and for those who are just interested in learning more about the development of our beloved breed.

With that in mind, I thought I would share some of the books available for anyone interested in learning more about the collie.  This is only a partial list, as there too many books and resources available to list them all in one post.  These are the ones that I have found to be particularly useful over the years.

The Collie by O.P. Bennett and C.H. Wheeler, written in 1924.  The authors were highly respected, as Dr. Bennett was a President of the Collie Club of America and C.H. Wheeler was an expert on the history and origins of the Collie in the United Kingdom.  The book is illustrated with rare vintage photographs of Collie Champions from 1874 through 1923.

The Magnificent Collie, by Patricia Starkweather, of  Glen Hill Collies.  This book was printed in 1997, and was written with the help of John Buddie of Tartanside Collies.  This book is a great resource, as it includes a chapter on the origins and history of the collie by Gayle Kaye, the breed standard, chapters on both the smooth and the rough collie, and information about influential collie breeders and kennels of the past.

Collie Concept, by George Bobbee Roos, 1988.  Roos shares her priceless knowledge and explains how to develop an eye for a dog, graphically illustrates balance, and teaches handling and care.

The New Collie, by the Collie Club of America.  There are different publications, with the white cover being the updated 1996 version and the red cover being the 1983 edition.  This is the book description: An important update of the story of one of America's most beloved purebreds, this book traces the Collie's origin from his beginnings as a herding dog in Scotland to the favorite of millions. With chapters on the Standard, on training, breeding, showing, grooming, breed character, general care and modern applications of the breed's natural herding ability, it's a "must have" reference.

And of course, I have to include American Collie Champions, published by the Collie Club of America.  There are eight separate volumes in the Library of Champions, beginning with volume 1, 1884 - 1961.  In each volume you will find pictures of all the collies who earned their championship title along with the names of their breeders and owners.  Learning the names of the collies in your pedigrees is fascinating, but having these books as a reference, to actually see pictures of those collies, is priceless!

There are many other books and resources for those interested in learning about the collie.  I will have to do additional posts to cover more of them.  Of course, after writing this, I want to go look through my own copies now!

Down the Rabbit Hole I go…

Lately, I have been reviewing the pedigrees of our collies.  It started when I created pedigrees for our current collies, and I was looking back through the pedigrees of  the sires of our Addi, Rosie and ZuZu.  I can lose all track of time while researching all the collies that helped create our current generation, as I find it pretty fascinating.  This is a quiet time of year for us, as there aren’t many dog shows, and Winter weather limits our travels.  So researching collie history is a great way to fill the time during these long, cold, dark Winter days.  As I’m sure I will be writing many posts in the upcoming weeks on the subject, I thought I might begin by sharing one of my first blog posts, written back in May 2012.

I've written previous posts about how I traced our collies back through the generations to the first collies imported to America, and all the way beyond to the first collie, CH Trefoil.  And so to prove it, here is just one of the ways I can trace my collies back to these famous collies, as they can be traced back through many of the dogs in their pedigrees.

Our Abby, as a puppy

CH Marchello’s Seraphim Song, Abby (CH Signet’s Twice is Nice, ROM  x CH Marchello’s On Angel’s Wings)
CH Signet's Twice Is Nice, ROM (CH Marnus Golden Ruler, ROM x CH Signet's Hopelessly In Love, ROM)
CH Marnus Golden Ruler, ROM (CH Overland Everlasting II x Marnus Golden Rule)
CH Overland Everlasting II (CH Clouddawn's Grandeur Promise x CH Overland Imari)
CH Clouddawn's Grandeur Promise (CH Twin Creeks Grand Master x Clouddawn's Promise O' Twin Oaks)
CH Twin Creeks Grand Master (CH Twin Creeks Head Master x CH Twin Creeks C.O.D.)
CH Twin Creeks Head Master (Twin Creeks Post Master x CH Joius The Last Farewell)
Twin Creeks Post Master (CH Twin Creeks Post Script x CH Joius Amber Dream)***
CH Twin Creeks Post Script (Ch Twin Creeks True Grit x CH Twin Creeks Nitty Gritty)
Ch Twin Creeks True Grit (Ch Lochlomun's Interlock x CH Lee Aire's Amazing Grace)
Ch Lochlomun's Interlock (Ch Vi-Lee's Myster Mac x Lochlomun's N Lee Aire's Virgo)
Ch Vi-Lee's Myster Mac (Vi-Lee's Classic Contender x Vi-Lee's Tenth Thyme)
Vi-Lee's Classic Contender (CH Vi-Lee's Jubilant Jonathon x Vi-Lee's Jovial Jewell)
CH Vi-Lee's Jubilant Jonathon (Ch Vi-Lee's Redd Robbyn x Vi-Lee's Jeanne Belle)
Ch Vi-Lee's Redd Robbyn (Vi-Lee's Country Chipper x Bonneja's Trooper)
Vi-Lee's Country Chipper (Vi-Lee's Parading Chieftain x Vi-Lee's Tweedle O'Twill Parade)
Vi-Lee's Parading Chieftain (CH Silver Ho Shining Arrow x Lodestone Bandolieara II)
CH Silver Ho Shining Arrow (Honeybrook Big Parade x Silhouette of Silver Ho)
Honeybrook Big Parade (Ch Future of Arken x Honeybrook Helen)
Ch Future of Arken (Ch El Troubadour of Arken x Nymf of Arken)
Ch El Troubadour of Arken (El Capitaine of Arken x Gailly Arrayed of Arken)
El Capitaine of Arken (CH Eden Emerald x CH Halbury Jean)
CH Eden Emerald (CH Poplar Perfection x CH Eden Elenora)
CH Poplar Perfection (Ch Magnet x Pickwick Peeper)
Ch Magnet (Tonge Admiration x Southport Seal)****
Tonge Admiration (Clarksfield Superior x Clarksfield Countess)
Clarksfield Superior (CH Seedley Superior x countess of Clarksfield)
CH Seedley Superior (Seedley Squire x Seedley Constance)
Seedley Squire (CH Squire of Tytton x Southport Sissie)
CH Squire of Tytton (CH Balgreggie Baronet x Helle of Boston)
CH Balgreggie Baronet (CH Wishaw Clinker x Old Hall Duchess)
CH Wishaw Clinker (Heacham Galopin x Last Rose)
Heacham Galopin (Ormskirk Galopin x Wishaw Dolly)
Ormskirk Galopin (CH Ormskirk Emerald x CH Ormskirk Memoir)
CH Ormskirk Emerald (Heather Ralph x Aughton Bessie)
Heather Ralph (CH Stracathro Ralph x Apple Blossm Heather Ralph)
CH Stracathro Ralph (Ch Christopher x Stracathro Fancy)
CH Christopher (CH Metchley Wonder x Ch Peggie II)
CH Metchley Wonder (Sefton x Minnie)
Sefton (CH Charlemagne x CH Madge I)
Ch Charlemagne (Trefoil x Maude)

Trefoil


***It's through CH Joius Amber Dream that I can trace my collies back to the Sunnybank collies.

****Southport Seal is a dam, and this pedigree above only goes back through 40 generations, tail-male.  This doesn't even begin to cover all the collies that my own collies are related to through the bitches.

Southport Seal (Parbold Picador x Leyland Lucy)
Parbold Picador (Master Willie x Moss Hill Vera)
Master Willie (CH Anfield Model x Sweet Mary)
Ch Anfield Model (CH Parbold Piccolo x Bellfield Beauty)
CH Parbold Piccolo (CH Wellesbourne Conqueror x Parbold Pinafore)
CH Wellesbourne Conqueror (Wellesbourne Councillor x Wellesbourne Beauty)
Wellesbourne Councillor (CH Southport Perfection x Wellesbourne Chirstabelle)
Ch Southport Perfection (CH Edgbaston Marvel x Tabley Rose)
CH Edgbaston Marvel (Ch Christopher x Sweet Marie)

And this is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  There are hundreds of other collies in our pedigree that I haven't begun to trace!

Trefoil, born in 1873, the ancestor of all collies

CH Charlemagne, born in 1879, a son of Trefoil

CH Metchley Wonder, born in 1886, grandson of CH Charlemagne

CH Christopher, born in 1887, son of Metchley Wonder.  All collies trace back to Christopher, and through him, back to Trefoil.

Finding a responsible dog breeder…

A friend and I were discussing Addi’s new championship title, and she remarked on how nice it is to see a collie with titles on both ends of her name.  This started me thinking, and gave me an idea for a new post about choosing a new puppy or dog breeder.  Thank you Anne for the inspiration!

I have always felt that both the prefix and suffix titles are equally important.  The CH, or Champion title, before a collie’s name proves they meet the breed standard.  Champions are collies that are not only beautiful, but are sound and have all the physical qualities and traits that make them suitable for reproducing the next generation of puppies.  But the championship title isn’t the only thing to consider, the titles at the other end of the name can be just as important when choosing to breed a dog, or purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder.

The titles at the end of a dog’s name are often overlooked, but can provide significant information about the dog, and also about her or his family line.  When you see that the collie has earned performance or working titles, it proves that the collie has the correct temperament and intelligence inherent to the breed.  If you are looking for a puppy that may excel in herding or obedience, then searching for a collie with those titles might be your first step.

In every dog breed you will see less than reputable individuals trying to sell litters on social media.  If you ask to see the puppies’ pedigrees, and they either don’t have one available, or if you see many generations listed in the pedigree without any titles, you may want to look elsewhere for your next puppy.  You should also check with the National club for that dog breed, to see what health testing they recommend, as it is different for each dog breed.  For the collie, you would check with the Collie Club of America, to see what tests they recommend.  If the breeder hasn’t done those tests before breeding their collies, we recommend looking for another breeder.  For collies, they should be tested for MDR1, PRA and DMS.  When all three tests have been performed, the OFA will give the collie a CHIC certification.

The first mission of the CHIC program is to provide recommended guidelines for health testing. If a dog has the required testing submitted to the OFA, it gains the “Canine Health” or CHIC certification, showing that all appropriate testing has been submitted to the public OFA databases. DNA testing results do not have to be clear/normal to obtain CHIC certification. The only implication is that all relevant breed screenings have been submitted. The dogs must also be identified permanently, via a microchip or a tattoo. In addition to the parents having their CHIC certification, collie puppies should also be seen and examined by a certified canine ophthalmologist, and a copy of the test results should be given to the new families.

When looking at the titles and health testing, you will also want to make sure the dog breeder is a member of the National club, as Collie Club of America members have to follow a code of ethics.  We also recommend that the breeder is a member of a local breed club as well, which shows they are actively involved in the breed.  Members of local breed clubs are typically the ones who are involved in hosting dog shows and trials, helping when a collie is in need of rescuing, and promoting the breed by educating the public.

There is a lot to consider when choosing a puppy from a responsible, ethical dog breeder.  Identifying these 4 things should assist you in choosing the right puppy for your family and for your lifestyle:

1) Titles, both the conformation title of champion or Grand Champion, and the performance/working titles found at the end of the dog’s name.

2) Health testing, all breeding dogs should have their CHIC certification from the OFA.  All puppies should be seen by a regular veterinarian and a certified canine ophthalmologist prior to being sold.

3) Membership - the breeder should be a member of both the National and local breed clubs.

4) And ideally, unless they are just starting out, the dog breeders should have earned the title of AKC Breeders of Merit.

It can be difficult to decide on one, specific breeder, but that relationship can be invaluable throughout the dog’s lifetime.  It’s important to choose the right breeder for your new puppy.  The breeder can be a reliable source of information about feeding, training and caring for your collie, and they are always happy to hear updates over the years.  We love seeing pictures of our collies with their new families, watching as they grow, learn new tricks, earn new titles,  celebrate birthdays and just enjoy their lives.  Hopefully this post, and the  others we’ve written, will help you find the preservation breeder that is just right for you.

Will you be watching?

 The countdown is over—let the show begin! Tune in for live Breed Judging and follow today’s Westminster events on Westminster's official website or the FOX Sports app, with select coverage on FS2.  We will be watching the collies in Ring 9 at 11:45 and 2:15!

Watch live here: https://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/watch-live/

Had to share…

 We had to do an ad for Addi’s new title.  I think it came out beautifully, Colliesonline.com really does an amazing job!  Click on the link to check out this great resource for collies.  In addition to advertising new titles earned by collies, they post upcoming collie specialty shows, show results, litter announcements and occasional articles too.

Addi has news!

 This past weekend we attended another dog show.  Our Addison was entered, in the hopes her winning streak would continue.

And it did! This was the 3rd show in a row that Addi won Winners, and it gave her the last points she needed to become a champion!

1-4-25 Winners Bitch for a 3 point major

1-5-25 Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, BOBOH and Best of Breed for a 4 point major

2-1-25 Winners Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex and BOBOH to finish

Addison is now CH Winterberry’s Neverending Story, FDC, THDX, CGC, TKN, BCAT, FITB, HIC, VC

Addison definitely started 2025 off with a bang!  We are so proud of our girl, and can’t wait to see what comes next!  She won all her points from the competitive “Bred By Exhibitor” class, which makes this title even more special.

Addison is our 3rd collie to earn her championship in the past 6 months.  ZuZu is 1 point away, and should finish this Spring.  So now we will be focusing on our little Rosie, it’s her time to shine.  More to come…

The Collies visit the Big Apple!

Each year the American Kennel Club holds “Meet the Breeds” events in different areas of the country.  These events are held to promote and educate the public about purebred dogs.  The AKC began holding these events back in 2009 to help people choose the right dog breed for their lifestyle.  The events are family friendly and also provide education about various dog sports and responsible pet ownership. At each event there are hundreds of different dog breeds that you can meet in person, while also learning about their history and temperaments.  

Rosie, on the train to NYC

The Meet the Breeds events are a lot of fun and we were fortunate to be able to attend the one held in New York City with our collies this year.  I think the events are so important, as they help in the preservation of our beloved dog breeds, so we volunteer our collies as canine ambassadors whenever possible.  As no one wanted to drive in the city traffic, we took the train into the city.  I brought Addison, my daughter brought our Rosie, and my friend brought her collie, Kelsea.  The collies garnered a lot of attention both at the train stations and on the trains.  We even ran into a few people who were traveling to NYC to attend the event.  One woman was very excited, as she was going to specifically see the smooth collies, and was happy to get a little additional time before the event.

Addison and my daughter 

The collies had never been on a train before, so they were a bit puzzled by what we were doing.  But they quickly made themselves comfortable and enjoyed the two hour train ride.  

Each dog breed was assigned their own booth, which were set up alphabetically.  This made it easier for the public to locate the specific breeds they wanted to visit.  Our booth was sponsored by the Collie Club of America, so we spent the day with fellow club members and their collies.  We wanted  multiple collies at the event each day, so they could be rotated, with lots of breaks.  The event sold roughly 40,000 tickets, so there were around 20,000 people visiting the booths each day.

Clockwise, Rosie, Addison, Kelsea, Clifford and Marlowe

Our booth had a lot of pictures of collies competing in a wide variety of dogs sports, to show their versatility.  And we had collie coloring pages for children and information about the breed for anyone wanting to learn more.

I walked around, looking at the other booths, and each one was decorated a bit differently.  But each booth did a wonderful job showcasing their breed.  The dogs were the main attractions, and each booth was surrounded by visitors all day long.  Everyone wanted to pet the dogs, take pictures and learn about the breed's temperaments.  I think the collies were favorites, and everyone seemed to want to photograph Rosie in particular.  

Rosie posing for pictures

But every collie received attention and love, with people remarking on their beauty and calm, gentle temperaments.  So many of the visitors had never heard of a smooth collie, it was the perfect opportunity to talk about the two coat varieties, rough and smooth.

 Time for more pictures…

And while we were highlighting all the amazing characteristics of the collie, there were lots of collie snuggles…

With so many people stopping by to visit the collies, they definitely needed breaks, and they were happy to have a few quiet minutes to themselves.

Rosie and Addi

Marlowe

Clifford

It was a wonderful day, thanks to both the AKC and Collie Club of America members who organized the booth and volunteered their time.

Addi made a new friend

We have already volunteered to return next year.  But next year we will bring a couple more collies, so they can have longer breaks.  The collies were happy from all the attention, and very tired on the train home.  

Kelsea

Rosie

What a great day!

A Day at the Dog show - part 2

The ring steward began calling the individual classes into the ring.  The first was the 6 - 9 puppy bitches, then the 9 - 12 month puppy bitches, and soon after he was calling in the “Bred by Exhibitor” class.  While you can enter whichever class you choose, there are certain requirements for some of the classes.  The age is a requirement for the 6 - 9 month puppy classes.  In the “Bred By” classes, the handler has to also be the breeder of the dog or bitch they are showing.  Our Addi was entered in the “Bred by” class, and she came in 1st.

The next class was the American bred class, which means all the bitches entered were bred here in the United States, and not in Canada or elsewhere.  After that, the steward called in the Open class, which is open to all ages.  I held onto Addi, while my daughter took Peyton’s lead.  Our Peyton was entered in the Open class, and my daughter was also her handler.  And Peyton wasn’t going to let Addi get all the attention, she also won first place in her class  This meant that both Addi and Peyton, along with the other 1st place winners, would be competing for Winners Bitch!

Since Addison won the Bred by class, my daughter had to stay on as her handler, so she asked her friend to bring Peyton into the ring.  The judge examined each collie, carefully considered all their virtues, and walked over to his table.  He wrote down a number, picked up the ribbon…and awarded it to Peyton!  This was so exciting, we were so beyond happy.  Peyton won Winners Bitch earning more points towards her championship, and because there were so many class bitches entered at this show, it was a major! A class dog or bitch has to win a total of 15 points to become a champion, but of the 15 points, they need two majors.  A major is a win of 3, 4 or 5 points.  The more dogs entered, the more points awarded for the win.

But it wasn’t over yet…after judging all the class dogs and bitches, and choosing his Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, the judge had one more task.  It was time to judge the smooth collie Best of Breed/Variety class.  The smooth champions are called into the ring, along with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. This is extremely competitive, as everyone wants their collie to be chosen as the best!  Typically the judge chooses a finished champion as his or her Best of Breed, as they have all earned the champion title, and usually have a lot of experience.  But that day Peyton was perfect, you couldn’t take your eyes off her, and the judge chose her as his Best of Breed! 

What happens next?  Well, the Best of Breed winner gets to go on to compete in the herding group, against the other herding dogs that also won Best of Breed.  Then whichever herding dog is awarded a Herding Group 1st,  goes on to compete for “Best in Show” against the group winners of the Working group, Toy Group, Hound group, etc.  Sadly, the collies aren’t usually awarded a herding group 1, and they rarely win the coveted Best in Show.  But when they do, it’s a celebration for us all.  We didn’t win anything in the herding group that day, but nothing could diminish our pride in what Peyton had accomplished.…it was an exciting day at the dog show, one that we will always remember!  

***I wrote this post, to explain the judging at a dog show.  There is so much more happening than what you see on television.  We are usually up and on the road by 5:00 AM, if not earlier.  The outdoor shows are usually either hot or raining.  The indoor shows are usually crowded and very noisy with 600 - 800 dogs in one building.  And we wouldn’t change a thing.  The fun of competing with your dogs, catching up with friends, and the excitement when you do win, is something that’s hard to capture in words.   I hope this will not only explain the judging process, but maybe inspire you to attend a show.