Old Hemp, a tricolor sheepdog born in Northumberland, England, in September 1893, is the dog most modern Border Collies trace back to. The breed itself comes from the hill farms along the border between England and Scotland, where shepherds bred collies for one job: moving sheep quietly and well.
Working collies were on those hills long before Old Hemp. What he did was fix the style we now call the Border Collie, and the name followed in 1915. Below you’ll find where the breed came from, how old it is, the people and dogs that shaped it, and how it went from sheep farms to family homes.
Where Are Border Collies From?
Border Collies are from the United Kingdom. Their name points to their most likely home, the Anglo-Scottish border: the Cheviot Hills, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. Old Hemp was born in West Woodburn, Northumberland, a few miles south of the border, and the early breeding and trialing happened on both sides of it.
So if someone asks what country Border Collies come from, the honest answer is both England and Scotland. Wales played its part too. The first recorded sheepdog trial was held at Bala, in North Wales,, and Welsh hill farms have bred working collies for generations.
How Old Is the Border Collie Breed?
The Border Collie as a defined breed is about 130 years old. It dates from Old Hemp’s birth in 1893, and the name “Border Collie” has been in use since 1915. The working collies it came from are much older, going back centuries on British hill farms.
Here are the dates that matter most:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1873 | First recorded sheepdog trial, at Bala in North Wales |
| 1880 | The “Great International Collie Trial” in Philadelphia, usually called the first US sheepdog trial |
| 1893 | Old Hemp is born in Northumberland, bred by Adam Telfer |
| 1901 | Old Hemp dies, after siring around 200 pups |
| 1906 | The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) is founded |
| 1915 | ISDS secretary James Reid first uses the name “Border Collie” |
| 1963 | Wiston Cap is born; he wins the Supreme Championship in 1965 |
| 1976 | The UK Kennel Club recognizes the breed |
| 1995 | The American Kennel Club recognizes the breed |
What Were Border Collies Bred For?
Border Collies were bred to gather, drive and pen sheep on large, rough hill farms. A good dog could run out a long way, bring a scattered flock to the shepherd and move it through gates without a lot of noise. Shepherds picked breeding dogs for how they worked, not how they looked.
That is why Border Collies still come in so many colors, coat types and ear sets. For most of their history nobody cared about any of that. They cared about stamina, brains, a calm way with stock and a dog that would listen from half a mile away.
The same breeding explains the dog on your couch. The drive to work all day, the fixation on moving things and the need for a job all come straight from the hills, which is why a pet Border Collie needs a lot of daily exercise and something to think about.
Border Collie Ancestors: Where Did the Breed Originate?
The Border Collie’s ancestors were the landrace collies of Britain, working sheepdogs that varied from valley to valley. They were not a breed in the modern sense. Each area kept the dogs that suited its sheep, its ground and its shepherds.
You will often read that the line starts with Roman herding dogs brought to Britain, later crossed with smaller spitz-type dogs that came with the Vikings. It makes a good story, and both peoples did keep dogs. There is no record, though, that links either one to the Border Collie, so treat it as tradition rather than proven history.
What we can document is closer to home. Shepherds’ dogs show up in British writing from the 1500s on, and by the late 1700s writers were describing dogs that sound a lot like today’s collies. One old type, the Cumberland Sheepdog from northwest England, is now extinct. Some Cumberland dogs were called Border Collies in the early 1900s, and the type may have been absorbed into the breed.
Those same landrace collies also gave rise to other breeds. The Rough and Smooth Collies were shaped for the show ring from the mid 1800s, and the Australian Kelpie was developed from collies taken out from Scotland and northern England.
Old Hemp: The First Border Collie
Old Hemp is widely called the first Border Collie and the father of the breed. He was born in September 1893 in West Woodburn, Northumberland, and died in May 1901, aged about seven and a half. His sire was a dog called Roy and his dam was Meg, a black, strong-eyed bitch.
He didn’t look much like the classic black and white Border Collie. Old Hemp was tricolor, with only a little white trim. In his day that didn’t matter at all. What mattered was how he handled sheep, and nobody had seen anything quite like it.
The Old Hemp entry on Wikipedia lists the books and articles his story comes from, including the sheepdog writer Eric Halsall.
Adam Telfer and Old Hemp
Adam Telfer was the Northumberland shepherd who bred and owned Old Hemp. He was an experienced sheepdog man, and he still rated Hemp above every dog he had known. Telfer’s line about him is the one people quote today: he “flashed like a meteor across the sheepdog horizon.”
Halsall wrote that Hemp “was born with such knowledge of his craft that he never required training,” and that “none who saw him ever forgot him.” Allow for some old-timer’s pride in those lines. Still, everyone who wrote about Hemp agreed he was something special.
How Old Hemp Worked Sheep
Old Hemp worked quietly. Many sheepdogs of his time were loud, rough dogs that pushed stock with barking and noise. Hemp moved sheep with his body position and a calm, powerful presence, and the sheep responded to him easily.
Shepherds liked what they saw so much that Hemp’s way of working became the Border Collie style. That low crouch, the hard stare known as “eye” and the steady approach you see at any sheepdog trial all go back to dogs like him.
Old Hemp’s Pups and His Place in the Breed
Old Hemp sired around 200 pups. Shepherds from across the region brought their bitches to Telfer, because they wanted a dog that worked like Hemp. His pups carried his style into farms all over the Borders, and their pups did the same.
Hemp died before the ISDS stud book began, but the society later gave him the registration number 9. Its stud book now holds more than 300,000 entries, and most of the dogs in it go back to him somewhere. You will see claims that every Border Collie alive descends from Old Hemp. That is likely true of most registered dogs, but nobody can prove it for all of them.
Why Are They Called Border Collies?
They are called Border Collies because the breed comes from the border country between England and Scotland. James Reid, secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society, first used the name in 1915. He wanted a way to tell the society’s working dogs apart from the Kennel Club’s show collies.
By then the show collie had gone its own way. After about 1860, show breeders had shaped the Rough and Smooth Collies for looks, while the working dogs on the hills were still bred only for the job. Reid’s name drew a clear line between the two.
The word “collie” itself is older and its origin is uncertain. The usual explanation ties it to an old word for black or coal, after the dark coats of early sheepdogs. There’s more on that, plus names inspired by the breed’s history, in our guide to Border Collie names.
Sheepdog Trials and the International Sheep Dog Society
Sheepdog trials turned local bragging into a way to measure dogs, and they did more than anything else to shape the breed. The first recorded trial took place at Bala, North Wales, in 1873. Trials soon spread across Britain, and the dogs that won them became the most wanted sires.
In 1906, English and Scottish sheep men met and formed the International Sheep Dog Society. Its aim was to improve the shepherd’s dog. The first International trial was held at Gullane, Scotland, soon after, and the society has run one almost every year since. Its office is now in Bedford, England, and it registers over 6,000 Border Collie pups a year.
The ISDS has never set a standard for looks. A dog earns its place through its working bloodlines, and its breeding is judged by how it handles sheep. That one choice is why working Border Collies still vary so much in appearance.
Wiston Cap: The Dog on the ISDS Badge
Wiston Cap is the most influential Border Collie after Old Hemp. He was born on 28 September 1963, bred by W. S. Hetherington and handled by John Richardson. He won the ISDS Supreme Championship in 1965, when he was not yet two years old.
Cap went on to become one of the most used stud dogs in the breed’s history. He sired three Supreme Champions and was grandsire to three more, and his bloodline appears in most modern Border Collies. The crouching dog on the ISDS badge is Wiston Cap, drawn in the classic herding pose.
You’ll sometimes see him searched as “Winston Cap.” The farm name is Wiston, with no N.
How Border Collies Spread Around the World
Border Collies went wherever British sheep farming went. From the late 1800s, good working dogs were shipped to New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Canada and South America, often traveling with the shepherds who had trained them.
New Zealand and Australia
Collies were in New Zealand by 1858, though early records don’t say what type. In the late 1890s, James Lilico of Christchurch imported working dogs from Britain. The best known was Hindhope Jed, a bitch born in Scotland in 1895 who had already won trials there.
In 1901, Jed moved again, to the King and McLeod stud at Canonbar in New South Wales, where she did very well at Australian trials. New Zealand later developed its own Heading Dog from Border Collie stock, and Australia’s working dogs owe a lot to these imports.
The United States and Canada
Working collies came to America with the sheep. After the Civil War, wealthy ranchers began importing flocks from Britain, and Scottish shepherds sailed with them, bringing their dogs. When they needed more, they sent home for the kind they knew.
Accounts from the gold rush years say it took seven mounted cowboys to move 1,000 head of cattle, while one herder and one good dog could drive the same number of sheep. Those dogs were collies. Idaho rancher Andy Little, a former shepherd from Moffat in the Scottish Borders, arrived in 1894 with two dogs and went on to keep more than 1,000 working collies.
In 1880, Philadelphia hosted the “Great International Collie Trial,” usually called the first sheepdog trial in the United States. The name Border Collie didn’t exist yet, so every dog entered was just a collie. Newspaper reports name two different winners: Oscar, a black and tan dog imported from Scotland, and Tom, a local stockyard drover’s dog owned by Charles Pugh.
Kennel Club Recognition and the Old-Style Border Collie
For most of its history the Border Collie was a working dog only. The UK Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1976, and the American Kennel Club followed in 1995 after decades of listing it in its Miscellaneous Class. Many working-dog groups opposed AKC recognition, worried that showing for looks would cost the breed its ability.
That split is still with us. Today you’ll find two broad kinds of Border Collie:
- Working-bred dogs, usually ISDS or similar registry dogs, bred for herding. They vary a lot in coat, color and build, and they tend to be lean, intense and very driven. This is the old-style Border Collie most farmers know.
- Show-bred dogs, bred to a written breed standard. They are often fuller-coated and more uniform in looks, and many have a slightly softer energy level, though they are still busy, clever dogs.
Comparing an old photo of Old Hemp with a modern show champion shows how far looks can drift once a breed enters the ring. Working dogs from good trial lines look a lot more like Hemp did.
Famous Border Collies
Old Hemp and Wiston Cap are the two dogs every Border Collie historian names first. Hindhope Jed made her mark on two continents. Outside the trial field, the best known is Chaser, a South Carolina Border Collie who learned the names of 1,022 toys with her owner, psychology professor John Pilley.
Others include Fly and Rex from the film Babe, the loyal Shep of Fort Benton, Montana, and Owd Bob from Alfred Ollivant’s 1898 novel. You’ll find short stories on each of them in the famous dogs section of our list of Border Collie names.
Border Collies Today
Border Collies still work sheep and cattle on farms around the world. More of them now live as family dogs, though, and they shine in agility, flyball, obedience and dog sports of every kind.
Knowing the history helps you live with one. A dog bred for generations to gather sheep will try to herd children, chase cars and stare at the cat if it has nothing better to do. The breed’s Border Collie temperament makes much more sense once you picture those hills.
Give that working brain a job with steady Border Collie training, and if you’re still choosing a breed, see how they stack up in our Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd comparison. Plenty of working-bred dogs end up needing new homes, too, and you can find them through Border Collie rescues in every state.
Border Collie History FAQ
Who was the first Border Collie?
Old Hemp is usually called the first Border Collie. Adam Telfer bred him in Northumberland in 1893, and his quiet, strong-eyed way of working became the breed’s style. Collies herded sheep long before him, but Hemp’s 200 or so pups are where the modern breed begins.
How long have Border Collies been around?
Border Collies have been around as a defined breed for about 130 years, since Old Hemp was born in 1893. The name dates from 1915. Working collies of the same general type herded sheep in Britain for centuries before that, but nobody kept records of them as a breed.
What country are Border Collies from?
Border Collies are from the United Kingdom, specifically the border country between England and Scotland. Old Hemp was born in Northumberland, England, and many early breeders and trials were in the Scottish Borders. Welsh shepherds also did a lot to develop the working dog.
How old was Old Hemp when he died?
Old Hemp was about seven and a half when he died. He was born in September 1893 and died in May 1901. That’s young by today’s standards; most pet Border Collies now live 12 to 15 years, as covered in our guide to Border Collie lifespan.
Are all Border Collies descended from Old Hemp?
Most registered Border Collies have Old Hemp in their pedigree somewhere, because he sired so many pups and his descendants dominated breeding. Saying that every single Border Collie descends from him goes further than the records can show, especially for farm dogs that were never registered.
When were Border Collies first bred?
The modern Border Collie was first bred in the 1890s, starting with Old Hemp and his offspring in Northumberland. Shepherds had bred working collies for their herding skill long before that. The breed got its name in 1915 and kennel club recognition in 1976 (UK) and 1995 (US).
What is the Border Collie’s original purpose?
The Border Collie’s original purpose was herding sheep on hill farms. Shepherds needed a dog that could gather a flock over rough, open ground, bring it in quietly and pen it on command. That is still the job working Border Collies do, and the reason pet ones need so much activity.
As a border collie I must say this article is misleading. This is not a good family dog, this is a dog good for families who do not have small children, who are very active and love the , and who have the time patiance (and money) to invest in training them. While some bc are low key, most need a lot, A LOT of physical and some mental activity in absence of a job like they would have in a farm. My first bc had to be walked 3 times a day for at least 20 min, followed by other 15-30 min of fetching outdoors. I could not leave her alone (with my other more calm bc) for more than 5 hours or she would get herself busy (this is not average, but not unusual either). Like most working dogs, if you do not keep their bodies and brains active, they will find a hobby which is very likely you won’t appreciate. If you have small kids, they will try to herd them (probably nipping at their legs), another thing you and your kids won’t enjoy. Lastly, that they are smart means they can be trained but you need to really commit. Another aspect important to mention, they shed quite a bit, especially the ones with long hair (thos clasification is also misleading, the “long hair” is puffy, the “short” hair is sleek regardless of actual length. Never shave a bc, but do brush it!). Whatever breed you get, do research with experts on the breed to make sure is right for your life style, and consider adopting!
Thanks for the huge response Beliza, I appreciate the time you put into it! Yes, border collies require lots of attention and stimulation, but they can be conditioned to need less over time. They are definitely not a dog for a family who works 10 hours a day and then sits on the couch watching TV the rest of the night. As far as the nipping goes, that is certainly a concern, but can be trained out of them. And yes you are right about the shedding. As you said, border collies are not for every family, so it is important to do the research ahead of time!
I beg to differ on the comment about Border Collies and small children. I have raised Border Collies for twenty years and used an older farm dog Jack, for my breeding foundation. He put his temperament into all his puppies and they have been wonderful with children.
Infact my first two females that I used as mates for him would guard my oldest granddaughter as she slept. This line was and still is eager to play with children and very patient with them. My Tippy has watched my youngest grandson grow up. Even before her was toddling, she allowed him to poke and prod at her with no negative reactions. She still adores him at age seven and she is now 10 years old.
That’s great to hear Anita! I’m sure with each bc it’s different, but it sounds like you have had quite a great experience with border collies, as have I!
High five on your comment!
You’ve failed to explain about the short haired border collie, I have one and didn’t know they even existed. It’s a great dog he’s very smart and wears me out everyday.
Yes, you’re right Mike. The short-haired border collies are called “smooth coated” and they are definitely not as common as the long-haired (“rough coated”) ones. I wrote a quick summary of the two in this article, but I am planning on writing more about them in the future.
I love you Smokey!
😀
I got to see the marker for Hemp.
Wow! Very cool Linda
Hi I have a border collie his name is Oreo he is on Facebook. We live in the South Loop Chicago. He is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and my sister Laura.
That’s great to hear! Does he have an Instagram account too? If you send me a link to his facebook or instagram page to [email protected], I will share the photos!
I have a beautiful blue merle shorthair border collie…his name is Baldur..smart as can be but he has herded and nipped my grandkids …They are Not a dog for small children if they are very instinctual and will herd them like sheep and also they don’t like screaming running or craziness in the house…Baldur will chase a ball and fetch til he collapses from exhaustion..lol..he’s extremely intelligent and I have started training him to be my fiance’s fetch dog and companion as he is a disabled veteran.
These dogs are great family dogs for orderly homes without children under the age of 5 in my opinion.
I’m no border collie expert..this is my first ever but mine is something very special and he has a forever home…I may breed him and see where it goes as we live in the sheep capital of the US..San Angelo, Texas.
But first he will continue his training.
Baldur sounds like a wonderful border collie! Just keep on the training and I’m sure he will eventually be a good boy with your grandkids.
I think it all depends on the dog. i have a border collie looks like old hemp…he has the greatest off switch ever. I can work 10 hours a day come home pet him and watch TV and he is okay with that.never been destructive. I have lived in apartments and have taken him herding. it’s all about breeding and how you raise them. he loves cats dogs horses chickens children, never nips. I got a diamond in the ruff. my other one just a puppy is crazy and has no off switch
Yep, you’re right Parker. It really comes down to the dog and how you raise them. Puppies also tend to be a little more of a handful than adults!
I also have a smooth coat, Annie, black and white with tan points. Got her at 8 weeks, a puff
ball that I thought would become a course coat like my first, Shasta(RIP). Annie turned one year old 10/18/18, and she would fetch the Frisbee dawn till dusk if I had it in me. BC’s are best dogs ever in my humble opinion. Other dog owners ask “How did you train her to be so well behaved?” I say, “I didn’t; its her “job” to keep me in line.” Oh and BTW, I have 7 grandchildren who grew up with Shasta, and now Annie. All it took was one ore two instructions, and the kids are no longer sheep if you get my drift. Great article! Thanks.
Thanks for the comment, Rick! I totally agree with you! All it takes is a little training and some love.
I thought I had a BC till I found out that she has me. Tai (her real name is Alaska of Marealma ) is so active that I have to invite friends EVERY day to play with her…
Pretty name! And at least that means you get to see your friends every day! ;D
My bc’s name is Otis just 18 months and he to is a handful. I walk him at least two miles a day and play fetch for probably about an hour broken up over the day, but I think he would like even more activity . I am retired but can’t spend every minute with Otis and play or work him and I feel like he is being cheated. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Tony
I think you’ll find that you can spend the same amount of time exercising him if you spend some time teaching him tricks and training him. BC’s seem to get as tired from mental stimulation (Training) as they do from exercising and it is just as rewarding to them. Plus you can do a lot of training inside so you don’t have to be outside constantly.
Thank you so much for the brilliant read there was so much I didn’t no about the history of border collies, I have loved the breed ever since I owned my 1st collie shep, I had him for nearly 18 years. Now I would never be without a border collie
You’re welcome Sharon! I’m glad you learned something! And I know what you mean about border collies. I’ve only had one so far but I’m sold on them for the rest of my life 😀
I have a smooth coat BC named Daisy. She was a rescue and caused me to fall in love with this breed. We walk off leash for at least an hour on hiking trails every day. This curbs her energy level. She is sweet, cuddly, goofy and smart. I have never seen her herd, but I did see her direct an aggressive dog away from me by chasing it in ever larger circle away from me. It was amazing to see her work like that.
Daisy sounds like a wonderful dog Chris. I’ve seen my collie do some pretty funny things when he sees objects he doesn’t recognize at night. Thanks for sharing!
I have a border collie that came from working parents. She is super nice with kids and loves to cuddle. I trained her as a pup to not nip and while energetic she’s doesn’t need much more that some attention when I get off work.
Any time I see a video or article about this breed you have the person that makes it seem like the breed is impossible and that is not true.
Thanks for the comment Bobo! It seems like for the most part the people who complain about the breed either a) don’t put in the time to train them and give them the attention they need, or b) actually have a bc that has issues they can’t train out. It seems like it’s almost always option “a” but I think there are some problem collies that do exist.
I have had dogs my whole life, and I believe my border collie (Myles) is the best all round dog. #1 rule is they must be trained! He has more energy than you could ever expect and when we would come home he just lays down. Now he is 13 and I have to govern him, but he would still go all day if I let him. Don’t think I will get anything but borders here on out. Also there are 2 kinds of bc’s, those that bite and those that don’t. If you want on for a working dog make sure he’s a biter! Myles is a biter on my cows, but never bit the little ones.
Thanks for sharing Martin. You’re certainly right about the #1 rule and about how great border collies are. At this point, I don’t have a farm but I can imagine the trait is important.
Yes, good article. I and my colleagues are the people responsible for installing the monument to Telfer and Hemp at West Woodburn.
Just as a point of fact, although Hemp was never used in Trials, Adam Telfer was a very well respected Trialist…and won many accolades. He was also a patron of the International Sheepdog Society.
Wow Simon, thanks for commenting! That’s great that you were involved in the installation of the monument. I’d love to see it someday. And thanks for the additional info, I’m glad to hear it from someone who intimately knows the history. I’d love to hear more about it sometime.
Every dog has their own personality & truly depends on the owner & ability to love, train, time spent with dog. Even depends on the place you live & provide for your dog! I do agree that the Border Collie is truly one of the smartest bred ever! I am a breeder & I truly love ever dog born! They LOVE unconditionally!!!
You are certainly right, Attie. Dogs are wonderful. Do you breed BC’s or another breed? I’m curious to hear more!
Many thanks for your brief, extremely informative article. I have owned four border collies. The first and second when I was farming and used as cattle dogs, the third and fourth as pets. To own a bc is a privilege and it is imperative to understand their needs. It is common knowledge that they require a tremendous amount of exercise but what is just as important and not often understood is that they also need an equal amount of mental stimulation. A bc that causes problems with nipping, barking, chewing shoes and furniture is not a bad dog, simply frustrated. Imagine a highly intelligent child at home with no books, toys, jigsaws or games. If you have a lawn or open area, make a simple agility course. If not take a few foldable hurdles and a collapsible tunnel to your local park and have fun with your dog. If you have a puppy, encourage it to socialise with other dogs. Puppy clubs might not be your idea of fun but the dogs love it. Remember, you took on the commitment. No matter how much you do for dog, it will do more for you without reservation.
Lastly, for those who think that a bc is not good with children, think again. A well adjusted bc is the most fantastic companion for a young child. It will only “herd” if bored and lacking purpose but will steer a child away from perceived danger. That was what it was bred for.
I now live in SW France and lost my last bc to cancer. In two weeks time I will be driving to West Wales to collect two new pups. The are Kennel Club and ISDS registered and come from a working farm. The owner has kindly kept them until 16 weeks and gone through all the rabies inoculations and paperwork for the issue of passports so that they may travel across Europe. I am so looking forward to this new adventure.
My advice to anyone considering a bc;- Ensure you have the time. Be aware that it will be your constant companion. Make sure you understand it’s nutritional requirements and try to love it as much as it will love you.
Thanks for your huge, helpful response, Philip, I couldn’t have said it better myself! I’m sorry about your last BC, but it’s great to hear you are adopted a couple more soon! Best wishes to you and your full pack of border collies! 😀
I saw this on Facebook. I posted a comment I will give to you: That may be Old Hemp in the photo, but that looks just like my Old Tip, actually Tippy – Tippicanoe, the Border Collie that was my first dog that I grew up with. I can tell you, there were times as we walked along the cold Lake Michigan shoreline, only ones on the snow covered beach, sometimes Tip didn’t quite look tame. She was an amazing dog.
Tip sounds like she was a wonderful dog 🙂
Thanks for the thorough and interesting article! Is there any further research that understands what type of dogs the Romans brought to England? Like wise, what type of dogs did the Vikings brought with them that mixed with the Roman dogs to produce the early mid-sized sheep dogs? Curious about that long traced early relation, perhaps it even correlates to modern European and Scandinavian breeds? Thanks
I’ll have to look into that and get back to you, Guillermo. Beautiful art by the way!
There are different bloodlines that affect the temperament of Border Collies (as in any dog) and it behooves one to meet the parents to make your assessment before you buy. There are ones that are naturally more neurotic, or having OCD. They can never settle down well. There are the natural biters that make good cattle dogs, but not sheep dogs. Sheep dogs should never bite the sheep except in extreme circumstances. The neurotic ones, the ones that tend to bite and the ones with strong herding tendencies take much more effort to diminish these characteristics and may not be the best choice for families looking for an enjoyable pet. Remember, this breed is extremely intelligent and strong minded. You need to be more so and equally determined to keep them in check. You must become the alpha dog, the sooner the better. The comments on mental stimulation as well as physical exercise are right on. If you don’t really want to commit, be fair the the dog and look for a breed that is less demanding of your time and effort. They are a working breed, remember.
Amen!