I don't like the show types, too big for my eye, not as naturally athletic as the smaller skinnier ones are, I am not a fan of shorter squat ones either but I have been told why the working people like them like that down here. Etta is too lightweight for what they want but her sister fits the bill.

I know three show types very well and I find them 'flashy' to look at---they draw my eye. Which is what they were bred to do I suppose! None of those three is any calmer temperament wise to the working ones. Don't know if they quarter naturally---will check next time I see them.

rune

I have never paid. It is a good idea to avoid the weekends and Gundog day---if they coincide it is appalling.

One year they stopped people from coming in for a while, you literally couldn't walk anywhere, you were hemmed in completely.

It might make sense to have it over another couple of days.

rune

To expensive !!

Someone told me last yr, that when the contract finishes with the NEC,(think they have another couple of yrs) the "show" will move venue.

Yes, dont doubt thats true Hali.

I dont watch show Collies, I "see" more pets than anything, many bought from farms.

Thats a shame, you shouldnt be able to see their ribs, how awful. Maybe you didnt see any, but having visited the lakes regularly for the last 15yrs, I can assure you I have, including one place we stay at.

Perhaps the coat makes you see something that isnt there? thats what judging is all about, what you see may not be what you feel. getting your hands on a dog is a whole new meaning.

Ive mentioned before the US "grow" coat on dogs, that first Collie is a classic example of a US Border Collie.

Does they look like this?



Milo is a farm collie. I saw his dam but not his sire although I was assured it was the 'collie up the road'. Milo just kept growing and growing and has many lurcher-type traits. I am constantly asked what he is crossed with and I just have to assume there is some sighthound in there from somewhere!

It happens a lot---the working lines need to be injected occasionally (at least the people who work them think they do and that is good enough for me!). Thats how they developed in the first place.

rune

Erm, I have, hence the thread

So are show lines Vs working lines purely preference or is there more to it than that?

Yup the photos are from westminster as it was just what I was able to find quickly, but it is a good example of what I am saying - domed head heavy boned short legs

Milo is lovely (as are the others) he does seem a bit bigger then the rest but except for that looks very similar to one of my friends collies who was from a lowland cattle farm - as a pose to their other collies who are from a hillside sheep farm - they have longer coats and shorter legs because thats what the farmer finds works best


exactly. Border collie is a pretty new breed really and I dont see anything wrong with the people who work the dogs continuing to evolve them to best suit the job needed
No point in keeping the breed fixed and pure as it is right now - and having a pretty black and white dog that is no use on the farm

I would love to discuss the working springers but unfort I know little about them except that I much prefer them

It may well not have short legs, the coat is deceptive. It may well not be domed in the head either, it does appear to have low set ears, that would give that impression. Id like to get my hands on it, but I totally agree with you about the way it looks.