The BC is the most popular working sheepdog throughout the world because - put simply - it is the best at what it does. BCs have been bred for centuries purely to work livestock, whereas the other breeds have, for all intents and purposes, had the work bred out of them. Working beardies are the exception really, but even then they are a bit rough and ready and don't suit most sheep farmers.

OES would not be seen working sheep anywhere as they have been long since replaced by the BC/WSD.

As for Rough & Smooth Collies-these are "huntaway"working style breeds & there isn't much call for this now in the UK , there are still Huntaways used in New Zealand as general purpose farm dogs. Huntaway style is were the dogs"bark"the sheep/stock rather than use the BC/WSD style of eye

Beardies were always traditionally driving dogs, hence the longer body proportions to height, giving them a longer stride. A local shepherd(sadly no longer with us)used to have a Beardie that he used for all his driving whether it was from pasture to pasture or farm to market or pasture to dip-she was a very strong driving bitch & popular with all the farmers who used the shepherd

My friend has moved to the yorkshire dales and watched a JRT herding witha BC the other day. She had to hide her JRT's eyes in case she got ideas!

rune

Thank you very much for that very much appreciated. Always had a soft spot for BC, although never owned one my Dad's family had a BC called Prince in the late 1940's onwardmy they lived in the centre of B'ham where the Hall of Memory is now and he used to catch a bus the dog that is and visit my Dad's sisters and brothers who were married my Dad said no one taugh him however he did accompany them when they visited and thinks he taught himself the route. The buses/trams used to stop for him too even if he was alone at the stop. He used to board and sit under the seat. He also used to sit on their front step his back leaning against the back steps and their cat used to lie on his belly apparently people used to take pictures of them but Dad said they never bothered.

Thanks for that, fascinating stuff!

Beardies were always traditionally driving dogs, hence the Farmer here has a Beardie