Does Border Collie Belong In Show Ring?

Ironically, seconds after announcing the admittance of the border collie for registry in the American Kennel Club last month, James Smith, chairman of the board of directors, revealed the establishment of the AKC Canine Health Foundation with a $1 million endowment.

For months, United States Border Collie Club members nationwide have been engaged in a political tug-of-war with America's premier dog registry, centered on this superb working dog's admittance into the show ring and the effect of such a move on its character.

Because of the volatility of the issue, the AKC board opted in September to put the matter on hold. Three months later it voted 9-3 to begin registering the breed Feb. 1 and giving it eligibility in herding group conformation Oct. 1.

"The majority of border collie owners and breeders don't want to have anything to do with the show ring," says Donald McCaig of Williamsville, Va., vice president of the USBCC and better known as author of the best-selling book, "Nop's Trials."

The AKC approved a standard last week for this charismatic yet nondescript working dog.

"What's at issue here are two different visions of the dog, says McCaig. "The AKC believes it can bring it into the conformation show ring and display its merits. We feel BCs are at their best in the field or obedience ring."

A step back?

One of the country's top canine geneticists, Dr. Jasper Rhine of the University of California, Berkeley, advises against trying to establish a BC standard, because of the "virtual certainty" this action would have on severely reducing its working qualities.

". . . Any change in border collie breeding that would lead to the development of a conformation standard would place the unique behavioral capabilities of this breed in severe genetic jeopardy.

". . . The experience in other breeds in which the field-trial dogs and show dogs become genetically non-overlapping groups provides a common-sense example of how, in genetics, selection for one trait usually comes at the expense of the other."

The dimensions and weight of the border collie vary enormously. For instance, some weigh 25 pounds, others 65. Shoulder height measurements range from 17 to 26 inches. Ears may be pricked, folded or flop.

The kaleidoscope of coat colors include all black, white with spots, black and white, black and tan, red (liver), yellow, as well blue and red merles. Some dogs dash to their sheep, others lope. Some are aggressive, others shy.

An alternative

Dogs of unknown parentage who perform notably in trials may be registered on merit (ROM). This is not uncommon, McCaig explains. Though usually these dogs are purebreds without papers, sometimes they have murkier backgrounds.

Border collies are often too obsessive, shy or wired to make good family pets, says McCaig. It would take 10 years to develop a physically homogenous border collie for the show ring.

Until the old workaholic instincts are bred out, a great many pups go from puppy-mill breeder to a dissatisfied pet home to an animal shelter and death, says the USBCC. Conversely, the AKC has many letters from owners stating this dog makes a wonderful family pet.

In a letter last summer to the AKC, Kay Guetzloff of Prescott, Ariz., breeder and co-owner of Heelalong Sweep, two-time Ken-L-Ration obedience award winner, says, "I am strongly opposed to the AKC turning a performance-only breed into a beauty breed."

Guetzloff and her husband, Dick, participate in more than 75 obedience trials annually with their dogs. "The border collie," she says, excels in all performance events. If the breed becomes recognized for beauty their (sic) dominance in obedience, agility and herding will be short lived. Is this what the AKC wants? Is this for the betterment of dogs? Would it not be possible to have a breed without a standard, and not have them shown in the breed ring?"

The border collie has been in the AKC's miscellaneous class since 1955, meaning its participation is limited to obedience and tracking. Full recognition would allow BCs also to compete in herding, agility and conformation.

Willing to pay

Most USBCC members, according to McCaig would like to remain active in obedience and are interested in competing in the AKC's new agility program. To participate, they would support the organization on a pay-as you-go basis, meaning Indefinite Listing Privilege fees might be doubled or tripled along with a hike in entry fees.

The miscellaneous class was never intended to be a permanent residence for breeds, according Linda Krukar, AKC project administrator of dog events. Within the last year the AKC has re-examined the status of seven breeds parked in that category for decades.

All seven, according to Krukar, were brought into the class as a preparatory step to full recognition.

Since 1955, 27 of 31 breeds in miscellaneous have moved through to full recognition. One was dropped and three remain in the class.

Two clubs, the American Border Collie Alliance and the Border Collie Society of America, have expressed an interest in becoming the breed's parent club.

Krukar says the AKC has received hundreds of letters supporting the registry and eventual herding-group placement of the breed, with only a handful in opposition.

The options

For the border-collie crowd, it was a take-it or leave-it proposal offered by the AKC earlier this year. Had the major national clubs expressed no interest in seeking recognition, the AKC would have dropped the breed.

Smith, of North Collins, N.Y., at an AKC delegates meeting last September, said, "Our position is nothing more than providing the opportunity for those who choose to do so, to use our services. That is, use our registry and participate in our events, including regular conformation classes.

"We are simply providing the opportunity for freedom of choice, nothing more and nothing less."

"Large numbers of border collies compete in show rings in Australia, England and Scotland," adds Elaine Young of Seattle, a board member. "By accepting them for registry here, we're not sucking the brains out of farmers' working dogs. We're just offering anyone who owns one an option to compete in the show ring."

"This isn't over yet," says McCaig, who suggests the United States Border Collie Club may sue the AKC and seek an injunction to halt the BC registry before it starts.

In a letter to the AKC this month, McCaig indicates he would drop any litigation if the AKC would use a name other than border collie for the breed.

"The welfare of our breed is at stake here. The AKC administrators live in a 19th century culture while everyone around them is in the late 20th century."