"Australian Shepherd History" by Linda Rorem
"The Old Herding Dogs of Ireland" by Marjorie Quarton
1576, Johannes Caius: "The Shepherds Dogge"
1790, Thomas Bewick "The Shepherd's Dog"
1790, Thomas Bewick "The Cur Dog"
1851, excerpt from Cuvier on domestic dogs.
1862, excerpt from Woods on sheep-dogs
1872, excerpt from Goodrich on the Shepherd's Dog and others, including quotes from Buffon and Hogg.
1890 Standard of Excellence, Collie Club (English)
1890 Standard of Excellence Scottish Collie Club
1906 and earlier photos from The Dog Book by James Watson: Charlemagne, Nesta, Cocksie and Squire of Tyton, and more early Collies.
1911, 1912 Country Life in America articles: "Save The Old-Fashioned Collie"
Stories of working shepherds/collies from 1880, 1892, 1894, 1914, 1920s and more, at Herding on the Web.
Early 1900s photos of white Collies, and a couple articles.
1922 article "The Sunnybank Collies" by George Bancroft Duren
More Terhune and Sunnybank info at Wayne Lewis' website.
Jan's collection of historic prints and photos and information
Collie and shepherd photos from family albums
A few more historic photos and illustrations online here.
The Shepherd's Dogge A quarterly journal of the Border Collie & his ancestors, devoted to sheepdog culture & lore, historic & contemporary. Ceased publication, but great website still active. If you can find backissues, what a treat!
The Border Collie historical museum
Shetland Sheepdog history, including connections with the Collie breed.
Index to historic Collie photos in books.
If you are planning to breed dogs, there is a LOT you need to know. If you are already breeding dogs, there is a LOT you may need to reconsider. Of course you intend to be a good breeder--you intend to do a good job, take good care of your dogs and puppies, make sure the puppies go to (and stay in) appropriate homes, and to make good breeding choices that will benefit your chosen breed.
Most breeders have always intended to benefit their breeds. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Instead of just intending to do good, breeders must keep looking carefully at the results of their choices with a long range view towards breed maintenance, health and breed survival. Today, given new understanding about genetic disease and the importance of genetic variation in populations for long term survival and health, the idea of what is actually a benefit to the breed as a whole has changed dramatically from what it was assumed to be just a few years ago.
To make sure your good intentions will really benefit and not harm your chosen breed, get informed.
If you want to be an informed breeder, as a starting point, read the following.
A Conservation Breeding Handbook, Carolyn Christman and Dr. P. Sponenberg, available from American Livestock Breeds Association
The Canine Diversity Project website If you read articles at this website, be aware that strategies appropriate for genetic conservation of captive bred wild species may not be equally appropriate for genetic conservation of domestic breed subgroups of species (credit owed to both Dr. Pollock at Cornell and to Carolyn Christman for that very important but potentially overlooked point). In addition to reading the Canine Diversity Project articles, be sure to read Dr. Bell's careful explanation of what is wrong with some ideas about how to maintain genetic diversity in dog breeds, in the following article by Dr. Bell at Tufts:
"Genetic Counseling and Breeding Management of Hereditary Disorders", Jerold S. Bell, DVM. Read the entire article, but pay particular attention to the section entitled "Diversity Issues".
Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, Dr. G. Padgett. Published 1998 by Howell Book House.
High school biology is enough to get you started. Even if you've forgotten the very basics of genetics, you can jump right in and read the book by Dr. Padgett, and the book by Sponenberg and Christman, since they explain genetic concepts.
Continue working on understanding the basic concepts involved in genetics and selection. Find a basic text or better yet, find a genetics class or animal breeding class to take, at the local college or university, or agricultural college, or online.
When you've brushed up on the basics of genetics, study the following:
Understanding Animal Breeding, R. M. Bourdon
Genetics of the Dog, M. B. Willis
Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders, M. B. Willis
Genetics for Dog Breeders, R. Robinson
Dog breeders who do not have experience with breeding other animals, and who do not study the broader view of selection and breeding theory tend not to understand the limits of their information and the limits of their control over genetic change. If you study these references, you should start to understand certain types of limitation on breeder knowledge.
If you want to know more about how to be careful about understanding what you really know, and what you think you know but maybe don't, check out:
How We Know What Isn't So, T. Gilovich
Rational Choice in an Uncertain World, R.M. Dawes
More web resources for dog breeders:
Canine Eye Research Foundation, CERF website.
Genetic disorders officially reported in the U.S. in some collie-related breeds: Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Collie, Border Collie, English Shepherd, Kelpie, Shetland Sheepdog
Info on CEA, PRA and other health concerns at the Collie Club of America Foundation website.
March 98 newsrelease on PRA research breakthrough, the Cornell team, plus background info.
Thyroid testing: not just T4 anymore.
More on Dermatomyositis
Full Cry articles about hunting with the Old Time Farm Shepherds (articles not online)
The Ranch Dog Trainer an all breed stockdog publication.
Page updated 21 December 2005