I just wanted to ask how many breeders are interested or even using "herding dogs" in their breeding?
I know in US they officially compete in herding, but over here it is not yet possible. I am a member of our
Finnish Collie Associations new working group which is aiming to change all
of that. We are aiming for official herdingtest, which is made by a
official herding judge of Finnish Herding Association and it purely
messures dogs willingness and capacity to work with the animals (mainly
sheeps). Former this kind of test have been availabe, but only unofficial. How many breeders regonaize this test and messure their
breeding with it? My dream is that one sunny day collies would be seen also in official competitions in herding, not just
in aglity or obedience ect.
Now, I would be really interested to hear about herding in other countries and your opinon of it.
As a small-scale smooth collie breeder, I would love to know your own opinion about
herited herding instict. Should it be saved? Is there any reason for it? And how does it pass on? I have followed many border collies as they do
their job with the sheeps and I must admit that it is amazing. I wonder if there is any other breeders, who would like to
increase the value of herdingcabacity in our breeding. I would hope that more and
more breeders would regonaize that collies indeed can, and should, do the
work they were intended to do as herding dogs!
What I am also interested is, is it possible to have important new blood
somewhere in to my own breeding WITH cabacity of
working "lines" in herding? How do you feel about your dogs passing down
their workingcabacity in this matter? I am training my dogs also for
obedience and agility, but herding is to me, above all.
I hope I wrote clearly, my english is not at its best...
-Hanna-