Welsh Sheepdog

The Welsh Sheepdog is a medium-sized herding dog of collie type from Wales. It is bred for its ability with livestock and not for its looks, so build, color and size vary from dog to dog.

History

Wales once had many kinds of sheep-herding dog of its own. In the 18th century, Welsh drovers taking stock to market traveled with five or six dogs that herded on the narrow roads, guarded against highwaymen and caught game along the way. These early Welsh Sheepdogs were longer in the leg and more racily built than today’s.

By the 1940s only two or three types were left. The old Black-and-Tan Sheepdog and the Welsh Hillman were almost extinct. The best-known type at that time descended mostly from the old Black-and-Tan, with some working Border Collie blood, and it was still common across north and central Wales. Dogs then stood about 46 cm (18 in) tall and weighed from 16 kg (35 lb) for the lighter, leggier dogs of North Wales to 18–20 kg (40–45 lb) for the more solid dogs of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. It was purely a working dog, with no classes at dog shows.

Over the decades the Border Collie has largely taken the Welsh Sheepdog’s place on Welsh sheep farms. According to the Welsh Sheepdog Society, the Border Collie’s rise after sheepdog trials began in the late nineteenth century led to a great deal of crossbreeding, which diluted the native type. More recently, efforts have been made to keep the Welsh Sheepdog going as a distinct variety.

The name Welsh Collie is used loosely. Sometimes it means the Welsh Sheepdog, and sometimes a cross between a Welsh Sheepdog and a Border Collie.

Appearance

Welsh Sheepdogs are usually black and white, red and white, or tricolor, and merle markings can appear over any of these. The coat may be short or fairly long. The ears are pricked, usually folding over at the tip. Compared with the Border Collie, the Welsh Sheepdog is longer in the leg, broader in the chest and wider in the muzzle.

Temperament

These dogs are extremely active and intelligent. They are usually “loose-eyed” workers: they do not fix stock with a hard stare as the Border Collie does, and they do not normally work crouched low to the ground. They can work on their own without constant direction. Sheep are their main job, but they readily work cattle and goats, and even horses and pigs.

Care and health

A Welsh Sheepdog kept as a pet needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Some are trained for agility, obedience, rally, flyball, tracking and stock dog trials. Life span is 12 to 15 years.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.