Where Are Border Collies From?
The Border Collie was a sheep herding dog in the British Isles, especially Scotland, long before Great Britain became industrialized. They came to Britain when the Roman Empire invaded and occupied Britain in the year 43, bringing livestock and dogs along with them. When Rome fell and Vikings invaded, Viking dogs were crossed with the Roman breeds, creating the Border Collie.
The breed officially got its name in the 1890s, due to its probable origin along the English and Scottish border. Popularity of the Border Collie began in the late 1800s, when competitive sheep dog trials began and the breed outshined all other dogs in its class. Border Collies routinely have been at the top of the list for world’s smartest dogs and have ruled agility competitions. The breed did not join the American Kennel Club until 1995 and are number 35 in breed popularity overall.