Historic Articles Archive
Read historic articles and see pictures of Scotch Collies as they existed one-hundred years ago. Many historic references to collies taken from books and magazine articles from the golden age of collies.
The Scotch Collie – Poultry Topics, July 1907
The collie or shepherd dog has been bred in Scotland for many years as a help to shepherds. Those old collies bred many years ago would hardly know some of the great winners of today. They were a short, broad-headed dog, as most dogs’ heads are made. A short jaw for strength. But man wantedRead More
British Collies in 1897: a Pictorial
Photos from the 1897 issues of Country Life Illustrated
The Field illustrated 1915: The Scotch Collie
Without doubt no dog has been more talked of and written about than the modern Collie. He may have degenerated, as many dog show people feel, having been inbred and pushed too much for certain points, but after all, Buffon’s statement that the shepherd dog was the original dog from which all others descended isRead More
Facts for Farmers – 1869
An early American source on the Scotch Collie, this book covers every aspect of agriculture from breeds of livestock to barn construction to farm economics and includes many beautiful engravings. It shows that Scotch Collies were well known and commonly used in America before dog shows and Queen Victoria boosted their popularity, it also showsRead More
Scotch Collies and Sheep Dogs – 1919
The early Romans had their Shepherd dog (canus pastorales) but no line of descent can be traced to help us to identify the exact type of Shepherd dog of that day. Dr. Cains, author of Tretis of English Dogges (1570) is the first writer to refer to Shepherd dogs. In that work he says: “OfRead More
SCOTCH COLLIES from Hunting Dogs – 1909
The Scotch collie dog will make the best friend of all the dogs in the canine race, writes a collie admirer. Of all useful animals God gave to man what can excel the dog, at least with the stockmen; in affection no other dog can compare with him, he is a dog that every farmerRead More
Old Scotch Collie Club – 1892
At this time the collie, like the nightingale in the feathered world, which is voice and nothing more, had coat and little else beside to recommend it. Judges and fanciers, with a few exceptions, now bow down and worship before the narrow head of a brainless idol.
Scotch Collies in the Movies
Silent era films sometimes featured Scotch Collies, here are a few. Special thanks to my friend Cheryl Skelly Subject for her research in this area.
English Shepherds In Their Native Habitat – England, 1901
In this story we read and see photos of a sheep-dog trial held in Northern England in 1901. These dogs are the spitting image of English Shepherds as they exist in America today, notice too the upright working style. I should also point out that this trial takes place close to the Scottish border andRead More
The Scotch Colley – Poultry Monthly 1881
Of all the canine race, the Scotch Colley is the most intelligent. The herder’s help-mate and friend, and gentleman’s pet. He, with wonderful intuition, anticipates your wants to such a degree as to cause the writer to assert that the Colley reasons, and in support of the position will relate an occurrence he is knowingRead More
Wandering Willie
Note: The story below is about Willie, a “Northumbrian collie” from the Cheviot Hills, no doubt a representative of the regional shepherd dogs that would become know as the Border Collie in later years and not a true Scotch Collie. Read more about Britain’s different regional shepherd dogs. Many a touching story has been told of theRead More
The Poultry Yard by W.A. Burpee – 1891
THE COLLY DOG It may safely be said, that among the most intelligent of the canine race are the Collies. Whether their cleverness is hereditary, or the result of training, remains a question; but all who have their faith in the transmission of good or bad qualities from parents, may safely take for their examplesRead More
