Copyright © 2014, EasyPetMD Inc. All Rights Reserved. The result of this was a rapid increase in popularity for the Border Collie. The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), Rooster is a Welsh Sheepdog, Breeds From A Common Root and the Welsh Sheepdog, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welsh_Sheepdog&oldid=982810624, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 October 2020, at 13:59. The most notable traits to be carried from these early herding dogs into the modern Welsh herding dog are strong guarding instincts and the instinct to circle a large herd of livestock. It is thought that the Gellgi or ‘covert hound’ may be an early ancestor. In the early days of this breed the Welsh Sheepdog would have fullfiled a dual role, in that it would have been both a herding dog as well as responsible for protecting its master and masters animals from rustlers and other wild animals. However, this is a working dog and grooming for this breed would realistically consist of cutting out mats or the occassional hose bath, the absolute minimum necessary to ensure they remain healthy and are able to perform at peak levels. However, in more recent years, efforts have been made to maintain the indigenous Welsh Sheepdog as a distinct variety. The full history of the Welsh Sheepdog is not fully known and has become more a thing of legend than something that can be relaibly tracked back to a specific source. They were still found on Welsh hill farms in the upper Towy valley as late as the 1980s. At one time there existed many sheep-herding dogs peculiar to Wales; during the 18th century Welsh drovers taking sheep for sale took with them five or six sheepdogs as "herders on the narrow roads, guards against highwaymen, and providers of game on the route". HISTORY. History. Welsh Sheepdogs are usually of loose-eyed action, not fixing the stock with their gaze like the strong-eyed [de] Border Collie. [1], Welsh Sheepdogs are primarily herding dogs who have a natural ability with large flocks of sheep or cattle. There were no dog show classes for the Welsh Sheepdog as it was purely a working breed. They are longer in leg, broader in chest and wider in muzzle than the Border Collie. With a coat that is similiar to that of a Border Collie, brushing at least once a week to remove mats or tangles would be recommended. It is the cross between the Border Collie and Welsh Sheepdog that is actually the Welsh … The Welsh Sheepdog's life span is 12–15 years. They were mentioned in Welsh manuscripts dating back over 800 years alluding to their dedication to work with the herds from morning to night. The coat may be short or fairly long, and the ears are pricked, but usually folded at the tip. Welsh Sheepdog Trials New Committee will seek to improve South Wales Style, says Roy Saunders Farmer and Stockbreeder, May, 1951 Scraperboard illustrations by Roy Saunders <----- The sliding menu on the left has links to other articles. Welsh Sheepdogs can be trained to compete in stock dog trials. During the journey it was paramount to keep the herds safe as reaching their destination was essential to the livelyhood of the drover as well as the owners of the animals back in Wales. During the 1800's British Agriculture began to evolve and farmers would utilize herding dogs to send their stock hundreds of miles over wild, and open country from the moutains to be sold at the markets in England. With the formation of the Welsh Sheepdog Society in 1997 and only 1000 puppies being registered as of 2004 it is still to early to tell what / if any congenital defects will or do accompany this breed. They are extremely active and intelligent, and therefore need much exercise and mental stimulation, if they are to be kept as pets. Welsh Sheepdogs are most often used for herding sheep, but also readily work cattle, goats, and even horses and pigs. THE BOB-TAILED WELSH SHEEPDOG In 1987, David Hancock, author of Old Farm Dogs (1999 by Shire Publications, Ltd.) and Old Working Dogs (1984 by Shire Publications, Ltd.), wrote an article entitled "Bob-tailed survivors in the cur-dog tradition" ( The Field , December 1987), Hancock wrote about a type of collie that he found in the border region between the Welsh county of Gwent and the … The type best known in Wales at that time was mostly descended from the old Black-and-Tan with an infusion of working Border Collie blood. This dog is very capable of using its own inititive and making on the fly decisions as well as accepting direction from its owner when acting in a herding role. The ears are alert and pricked and generally folded at the tips, these dogs are extremely intelligent working dogs and as such would require alot of exercise and mental stimulation if they were to be kept as a pet. The full history of the Welsh Sheepdog is not fully known and has become more a thing of legend than something that can be relaibly tracked back to a specific source. Welsh Sheepdogs are of collie type, usually black-and-white, red-and-white or tricolour, and merle markings may occur over any of these combinations. Traditionally they were often used as droving dogs to take cattle and sheep to markets locally or elsewhere in Britain. Some have been trained to compete in dog agility trials, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, tracking, and herding events. Just because of the increasing use of Border Collie for herding, Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog starts to decline from the early 20th century. History - Welsh Sheepdog for SaleThe Welsh Sheepdog is sometimes referred to as the Welsh Collie, but it is not a collie in anyway. The Welsh Sheepdog (Welsh: Ci Defaid Cymreig, pronounced [kiː ˈdɛvaɪd kəmˈrɛɨɡ]) is a landrace of herding dog from Wales. It is probably now extinct, although it may have contributed to the makeup of the Welsh Sheepdog . The coat can be rough or smooth in appearance and coloration will range from black, black and white, black and tan, red, roan or blue merle with or without white markings. These were an early type of Welsh Sheepdog, higher on the leg and more racily built than the modern day breed. Manuscripts relating to Welsh Law and dating back over 800 years make mention of herding dogs "The herd-dog guards the stock and goes before them in the morning and comes home behind them at night" it was also a common view in this time the the herding dog was just as valuable as "the most important beast of the stock he guards". The unfortunate bi-product of this rise in popularity for the Border Collie was that it resulted in cross breeding and the native Welsh Sheepdog lines became extremely dillutied to the point that only small pockets of purebred stock remained. The intellgence of the Welsh Sheepdog combined with their natural herding instinct provides a breed that is extremely adaptable in their herding work. [1], In the 1940s the Welsh Sheepdog was still common throughout the north and central Welsh counties. Though the breed is extinct, it may have contributed to the makeup of the Welsh Sheepdog. They are able to work independently without necessarily being under direct human control. They have longer legs, a broader chest and wider muzzle than the Border Collie. The Welsh Grey or Old Welsh Grey was a breed of sheepdog native to Wales. 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