Ranchers, throughout the world, have long used Border Collies in herding their sheep, cattle and other animals. The breed’s ability to control livestock is the result of both, centuries of selective breeding to improve their herding instincts and skilled individual training to develop the talents of each individual dog. Trainers and handlers of these dogs boast a great deal of pride in their dogs’ abilities and frequently enter them in herding trials to demonstrate ant test these skills.

 

The organization that sanctions these herding trials throughout the United States and Canada is the United States Border Collie Handlers’ As sociation. Each year it invites North America’s top teams of dogs and handlers to compete in the United States Border Collie Handlers Association National Finals. This event is co-sponsored by the American Border Collie Association, the premier registry of pedigrees for the working Border Collie breed. This event offers over $30,000 in prize money and results in the selection of one dog and handler team as the National Champion for that year.

 

The dogs that make it to the National Finals are remarkable examples of the breed’s intelligence and instincts, and have been trained by handlers with an outstanding ability to develop these talents. People watching are amazed at what these dogs can accomplish.