The International Sheep Dog Society in context

Key facts

ISDS founded

1906 [source]

Start with its own account

The Society’s explanation of its purpose is a primary starting point for understanding the institution. Keep that founding purpose distinct from the histories of individual trials, regions and dogs.

Place records in context

When reading a result or pedigree, identify the issuing authority and date. A modern rulebook cannot automatically establish how an event was conducted a century earlier.

Build a documented timeline

Use dated records for institutional milestones and attribute personal recollections. Avoid describing one organisation’s history as the complete history of working sheepdogs worldwide.

For a particular dog or trial, identify the contemporary document before attaching a historic milestone. A later anniversary narrative may guide discovery but should be compared with the original record where available.

Keep institutional history separate from an individual dog’s pedigree claims. Use the relevant primary record for each relationship instead of letting a general historical overview stand in for evidence.

Preserve the scale of the claim

The ISDS founding date is an institutional milestone, not automatically the beginning of sheepdog work or trialling in every country. A useful history distinguishes the organisation, its major events, regional clubs and individual dogs. Use contemporary rules and reports for claims about an older trial and keep later anniversary recollections attributed. When connecting the Society’s work to another country, identify the actual relationship or adopted rules rather than assuming a shared Border Collie tradition establishes formal affiliation or identical administration.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• International Sheep Dog Society: What we do (opens in a new tab)

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