{{Unreferenced, date= May 2010 International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) was formed with the intention of increasing interest in securing the better management of

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animal ...

by improving the shepherd's dog to enable further business and community services of the Society. This remains the intention today. Without a good

working dog A working dog is a dog used to perform practical tasks, as opposed to pet or companion dogs. Definitions vary on what a working dog is, they are sometimes described as any dog trained for and employed in meaningful work; other times as any dog ...

, the shepherd's work on both the

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not a ...

s and the

lowland Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of p ...

s would be impossible. It seeks to achieve this by, amongst other things, managing the registration of dogs in its

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay ba ...

book. The International Sheep Dog Society was founded in 1906, with the purpose of "improving the shepherd's dog". In the early years, the ISDS (as it is generally known) was centered in the Scottish Borders, but over the years it has grown to be truly international. An annual "International"

sheepdog trial A sheepdog trial (also herding event, stock dog trial or simply dog trial) — is a competition or test for working abilities of herding breeds dogs. It is a type of dog sport that emerged in the 1860s in New Zealand. By the 1870s regular trials ...

, has been held every year since 1906, with breaks only for the two World Wars and the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak. In 1922, National trials were set up in England, Scotland and Wales to find a national champion for each country and act as qualifying trials for the International trial. Ireland (comprising North, South and the

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) joined in 1961 to complete the set of four home nations. However, further expansion was to come. The International trial was international in that it was a competition "between nations", but because of the rules governing quarantine for dogs entering or reentering the UK, an all world competition wasn't possible, even though sheepdog trials, many of them using dogs bred in the UK, were taking place in many countries using ISDS rules and judged by ISDS judges, including the Continental (European) trial, which is held annually with ISDS encouragement and support. The first World Trial took place in Bala,

North Wales North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...

, in 2002, and is now held every three years. It is a wonderful opportunity for people from all over the world with a similar interest to meet and see the best sheepdog handlers the world has to offer, always in a breathtaking setting. But the ISDS is not only about sheepdog trialling. The ISDS Stud Book was set up in the late 1940s and remains in invaluable list of working sheepdogs and their progeny. Knowledge of how a dog is bred is essential for anybody wanting a dogs from a working strain and looking for certain characteristics. The ISDS has also sought to work with the veterinary profession to eradicate genetic defects in the

Border Collie The Border Collie is a Scottish breed of herding dog of medium size. Widely considered to be the most intelligent dog breed, they are descended from landrace sheepdogs once found all over the British Isles, but became standardised in the Ang ...

such as CEA (

Collie Eye Anomaly Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a congenital, inherited, bilateral eye disease of dogs, which affects the retina, choroid, and sclera. It can be a mild disease or cause blindness. CEA is caused by a simple autosomal recessive gene defect. There is ...

) and PRA ( Progressive Retinal Atrophy) through careful breeding and through the use of

DNA tests Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

. There are over 300,000 entries in the Stud Book, and thousands of new entries are added every year, either on the basis of parentage or if a dog has proved itself to be a good working example ("Registered on Merit"). The ISDS also promotes the training of young sheepdog handlers through a number of practical methods, some farm based, some competitive. The ISDS has several thousand members all over the world, currently enjoying the membership rights, which include the popular bimonthly magazine International Sheepdog News. Details can be found on the ISDS website a
www.isds.org.uk
to which there is a link below. The structure of the International Sheep Dog Society is thus: Members from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all elect up to ten Directors annually, who meet an annual meeting. From those Directors, members of the ISDS Council are elected annually, and it is the Council which is the ISDS governing body, the Council members acting as the Trustees of the ISDS, which is a registered charity. Each of the four home nations has elected Junior and Senior Vice Presidents and a National President. The Chairman of the ISDS is also elected, and as well as chairing meetings, each Chairman has been at the forefront of advancing the Society and in determining policy. The day-to-day administration of the ISDS is in the hands of the Executive Officer (until 2001 going under the title of ISDS Secretary) who supports the community with independent, confidential and impartial advice services for members, based at the ISDS office in

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

, where the administrative staff carry out the day to day tasks involved in what over the last 103 years has become a sizeable organisation.

External links

Official site
Dog organizations

See also

External links