|
Pre-1960
Many of the great producers of the past
cannot compare or equal the numbers produced by today's top sires and
dams. In the past, due to various factors, the opportunities for showing
and finishing champions were not as great as they are today.
Perhaps the
biggest difference is numbers. In 1921 there were 40 dog shows,
resulting in 9 Collies that finished their championship. In 1933 there
was a total of 86 dog shows and only 19 Collies finished their
championship.
Compare these figures with today's numbers: Currently
there are close to 1300 dog shows a year and approximately 350 Collies
now complete their championships yearly.
The early dogs and bitches
cannot be judged in the same manner as those of today. Many of the early
sires and dams didn’t have the opportunities that exist today, due to
frozen semen and shipping, as well as other factors such as, general
care, veterinarian medicine, food and drugs.
As a result, many of them
will not qualify for Register of Merit status. Yet, it is an honor they
most richly deserve! In spite of early limitations, many of these
Collies were influential and played major roles in the creation of the
American Collie and the evolution of American bloodlines.
For example,
Eng. Ch. Magnet, is a dog to whom all American Collies trace. Although
he sired only two American champions, (neither of which is important to
today’s Collie), he remains one of the breed’s most influential
sires. Another example is the American-bred, Ch. Future of Arken, who
sired only five champions. In spite of this limited number, two of his
champion sons are responsible for the evolution of two major sire lines.
One of the most important sires for the early smooth Collie was Ch.
Glengyle Smooth Sailing, who sired only nine champions. And finally there
is the noted “mother” of the American Collie, Ch. Halbury Jean of
Arken, who was the dam of six champions.
Because of this, a different
system is being used for determining Register of Merit
status for these Pillar sires and dams. The
cutoff year for the Pillar Sires and Dams is 1960. These
Collie are not being judged on the numbers alone, but
rather on their significant contributions that were made
in establishing American bloodlines or as a stepping stone
in the creation of those families.
ROM
SMOOTH DAMS | PILLAR
AMERICAN ROUGHS |
