Editing Border Collie (section)

==Livestock work==
[[File:BC eye.jpg|thumb|left|The Border Collie uses a direct stare at sheep, known as "the eye", to intimidate while herding.]]
[[File:Herding-6.png|thumb|Black and white Border Collie herding a sheep]]
Working Border Collies can take direction by voice and by whistle at long distances when herding. Their great energy and herding instinct are still used to herd a variety of animals, from the traditional [[sheep]] and [[cattle]], to free-range [[poultry]], [[pig]]s, and [[Common ostrich|ostriches]]. They are also used to remove unwanted wild birds from airport runways, golf courses, and other public and private areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/meet-piper-airport-wildlife-control-dog-runways-safe/story?id=37286003|title=Meet Piper, the Airport K-9 Wildlife Control Dog Who Keeps Runways Safe|last=Borrello |first=Steve |work=ABC News |date=29 February 2016|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref>

Shepherds in the UK have taken the most critical elements of herding and incorporated them into a sheepdog trial. The first recorded sheepdog trials were held in Bala, [[North Wales]], in 1873.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isds.org.uk/society/history/index.htm|title=ISDS History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611190015/http://www.isds.org.uk/society/history/index.htm|archive-date=11 June 2007}}</ref> These competitions enable farmers and shepherds to evaluate possible mates for their working dogs, but they have developed a sport aspect as well, with competitors from outside the farming community also taking part.

In the US, the national sanctioning body for these competitions is the USBCHA.<ref>[http://www.usbcha.com/ Official Page of the USBCHA]. Retrieved 12 August 2007.</ref> In the UK it is the International Sheep Dog Society, in Canada the Canadian Border Collie Association (CBCA)<ref>[http://www.canadianbordercollies.org/ Canadian Border Collie Association]. Retrieved 12 August 2007.</ref> and in [[South Africa]] it is the South African Sheepdog Association.

===Dog sports===
They perform well at some higher jump heights at dog agility competitions, so much so that in England, competitions often include classes for ABC dogs, "Anything But Collies".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agilitynet.co.uk/shows/abcagility_semifinals2008.html |title=KC ABC Agility Semi-Finals |publisher=Agilitynet.co.uk |date=2008-07-15 |access-date=2010-09-13}}</ref>

The Border Collie's speed, agility, and stamina have allowed them to dominate in dog activities like flyball and [[disc dog]] competitions. Their trainability has also given them a berth in [[Musical canine freestyle|dog dancing]] competitions.

Border Collies have a highly developed sense of smell and with their high drive make excellent and easily motivated tracking dogs for [[Tracking (dog)|tracking trials]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justusdogs.com.au/dog-pages/dog-breeds/538/border-Collie.cfm |title=Border Collie |publisher=Justusdogs.com.au|access-date=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325111147/http://www.justusdogs.com.au/dog-pages/dog-breeds/538/border-collie.cfm |archive-date=25 March 2010 }}</ref> These trials simulate the finding of a lost person in a controlled situation where the performance of the dog can be evaluated, with titles awarded for successful dogs. Border Collies are used as search dogs in mountain rescue in Britain. They are particularly useful for searching large areas of hillside and [[avalanche]] debris. Hamish MacInnes believed that dark-coated dogs are less prone to snow blindness.<ref>Hamish MacInnes, ''International Mountain Rescue Handbook'' (London; Constable, 1972)47-63</ref>