Old Hemp facts for kids
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| Other name(s) | Hemp |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog |
| Breed | Border Collie |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | September 1893 |
| Died | May 1901 |
| Nation from | English |
| Occupation | Working dog |
| Known for | Progenitor of the Border Collie |
| Successor | Herdsman's Tommy |
| Owner | Adam Telfer |
| Parent(s) | Roy (sire) Meg (dam) |
| Offspring | Old Kep |
| Weight | 45 lb (20 kg). |
| Height | 21 in (53 cm) |
Old Hemp (born September 1893, died May 1901) was a very special dog. He is known as the "father" of the Border Collie breed. His owner, Adam Telfer, used him as a working dog to herd sheep.
Hemp had a unique way of herding. He worked much more quietly than other sheepdogs of his time. This quiet style was so good that other dog trainers started using it. Soon, it became the most common way Border Collies herded sheep. Many of Hemp's descendants became famous sheepdog champions around the world.
Old Hemp's Life and Herding Style
Old Hemp was born in September 1893. He was born in West Woodburn, a place in Northumberland, England. His parents were two of Adam Telfer's dogs. His mother, Meg, was a quiet but very focused sheepdog. His father, Roy, was a friendly dog with a relaxed herding style. Unlike many modern Border Collies, Hemp had three colors: black, white, and tan. He only had a small amount of white fur.
Hemp started herding sheep when he was only six weeks old. He was amazing at it! He moved sheep calmly and quietly. Other sheepdogs at the time were much louder. Hemp was also very gentle. Sometimes, he worked so hard that he would even tremble. Within a few generations, his unique herding style became known as the "Border Collie style." Almost all Border Collies adopted it.
Adam Telfer, Hemp's owner, was always impressed by him. Telfer once said that Hemp "flashed like a meteor across the sheepdog horizon." He meant that Hemp was incredibly special and stood out. Telfer also said, "There never was such an outstanding personality." This made Telfer want to continue Hemp's special qualities in his other dogs.
A writer named Eric Halsall was also amazed by Hemp's skills. Halsall said that "none who saw him ever forgot him." He added that Hemp was "almost faultless in work." Halsall believed Hemp was born with a natural talent for herding. He never even needed training.
Old Hemp's Amazing Legacy
Old Hemp is known as the "foundation sire" or "father" of the Border Collie breed. This means he was one of the most important dogs that helped create the breed we know today. The International Sheepdog Society started keeping a record of dogs in 1915. Old Hemp was the ninth dog listed, out of about 300,000!
Many dog handlers wanted to use Old Hemp for breeding. This was because of his incredible ability to herd sheep. It's thought that he had more than 200 puppies. His medium size and rough coat are common features in Border Collies even today. Many of his puppies kept his original traits.
We don't know if Old Hemp ever competed in sheepdog trials. These are competitions where dogs show off their herding skills. However, one of Telfer's other dogs, Sweep, was Hemp's grandson. Sweep won the International Sheep Dog Society's championship twice!
Adam Telfer later owned another dog named Hemp. This younger Hemp was a descendant of Old Hemp. The younger Hemp won the International Farmers Championship for sheepdogs in 1924. This was not the only time Old Hemp's family won that competition. Every single one of the twenty-nine Border Collies that won the championship between 1906 and 1951 were descendants of Old Hemp.
In 2012, a campaign started on Facebook. People wanted to build a memorial for Adam Telfer and Old Hemp. They wanted it in West Woodburn, where Old Hemp was born. Permission was given, and the memorial was unveiled on September 8, 2015. Many Border Collies and their owners came to the event.
