British sheepdogs are now being exported all round the world as the reputation of the Border Collie grows worldwide. Bala Autumn Sale, one of the UK’s largest sheepdog markets, was held over the weekend at Bala in Gynedd, Wales. The market attracts hundreds of buyers and sees dogs changing hands for thousands of pounds.

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Growing demand for British genetics has seen British dogs being exported to Japan, Russia, Australia, Korea and America. Breeders say exports of the dogs have grown significantly, as the Border Collie has a reputation for being the best breed of sheepdog in the world. Dogs are exported to work with farmers, search and rescue teams and trained for dog shows by enthusiasts.

According to the International Sheepdog Society, trained dogs can sell for up to £4,000; despite modern technology taking over many aspects of farming, the role of the sheepdog has yet to be mechanised so they remain an essential tool for hill farmers.

Janet Beale, of Astra Sheepdog Centre, said exports now account for around 60 per cent of her business. She laid out the reasons for the breed’s popularity, “People around the world still want to improve the Border Collie’s bloodline and to improve the genetics of the existing border collie they need to come back to source. They are renowned for being the best sheep dog for all herding purposes in the entire world.

“Border Collies combine intelligence, trainability, the ability to control most kinds of sheep under most types of terrain and adaptability to all types of climate and weather conditions. They can access areas where humans cannot go.”