Jock Welsh is the star of this week's Breeders of our Time

With an illustrious career behind him, he opened up to Kathryn Dick about his abiding memories and what dog's have contributed to his success over the years.

What’s your background?

I was born and brought up at the home farm at Creetown, where I was the second youngest of 10 children – six boys and four girls. I was always interested in sheep and collie dogs and I would come home after school to help out, as well as during the busy times like lambing.

After my schooling years were over in December, 1957, I went to help lamb with Willie Shedden for three weeks before working as a full time shepherd at Knockycoid in 1958, where I remained for 14 years. I have worked as a shepherd at various farms throughout my career and I’ve managed to pick up tips, and tricks along the way.

What got you into breeding working dogs?

Sheepdogs were always on my mind. I attended the hill trials in the back end of the year, which only increased my interest in them.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that I really took up trialling and I won my first open trial – Doon Valley – in 1983.

What qualities do you look for when buying a dog?

I like a good outrun and the nature has to be right.

What dog put you on the map or improved the genetics of your dogs?

The bitch, Hutchison’s Maud. She belonged to Mr Hutchison and I always managed to buy a pup out of her.

It was Maud’s daughter, Jen, that won the National title in 1987 for me.

Which were the best dog that you’ve had?

I’ve worked with quite a few dogs in my time, all of which have served me well.

First, I would like to mention my old dog, Wattie. He had character and was a strong dog for his age. He was always there when I needed him and he was a good worker from a young age.

A son of Jen, Dave, was another good dog. He won in excess of 30 open trials for me and enabled me to compete at the International twice with him.

Another would be Moel Jock. He was a class dog and was very stylish. The way he moved was eye-catching and he had one of the best outruns I have seen.

Finally, I’d have to mention Nap. Again, he was always there when you needed him and he was a trier. He was my right hand dog in the Scottish team three times, before he died at the age of six.

But what was the best dog that you’ve ever seen?

It had to be Wiston Cap. He had a fantastic outrun and stride. His actions were great and we could do with another of his kind.

The hardest loss you’ve had with dogs?

I would have to say losing Nap as he was just getting into his prime when he suddenly died, and he left a big hole. His younger brother, Sam, eventually came along and I had success winning the National with him.

If you could change one thing about your breeds what would it be and why?

I wouldn’t change a thing about the breed, however, I would just like to see the outrun on dogs get better and I think breeders need to focus on improving that.

You’re most abiding memory?

Winning the National competition for the first time with Jen, in 1987. It was my first time competing in the Scottish team, which consisted of 15 competitors out of the 150 forward for selection. It was an honour to win it and be part of the team.

Most influential person/people in your career?

The Shennan brothers – Davy and Bob – as I could always go and have a run with them. They were top men when I started and always gave me great advice when needed.

Bunty Hyslop would be another. I worked with him quite a lot and he knew it all.

What’s been your favourite trial to attend over the years and why?

The Newton Stewart trial. It was a tricky course and can put you through your paces but the atmosphere is fantastic. I always get on well and have managed to win it nine times during my career.

Your choice of best breeder?

There are so many sheepdog breeders that it’s impossible to narrow it down to a few. I can, however, comment that when it comes to the breed itself, Wiston Cap would’ve been the best dog of my time and he left a lot of good working dogs behind him.

I’m a great believer in a quality female line when it comes to breeding dogs, and Hutchison’s Maud proved one of the best breeders for me.

She was a good farmer's working dog first and foremost and it’s an aspect that needs more consideration when breeding sheepdogs nowadays – the working ability needs to be there as dogs can always learn the trialling side afterwards.

Best and worse advice you’ve ever received?

I’ve received a lot of good advice over the years, but one that sticks with me came from Bunty Hyslop – he repeatedly told me: “You must try hard as you only get the one chance on the day. Stick in, do your best and focus on the task at hand. Then you can come off and socialise in the beer tent!”

I can’t recall a time where I was given any bad advice, but if I have then I’ve clearly not paid attention! Choose what you want to listen to and make up your own mind.

Best piece of advice you would give to someone training their own dog?

You have to make sure the nature of the dog is right and not to rush the process, just work away slowly and consistently.

Ask the right people for advice and spend time watching the good handlers work their dogs – that’s the best way to pick up tips. The beer tent will always be empty when a good handler is out – that’s when you know to pay attention!

We live in a different age than how it was some 30 years ago and you’ll find that there’s now more hobby people running dogs in comparison to shepherds.

Shepherds are scarce in the country and that’s why the dogs are trained differently. Nowadays, dogs are pushed and trained in wee fields rather than out on the hill whilst actually working sheep.

I used to take my dog on a lead and only allow them off occasionally or during a gather, and just took the whole process slowly and steadily.

Biggest achievement?

I would have to say competing at the International Sheep Dog Trial, where I have represented Scotland 21 times in total. My best at this event would be placing third with Jen and then fifth with Nap.

If you could have gone into another breed what would it have been and why?

There is no other breed, for me, that can match the skill and style of the collie.

Anything you would go back and change in your career?

My old dog, Wattie, always looked to please and worked an entire lambing at just a year old. However, although he was a superb worker I should have held him back a little longer as he ended up hurting himself due to the high workload he was undertaking. You live and you learn!

What do you think the future holds for sheepdogs and hill farming?

Sheepdogs are always in demand and although farming is modernising more and more, sheep farmers will always need a good working dog by their side.

In the trialling world there are lot of ladies running dogs now and a lot of them are very good at it, which is great to see. The only thing we need to watch is how we train our dogs nowadays and I believe the best method is through proper sheep work.

With hill farming, there's a lack of good shepherds nowadays and it’s a real worry. The modern sheep farmer is under far more pressure and all the modern paperwork can put some people off – it’s a good job I’ve stopped now!

It’s a hard job selling hill sheep in the modern market as people just don’t look at them – they are too focused on the continental types. When I started, I was taking droves of 150 ewes but now farmers are selling in groups of twos and threes. It’s just not the environment I was brought up in but it’s maybe the way forward.

However, I really worry for the modern hill farmer as there’s not a lot of right good hill sheep left because breeders have them in-bye.

Hill sheep are losing their hardiness and character, and we need to watch that we are not breeding them too soft. If you lose the proper hill sheep, then ultimately hill farms will suffer.