The Dog Wars: How the Border Collie Battled the American Kennel Club

by Donald McCaig

Well-known writer Donald McCaig turns his attention in The Dog Wars to the 1990s controversy between the working border collie community and the American Kennel Club. Chronicling a critical turning point in the history of the border collie, The Dog Wars is a must read for anyone interested in the culture of dogs in the United States.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Donald McCaig was the award-winning author of Jacob’s Ladder, designated “the best civil war novel ever written” by The Virginia Quarterly. People magazine raved “Think Gone With the Wind, think Cold Mountain.” It won the Michael Sharra Award for Civil War Fiction and the Library of Virginia Award for Fiction.

Donald McCaig wrote about rural American life, sheepdogs, and the Civil War. He also wrote poetry and wrote under various pseudonyms.

Reviews

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short review now, will expand and add some quotes later. Interesting book. Bonus points if you are a Border Collie fan. There is three elements in here that I see. 1) is stories of the great work that Border Collies do, which I always enjoy. 2) is historical info of Border Collies that I have not seen in other places, like what was written about them and their 'standard'. 3) Is the fight against the AKC from 'recognizing' the Border Callie against the wishes of those representing the majority of Border Collies in the USA and especially those representing working Border Collies from the AKC. I found all of it good reading.

According to the details provided in the book, the AKC's actions were bullying and totally inconsiderate of the interests of the Border Collie folks. I find the criticisms justifiable against the AKC. I will need to give an expanded version of thoughts about the book and the AKC later when I revise this review

When I read a book, what I do is leave a post it note when I come across a passage that is noteworthy. I have a lot of post it notes in this book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My good friend Dee uses border collies as intelligent helpers on her sheep farm. A few years ago, she told me about this book and I've been meaning to read it ever since. In the author's words, the book is about "the American Kennel Club's scheme to reduce a brilliant working dog to a handsome nitwit." This is not an unbiased account -- the author is very much at odds with the AKC and he makes it clear exactly why.

Border collies are genetically smart workaholics and have traditionally included a wide range of physical appearance. In contrast, the AKC demands a rigorous adherence to physical conformation (appearance) standards. Unfortunately, choosing to breed for AKC conformation (which would bring the possibility of AKC awards in a show dog) undermines the breed's genetics for astute working behavior. (One of the items in the appendix is a short but helpful article by a geneticist.)

Although the book is not perfectly written (there's a bit of jumping around in topics at times, and the author's points aren't always as direct as they might be), I appreciated both his knowledge of and his perspective on the issue. The account is a good example of a (sadly unsuccessful) battle between David and Goliath: the "little guy" border collie owners and the implacable corporation of the AKC.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir, part history we follow sheep farmer Donald McCaig on the front lines in a battle to keep sheepdog extraordinaire: the border collie from the corporate giant: the AKC. This small book explores the importance of keeping the border collie as a working dog, and the AKC's many discretions against other unwilling breeds that have been consumed by them. Spoiler Alert: They lose. The border collie, obviously, is part of conformation shows, like Westminster; resulting in a split between show and working lines, that is also seen in other breeds like the GSD. McCaig warns of potential devastating consequences from the AKC's collecting of the breed as those acquiring them without the proper knowledge to what is needed to keep these dogs mentally stimulated, and therefore happy.

The author is passionate in his arguments for he truly cares about border collies and their welfare, something that apparently the AKC has little regard for, at least back then anyways. The book is disheartening as McCaig and his group hit obstacle after obstacle trying to negotiate with the American Kennel Club to leave their breed alone. I read this book in two nights, as it was a quick, but somewhat of a depressing read.

Overall, this book paints a really unflattering picture of the AKC's history and how the border collie became apart of it. I recommend it, especially if you own a border collie or are just an admirer to give it a read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCaigs book describes a crusade to keep the Border Collie out of the AKC in order to preserve its herding abilities. A look at how the AKC bullies reluctant dog enthusiasts into registering a breed that most likely will be harmed if a conformation standard is imposed, this book is also a lesson in power grabbing and it’s consequences. It seems any large, well financed organization with relentless lawyers and a grasping desire for power as the AKC is, can throw it’s weight around to the detriment of the everything it purports to cherish.

The AKC won sort of: there are now two Border Collie types. One is bred for conformation. McCaig includes a letter from a prominent geneticist who states breeding for conformation will inevitably fade the genes for herding instinct. The other Border Collie is the herding type who will have a varied appearance, but the instinct to herd.

I would like to say in defense of Jon Katz who McCaig takes a swipe at and whose books I have enjoyed, that he never claimed to be a Border Collie expert. Katz owned and rescued Border Collies. Starting as a rank amateur, he took his dog to herding classes so the dog could stop raiding the refrigerator and other destructive behaviors common to Border Collies who don’t get meaningful work. Katz then bought a farm and adopted or purchased many animals including sheep and other Border Collies. His dog Rose was the perfect Border Collie type. She lived to work and saved his life and his sheep on more than one occasion. Rose In A Storm is a great dog novel.

[Mark Buell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only 4 stars for readability, as it has some sections that seemed off topic. On the other hand, the color and vibrancy of the anecdotes was above 5-star - simply marvelous. Highly recommended, in part because it presents a salvo of thinking that is anti-AKC on a number of counts. Quite a number of thinkers, scientists, and authors since have also, in about the same timeframe as McCaig, come out, in one manner or another, against the AKC and the "breedist" approach to dogs. Such authors include the Coppingers, Mark Derr, Ted Kerasote, and more.

McCaig's tale is of the Border Collie community's fight, a losing one, against inclusion in the AKC. Mostly enjoyable reading. Some minor insights into the history and purpose of working dogs.

[Kelsey Ohleger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for anyone interested in border collies or breeding dogs in general. A much more pleasant read than I was expecting for a non-fiction book about a legal battle with an association. The stories kept my interest throughout the entire book and left me wanting more.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for dog lovers. It shows the AKCs true colors and why purebred dogs registered with the AKC aren't what theyre advertised to be.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story about how the border collie people fought the AKC's inclusion of their breed in conformation shows.

I found this really fascinating. Interwoven with their battles, both legal and otherwise, was a history of sheepdog trials, working border collies, and the AKC. I always wondered why the border collies in the conformation shows looked so different from the ones you see doing agility and herding exhibitions, and now reading this book I realize what happened. In 80s and 90s the rumors started to fly that the AKC, which had the Border collie in its miscellaneous class for a number of years (which allowed those dogs to complete in AKC sanctioned events like obedience trials), was considering full inclusion of the breed. The Border collie people wanted none of it. But AKC, big and powerful as it was, worked against them every step of the way.

In the end, well, as anyone who watches any of the AKC shows, like Westminster, knows, the Border collie people did not succeed and the AKC sucked the breed in (just as they did for Jack Russells, Australian shepherds, and others mentioned in the book).

I knew almost nothing about conformation shows before this and was always in the belief that dogs bred for those were the "best" quality dogs out there. Reading this book, which gave me only a small bit of information about the AKC and their dogs, made me realize the truth about this old institution.

If you're into Border collies, or even into dog culture, this is a very interesting read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a detailed account of the working border collie clubs' resistance to the AKC's decision to make the breed an AKC breed. Their worst fears have been realized, and reading the book provides an excellent discussion of WHY true dog lovers are NOT fans of the AKC. Donald McCaig is an excellent writer. His latest, "Mr. and Mrs. Dog," is a great read as well as a thorough introduction to herding dog trials and to dog training in general.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review on Facebook.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the battle to keep the border collie out of the AKC.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I've hated the AKC for decades; now I have another reason.