This is Jess. She is an 11-year-old Border Collie I met today in Thornhill Square in Islington.
Jess wasn't too keen on posing at first. As she circled around me with the typical gait of a Border Collie, I could not help but feel that I was being herded, which is not surprising as Collies are sheep dogs with a strong herding instinct. I decided that one way I could persuade her to strike a pose was to use the secret weapon - the treat. Jess decided that it was worth it, and sat down just for long enough for me to take a couple of photos.
Jess is a lovely, charmingly coy girl whose timidity and gentleness is incredibly endearing. She trotted around me, nudging for a treat but shied away from camera. I could not get her to pose looking straight at the camera for love or money (or treats), so you are here treated to Jess's beautiful profile.
Border Collies are an old British herding breed made famous by the Hollywood film Babe, which is about a sheep herding piglet whose adoptive mother was Fly, a Border Collie. They are extremely intelligent, energetic and have an instinctive desire to work. You will often see Collies in agility, herding and obedience trials. They need a lot of exercise and attention, otherwise they become bored and unhappy.
More about Border Collies: Border Collie Trust of Great Britain
