I suspect you are right, although wider recognition via AKC accelerated it.
My previous Border Collie got one chance in her life to herd, with a bunch of range sheep fresh off the mountain owned by an old friend. 5 years old, no previous experience, and she rounded them up and walked them thru a couple of gates and into a new pasture. Pure instinct.
My new puppy comes from a lady who trials her dogs, including both parents. In a year or so, I'll give my friend a call and see if he'll let us try him. However, we will never have the facilities to see what he could do. On the other hand, he hates cold weather - defined as less than 60 - so maybe a pet home in southern Arizona isn't such a bad fate. Still, it is fun to watch him run out ahead of the other dogs and crouch in wait...
I love to watch any of the working dogs - retrievers, pointers, herders. Their passion and ability always amazes me, as does their relation with their owners. Not that there is anything wrong with a good pet dog. Our Aussie pup couldn't herd a cat out of a paper bag, but he's a 'mother hen' dog - if anyone is sick, he stay by their side with concern pouring out of his eyes. Our BC's first night, when he cried a bit in the crate, Rusty went over and stayed by the door of the crate the entire night to calm him.
What can I say? Dogs are wonderful creatures!
