Old Cockie, whelped in 1868, came from an unknown breeder and background,
but William White bought the dog and showed him in Birmingham, with great
success, until 1873. White steadfastly refused to say where he found Old Cockie.
The dog brought 3pounds, from Mr. Dean Tomiinson in 1875, when he was sold
at the Birmingham Horse Auction. Because the owners of the these early dogs
took great pride in hiding the origins of their purchases, their ancestry could not
be known.
Regardless of this lack of lineage, Old Cockie played a fundamental role in early
Collie pedigrees. It is the position accredited to the dogs in these pedigrees,
however, not the mere recording, that is particularly interesting.
The evaluation of Old Cockie as a sire reveals important cultural aspects of
record keeping.
Charlemagne, grandson of Old Cockie, gets credit for being the first true modern Collie, but Old Cockie's
role as foundation sire goes unrecognized because the line descended through his daughters, not his sons.
Trefoil, son of Charlemagne, holds the title of foundation sire.
Family trees in pedigrees traditionally came to be described of anaylsis of ancestry that passed from male to
male - what is called tail male descent.
Old Cockie does not get the title of foundation dog of the breed.
The situation is especially fascinating because Old Cockie's huge impact on the breed was well recognized
at the time, even if not understood in a genetic sense. He single handedly change the dominant color patterns
of the breed by introducing sable and white. By 1890, a vast number of Collies came in this color, white and
gold to mahogany. In contrast, Trefoil, had no such effect on such a large scale. Even Old Cockie's huge
contribution to the Collies development, through the changes he brought in coat color, could not overcome this
break in tail male descent. The advent of Mendelian genetics did not change either aspect
but William White bought the dog and showed him in Birmingham, with great
success, until 1873. White steadfastly refused to say where he found Old Cockie.
The dog brought 3pounds, from Mr. Dean Tomiinson in 1875, when he was sold
at the Birmingham Horse Auction. Because the owners of the these early dogs
took great pride in hiding the origins of their purchases, their ancestry could not
be known.
Regardless of this lack of lineage, Old Cockie played a fundamental role in early
Collie pedigrees. It is the position accredited to the dogs in these pedigrees,
however, not the mere recording, that is particularly interesting.
The evaluation of Old Cockie as a sire reveals important cultural aspects of
record keeping.
Charlemagne, grandson of Old Cockie, gets credit for being the first true modern Collie, but Old Cockie's
role as foundation sire goes unrecognized because the line descended through his daughters, not his sons.
Trefoil, son of Charlemagne, holds the title of foundation sire.
Family trees in pedigrees traditionally came to be described of anaylsis of ancestry that passed from male to
male - what is called tail male descent.
Old Cockie does not get the title of foundation dog of the breed.
The situation is especially fascinating because Old Cockie's huge impact on the breed was well recognized
at the time, even if not understood in a genetic sense. He single handedly change the dominant color patterns
of the breed by introducing sable and white. By 1890, a vast number of Collies came in this color, white and
gold to mahogany. In contrast, Trefoil, had no such effect on such a large scale. Even Old Cockie's huge
contribution to the Collies development, through the changes he brought in coat color, could not overcome this
break in tail male descent. The advent of Mendelian genetics did not change either aspect
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| "Old Cockie" |
| Quote from Bred for Perfection: shorthorns, collies, and arabian horses. Margaret E. Derry |
| Foundation Collie 1868 - 1882 |
| Pedigree Unknown |
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