# Why are so many Border Collies (Sheep Dog) named 'Jess'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703 "2004-09-09T00:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/1 "2004-09-09T00:19:09Z")
This is probably UK-specific. Specially as I am led to believe Border Collies are banned in most states of the US. We have a Border Collie. She’s called Jess. She was named by her previous owner. I swear every border collie we meet when we take her for walks is called Jess. These dogs invariably want to attack eachother and so that’s when both owners have to shout the dog’s names. Embarrasingly both owners are shouting “Jess!” ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/2 "2004-09-09T00:40:17Z")
Definitely not UK specific, and definitely not new. [http://www.oneil.com.au/footrot/ch\_jess.shtml](http://www.oneil.com.au/footrot/ch_jess.shtml) Sorry I have no actual answers, just broadening the question. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/3 "2004-09-09T01:20:11Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > This is probably UK-specific. Specially as I am led to believe Border Collies are banned in most states of the US. I don’t know where you get that from. From this list of [breeds banned in certain states or towns](http://rott-n-chatter.com/rottweilers/laws/breedspecific.html) you can see that only about 1/4 of US States have any laws at all restricting or banning ownership of certain breeds. And most of them mention rottweilers or pit bulls. Border Collies are never mentioned at all on this list. I can’t imagine why any jurisdiction would ban border collies, given their friendly disposition. They are, after all, bred as herding dogs, not hunting dogs. I think someone was fooling you. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/4 "2004-09-09T01:26:07Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I think someone was fooling you. I was always open to that fact. In my experience they are a vicious dog when it comes to meeting other dogs so the idea of a state-wide banning wouldn’t have surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/5 "2004-09-09T01:51:50Z")
My wife and I just rescued a 2 year old Border Collie this summer. She had spent her whole life in a private shelter. Basically a barn in Kansas. She is Rozee. She is one of the sweetest most loyal dogs I have ever met. Gets along great with other dogs. But that may just be her. > [@](#): > > In my experience they are a vicious dog when it comes to meeting other dogs so the idea of a state-wide banning wouldn’t have surprised me. I think you may be mixing up breeds. I’ve never met a vicious Border Collie. Or Standard Collie. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/6 "2004-09-09T02:16:45Z")
My (mostly) Border Collie is a tad aggressive with other dogs, but more in an “I’m higher in the heirarchy than you, buddy” way than an “I’m gonna rip your throat out” way. He gets along fine with other dogs if they’re introduced properly, especially if they’re not on his territory. I’ve also noticed that after appropriate training, Border Collies tend to be extremely obedient, and few of the ones I’ve met have been at all aggressive toward humans. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/7 "2004-09-09T02:28:22Z")
Most web sites suggest that Border Collies are the most intelligent breed of dog. I have certainly never had such an easy dog to train, she gets on famously with other dogs and her name is Olive (not Jess). However, there is a famous (in NZ) cartoon called Footrot Flats, which stars a Border Collie called Dog (we never find out his real name because his aunt Dolly named him something really girly) and his girlfriend, also a Border Collie, is called, wait for it…Jess. You may be on to something. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/8 "2004-09-09T02:28:54Z")
They’re not named “Jess” in the US. The biggest behavioural problem I’ve consistently seen with Border Collies has to do with the limits of their conceptual universe. They understand “sheep” and “shepherds” and that is all. If you do not establish yourself as a shepherd from the start they will treat you as a sheep. Give me a good level-headed terrier any day… ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/9 "2004-09-09T02:30:15Z")
Oh, sorry Blake, I looked at your link after I posted! Are you Kiwi? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/10 "2004-09-09T02:37:26Z")
It is most practical for herding dogs to have short, single syllable names. It is much easier for farmers to shout and whistle commands to “Jess”, “Tip”, “Rex” etc than to “Spring Blossom”, “Tail Streak”, and “Twinkle Toes”. I know that doesn’t fully answer your question but it does narrow the names you’re likely to come accross in Border Collies. Obviously non-farmers have no particular reason to give their BCs short names but they probably like to give them traditioinal BC names. We live next to a dog called “Blue” and accross the road from a dog called “Jack”. Blue is a Blue Healer and Jack a Jack Russell. I guess some people just don’t have a whole lot of imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/11 "2004-09-09T16:37:16Z")
Oh, yes they are, **DrFildelius** , at least among the working dogs in my part of the country. My Jess happens to be named after the Jessie doll in _Toy Story 2_, but my uncle’s Jess comes from the more traditional usage. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/12 "2004-09-09T17:54:37Z")
I googled [jess border collie] and got an Amazon hit. I think the answer to your question is that there’s a children’s book called [Jess the Border Collie](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0340852402/qid=1094752273/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-7681251-1361557?v=glance&s=books). ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/13 "2004-09-09T20:06:50Z")
Hang on a sec … I’m still reeling from OP’s assertion that border collies are vicious. VICIOUS??? They can be high-strung and defensive and protective, but I have never met one that even came close to being defined as “vicious”. (None of them were named Jess by the way). I think 1920’s… hit the nail on the head. My old b/c was named Tex which was nice and easy to quickly shout out in order to get his attention. My current b/c was named Diamond by her previous owners and I hate hate hate it!!! S. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/14 "2004-09-09T20:07:24Z")
Hang on a sec … I’m still reeling from OP’s assertion that border collies are vicious. VICIOUS??? They can be high-strung and defensive and protective, but I have never met one that even came close to being defined as “vicious”. (None of them were named Jess by the way). I think **1920’s…** hit the nail on the head. My old b/c was named Tex which was nice and easy to quickly shout out in order to get his attention. My current b/c was named Diamond by her previous owners and I hate hate hate it (the name of course, not the dog!!!) S. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/15 "2004-09-09T22:10:52Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > Hang on a sec … I’m still reeling from OP’s assertion that border collies are vicious. VICIOUS??? They can be high-strung and defensive and protective, but I have never met one that even came close to being defined as “vicious”. > > (None of them were named Jess by the way). > > I think 1920’s… hit the nail on the head. My old b/c was named Tex which was nice and easy to quickly shout out in order to get his attention. My current b/c was named Diamond by her previous owners and I hate hate hate it!!! > > S. Most of the time ours is the most laid-back relaxed softly pleasant handsome dog there is, but when she catches sight of another dog (particularly if it’s big) she turns into a frothing-mouthed snarling wolf of a dog. I have a good pic I took of her _somewhere_. I’ll post a link if I can find it to upload. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/16 "2004-09-09T23:38:39Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Most of the time ours is the most laid-back relaxed softly pleasant handsome dog there is, but when she catches sight of another dog (particularly if it’s big) she turns into a frothing-mouthed snarling wolf of a dog. > > I have a good pic I took of her _somewhere_. I’ll post a link if I can find it to upload. Was she properly socialised as a puppy? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/17 "2004-09-10T06:09:18Z")
We’ve had three Border Collies. The first one had a behavioural tic that was rather strange - he’d curl his lip in a horrible-looking snarl when he was playing. He was by no means vicious, but he was a bit aggressive, fear-guarding his food, growling at strangers, etc. We worked on that for a long time and calmed him down, but then he developed epilepsy which got progressively worse until it became untreatable and we had to put him down. RIP, Chuck. Our other two Border Collies were females, and both of them were the gentlest dogs I’ve ever seen. In the 12 years I’ve spent between the two of them, I haven’t even heard a single growl in anger at anyone in my family. Our current dog, [Katie](http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?i=1822&j=t&PHPSESSID=bcffe57e8d7157f2dd804171351c42ff) is a gentle, fantastic dog. You do find a lot of Border Colllies with the same name, because there are quite a few famous Border Collies. Because Border Collies are treasured for their abilities rather than their looks, the great ones have become well known. Jess is one of those common Border Collie names. Jess was one of the first Border Collies registered by the International Sheepdog Society early in the last century. Likewise, you also see a lot of Border Collies named Hemp, Mist, Sly, Meg, Gyp, and others. They’re all famous Border Collies, either great stock dogs, or show winners (herding competition), or early, historic dogs. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/18 "2004-09-10T07:05:22Z")
Farmers tend to name their dogs with one syllable names, to make it faster and easier to call them, as well as to be a very recognisable and distinctive sound. So you’ll find they’ll have four dogs, named Kip, Jack, Rob, and Jess. One day Jess will die, and they replace her with a male. They name him distinctively, and similarly different to the others, so he’s named Jet. And when Rob dies he’ll be replaced by Dog, and Kip will be replaced by Kim. Such is my WAG. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/19 "2004-09-10T12:49:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Sam Stone: > Because Border Collies are treasured for their abilities rather than their looks, the great ones have become well known. Yeah, they are very intelligent and demanding dogs, but I’d have to disagree in regards to being more treasured for their abilities. Their looks are I think at the very least equally endearing. As for being vicious, here’s a link to photos of Buckley, our red & white B/C with his step-brother Max, a border collie x kelpie. [Super Killer Attack Dog](http://dogster.com/pet_page.php?i=19768&PHPSESSID=c508389fc987e08a09f13ac6aa77b7fb) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703/20 "2004-09-11T00:07:02Z")
I don’t mean to imply that Border Collies are unattractive dogs - in fact, I think they are the cutest dogs around. I love the look of border collies. My point is that the Border Collie as a breed is treasured for its ability, and not its looks. In fact, when the AKC wanted to register the breed, they faced fierce opposition from stockdog associations and Border Collie breeders, because the AKC defines dogs by their looks (and awards trophies based on how well individual dogs match the ‘breed standard’). But Border Collies have never been measured that way - most BC associations only measure the dogs based on herding ability. That’s why there are red, black, and white Border Collies, and why their nose shape and size can vary so widely compared to other breeds. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-border-collies-sheep-dog-named-jess/263703.md?page=2)