Updated February 2008.

Puppies over two years old will not be accepted for registration by the normal route. However, there is a scheme whereby the details of dogs of good breeding and sufficient working merit can be submitted to the Stud Book Committee for Registration on Merit (ROM). This is of interest to many people with unregistered dogs, but the process is somewhat complex and needs some explanation. It is not supposed to be an easy option for those who did not register pups at the right time.

Firstly, have the owner and dog ever competed in a sheepdog trial? If the answer is yes then one route to ROM is by success in competition and an award of one first prize or two seconds or three thirds at an Open Trial, with a minimum of 25 dogs competing. This is difficult to achieve in some overseas countries. However, the Society also accepts selection for that Nation's team, for example to compete at the Continental Championship, as sufficient standard.

Another route is by a Working Test. Anyone can take a working test, previous trialling is no longer a bar.  Currently, the Working Test can only be taken in the UK or Ireland, or by an ISDS Associate Club. The dog must pass a test of skill in Outrun, Lift, Fetch and Driving and general farm duties on packet of sheep at a test location nominated by the Society or Associate Club and assessed by two Directors, or one Director plus an approved Examiner if it is an Associate Club test. Both Directors/Examiners must be in agreement with the result. This test is not supposed to be a sheepdog trial; it is a test of the ability of the dog to undertake typical farm work, and not the skill of the handler. The nature and detail of the test will thus take account of the land, surroundings and conditions. If you need a Working Test then there will be help putting you in touch with some friendly faces to gently take you through the process.

Once you have selected one of the above, confirm that you can fulfil or supply all the following:

1. The applicant must be the owner of the dog and must be, or become, a member of the International Sheep Dog Society on submission of the application.
2. The dog that is the subject of the ROM must be a Border Collie over two years old and have a clear ophthalmic certificate for the eye diseases CEA and PRA (CPRA) and must additionally have a DNA blood test result from Optigen for CEA/CH showing a Clear or Carrier result (this DNA CEA/CH test requirement replaces the need for parent dog eye tests).
3. Supply a history of the breeding of the dog with full details of its sire and dam giving owners and ISDS registration numbers wherever available in the pedigree (although it is not a requirement that parents be ISDS registered).
4. A colour photograph of the dog seeking registration, showing colour and markings.
5. Written confirmation by a currently serving Director of the Society that the dog seeking registration is a Working Sheep Dog and is true to type. This means that, irrespective of its coat style, colouring or size, the dog is a Border Collie as accepted by this Society.

Your application should be made on the attached form. If all the information is available, and any Working Test has been reported, the registration process will be considered by the Stud Book Committee within 28 days. The current fee must accompany the application and is not refundable if the registration is not accepted. However, we will help ensure your details are all there before we try to arrange a Working Test.

If you require advice or assistance in collecting any of the evidence please contact the office or your Associate club Secretary. A dog successfully Registered on Merit has a Certificate issued, is entered in the current Stud Book and has full rights for its progeny to be registered and to enter Society Trials under the rules applicable. Note that this also means that pups sired by or whelped from the ROM dog are retrospectively eligible for registration if they are less than two years old.