Its one of the common definitions of a Farm Collie.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm_collie
It refers to a specific group of farm dogs. Working dogs. With in the hunting type.
Huntaways are like wise not a breed per se. Or weren’t until recently. And certainly seem better defined than a more general type like the farm collie. But they would not be a collie unless they have some lineage from collie types and breeds, and it doesn’t seem they all do. And a key thing with huntaways is that they were developed by cross breeding types and breeds after the idea of breed standard. Likely in part from pure bred or pedigreed dogs.
And if people don’t keep out crossing them, they’ll become just another uncle brother cousin cluster fuck.
The same reason you would mix any dog with any dog. Because they have desirable traits. Its the base function of selective breeding. But its also done to help improve the general health of the breeds being used. Its called out breeding. And its a fairly base concept in animal husbandry. And a key strategy in unfucking pedegreed dogs.
There’s other examples. Like Lurchers and Longdogs.
European hunting dogs created by cross breeding sight hounds. Either two different sight hound breeds. Or out breeding to another type. To create improved coursing dogs, most often for rabbit hunting.
Often times they’re simply defined and highly inbred versions of older working dogs. And surprising number of breeds have very little connection to their supposed ancestor. Having essentially been recreated from out breeding after a historic breed disappeared.
Because they want to or it works better for their needs or those “regular working dogs” no longer exist.
You seem to have gotten hung up on that “show dog” phrase. Few to no people are seeking out pedegreed dogs from actual dog show heritages for this. But that pure bred, pedigreed working dog. That’s actually working. On a farm or as a hunting dog or what have. Has still been bred according to the same breed standards, and is gonna come from the same sort of tracked inbred kennel club heritage. Whether what was tracked is hunting ability, or herding ability, or talent at playing the tin whistle.
Just because you can’t understand why. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. And just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean its not a good thing. Even those working lineages in many dog breeds are loaded with genetic problems and health issues. Out breeding them across distinct lineages is a good thing. It breeds much needed genetic diversity, and it give you the opportunity to select out the problems.
