Border Collie

Overview

The Border Collie is considered the workaholic of the dog breeds and has premiered worldwide as an excellent sheep herder. It is prized for its great shepherd instincts, intelligence and working ability. They are believed to have originated from the borders of England and Scotland and thus were given the name Border Collie. They were first bred during the 19th century and have been around for more than ten decades. They are exceptional herders, very tough and extraordinary tireless, with the ability to master any kind of herd. With its athletic and medium sized body, it is believed to have an eye that can mesmerize the herd by crouching and hypnotizing the animals with an intense gaze.

Characteristics

The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog, usually very active and bursting with energy. It has a close resemblance to the Australian Shepherd in appearance, but without a bob-tail. Its body appears to be slightly longer than its height. The coat comes in different colors, black and white, red and white, tri-color, black and gray, yellow and white sable or all black. For the longer haired variety, they have a tail brush and a mane. The hair on their face, front legs and ears are always sleek and short. The Border Collie's muzzle tapers to its black nose while the ears are usually half baked. Their eyes are oval in shape and are usually black in color, although at times blue.

Temperament

The Border Collies are very responsive and extremely intelligent dogs that can perform quite well in agility, obedience, and Frisbee trials. They are always full of life with intense endurance, very responsive and trainable. When they are provided with sufficient activity to keep them occupied and busy, they will get along very well especially with children and other dogs. They may, however, be aggressive to dogs of the other sex and should not be left alone with non-canine animals. If not socialized while still young these dogs might be shy when they grow, especially to strangers. They require a lot of attention, exercise and stimulation to be happy. They are not ideal for people who do not have time to spend with them.

Care

The Border Collie’s coat should always be kept in good condition and needs to be brushed and combed regularly, especially during shedding season. They can be bathed and dry shampooed when necessary. Their ears should be checked for ticks quite regularly, especially if they are spending time with the herds.

Training

The Border Collies should be socialized early enough so they gain confidence and do not become shy. They are very trainable and will excel quite well in training environments that offer praise, fairness, consistency, and respect. Since they are very sensitive dogs, they should never be harshly or unkindly treated. They have exceptional talents for herding, competitive obedience, and for police work such as search and rescue during accidents. They can also perform bomb and narcotics detections as well as Flyball and Frisbee trials.

Health problems

Generally, the Border Collie is a strong and tough dog, but some medical conditions are can be inevitable. Potential owners should always take note of hip dysplasia, epilepsy, deafness, osteochondritis dissecans, which affects the joint and progressive retinal.

Pets4You offers listings of Border Collie breeders with puppies for sale.