Border collie dogs are herding dogs that were primarily bred to herd sheep, but they are capable of doing any type of herding task.
Border Collies have boundless energy, determination, and working drive, making them excellent herding dogs. Many people believe that the Border Collie is the perfect herding dog.
This breed knows how to get the job done better than most, thanks to their well-muscled and compact bodies, unique agility and speed, and intelligence and focus.
They also make great family pet dogs. When they aren’t being workaholics at work, they enjoy snuggling up and playing with their families.
They love showing affection to individuals they care about. This bright, vivacious, and energetic breed is ideal for people looking for a hardworking companion or an adventure companion. They make good watchdogs.
Table of Contents
Information about Border Collie:
Origination:
During the 1700s, the Border Collie dog breed originated in the border territory between Scotland and England. They became very popular in English households and farms during the 19th century when Queen Victoria started raising a few of these dogs.
They’re energetic and workaholics, they train easily, so they were perfect for herding sheep. Other collies, such as the bearded collie and Scotch collie, are regarded to be the Border Collie’s ancestors, and some breed historians believe spaniel may have also played a role in their origination.
The appearance of Border Collie:
Height:
A male Border Collie should stand at a height of around 19-22 inches and a female should stand at a height of around 18-20 inches.
Weight Range:
A male Border Collie weighs up to 18-20kgs and a female weighs up to 17-19kgs.
Eyes:
Their eyes are their best feature. They are wide apart, moderate in size, oval in shape, color is mostly brown, and sometimes blue.
Ear:
They have medium-sized pointy ears and they are very upright. They can sense and hear things from far and be alert.
Teeth:
The Border Collie has a full set of strong and sharp teeth.
Nose:
Their nose color varies but they have very well-developed nostrils.
Forequarters:
Their shoulders are well laid back and the elbows are adjoining to the body.
Head:
Their heads almost look like a triangle from the front and are a little smaller than their bodies.
Body Length:
Their bodies are significantly larger than their heights.
Tail:
Border Collies naturally have long feathered flowing tails that extend out of their backsides and slightly upwards.
Colors:
They come in many colors: black with or without white, red and white, solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle, and sable.
Coat:
They have two types of coats: rough and smooth. Both are double coats, with a coarser external coat and a delicate undercoat. Extreme reach is the medium period with padding at the legs, chest, and belly.
Club Recognition of Border Collie :
The Border Collie was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1961. There is a club called The Border Collie
Club of Great Britain, their inaugural meeting of the Border Collie Club of Great Britain took place on the 6th of August, 1973. Despite their inclusion in the Miscellaneous class in 1955, the Border Collie wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club(AKC) until 1995.
Characteristics of Border Collie
Personality:
Border Collies are energetic, industrious dogs who are very well suited in the country area. These dogs can grow unhappy and vicious if they are confined without activity and company.
They are protective of their families and territories because of their herding tendencies. Border Collies are very loyal to their owners, and this protectiveness can lead to aggression.
They’ll keep an eye out for the family’s children. Although they get along well with youngsters and other pets with whom they have grown up, they can be discreet and even irritable with strangers, chewing at the heels, in the same manner, they would if shearing sheep.
Energy Level:
When it comes to this breed’s energy level, calling them “energetic” is an understatement. In the arena of herding and other dog sports, their intuitive wish to work makes them great stars.
They enjoy being active, and it is critical for their health and happiness that they have plenty of opportunities to do so every day. ensuring proper Border collies Food and nutrition is necessary for that.
This breed is ideal for folks who enjoy being physically active. However, if you’re looking for a dog that likes to lie around all day, you could be disappointed with this breed. While the Border Collie enjoys cuddling up with his family after a long day at work, he needs an outlet for his pent-up energy before he’s ready to take a seat.
Prepare to dedicate a great quantity of time and effort to channel your dog’s unlimited energy and mental motivation.
Health Problems Of Border Collie :
Border Collies are mostly a healthy breed with an approximate life span of 12-15 years. One of the most common health problems many Border Collies face is food allergies.
Food allergies in Border Collies might appear as a dry, itchy coat or an upset stomach. Also, this breed is prone to many minor health problems such as Epilepsy, which damages the brain and spine, progressive retinal atrophy, osteochondritis dissecans, lens luxation, hypothyroidism, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and Collie eye anomaly (CEA), and major ailments like canine hip dysplasia (CHD). They can also be diabetic.
Other Behaviors of Border Collie
Border Collies have a very low tendency to drool and a very low tendency to snore. They bark a lot and they are sometimes seen digging the ground but their digging tendency is fairly low than other breeds. They also tend to run off to moving vehicles and chase them which can be very dangerous.
Needs of Border Collie
Although a Border Collie puppy or adult dog may be clever, they still require human assistance. Every breed of dog has its own needs from human beings. Some of these needs are so crucial that without them, keeping Border Collies healthy and alive would not be possible.
Exercising Needs of Border Collie:
Border Collies require a constant regimen that includes outside work and a lot of exercises and human connection.
Border Collies that do herding need to exercise at least 40 minutes a day and typically need around 2 hours of exercise a day if they’re kept in a typical household environment. There are many types of exercises that they can do: Walking and running; Outdoor Hiking; Herding trials; Agility training; Swimming; games like fetch or Frisbee etc.
Obedience Training Needs:
Every Border Collie dog needs sufficient obedience training and direction, which is difficult to do due to their over-enthusiastic natures, and it takes time to train them properly. Even though they learn quickly, they must be taught what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct, which is impossible for the owner to do without training. For example, if you leave a Border Collie in a room alone for a few hours with a poor behavior problem and no obedience training, you will end up in a ruined room.
Socializing Needs:
Border Collies need to learn how to socialize otherwise, it is very difficult to control this breed of dog especially when they interact with people and other dogs. No matter if it is a puppy or an old dog, it is important to learn how he should behave with people and other dogs around. The more they socialize the better as it will make them less aggressive.
Environmental Needs:
Both hot and cold regions suit these adaptive dogs. Even in the dead of winter, a Border Collie can have a good time. Border Collies happily plod through the snow, while others ferociously herded sheep and animals.
In the winter, their thick double coat keeps them warm. But in the summer, the coat sheds to allow them to cool down.
In summer, if it’s hot outside, and they’re spending long days in the field in a harsh climate, it will be bad for their health. Also as mentioned before, they fit better in the county home environment than the city. They are known to be one of the most active breeds; they love free space where they can run freely and be themselves.
Grooming Needs of Border Collies
Their grooming requirements are very standard. They shed all year but their coats shed the most during spring and summer.
So, you need to clean regularly. A Border Collie’s coat is designed for heavy-duty work, so they don’t need to be bathed very often unless they get quite dirty, which can happen considering how much they enjoy being outside.
When they are wet, having a towel by the door is needed to dry their feet and undercoat. Brushing their coat and tail daily can help get knots and hardened dirt out of their coat and tail quickly and effectively. Consider these brushing sessions to be more of a bonding experience than work.
conclusion
Border Collies are still used to herd sheep on farms all over the world. Although they were mainly used for herding, today they are used as service dogs for police, narcotics, and bomb detection, for search and rescue missions, and also to guide the blind. They make good watchdogs.
They are also very good family pets. A lot of people talk about how hardworking, enthusiastic, and strong they are but a very lesser-known fact about them is how compassionate and loving they are about their people.
Border collies are highly sensitive dogs who appear to have a deep understanding of human emotions. A border collie may be disciplined for inappropriate behavior with just a critical glance. When their people are angry it leaves them in confusion. In very rough and intense situations, they may act out.
To learn more about Border Collie checks out our this Border collie Category page.