Border Collie

Border Collie: BREED BOX Country: Size: Temperament: Grooming: Recognition:

Introduction

Border Collies may just be the hardest-working dogs in the dog world. If there’s a task that needs doing, you can count on a Border Collie to volunteer. These dogs excel in agility, obedience and herding. According to many sources they may be the most intelligent of all dog breeds. But that intelligence comes with a price. Unless you train your Border Collie and keep him busy with things to do he can become destructive and even neurotic. These dogs should never be kept idle. They’re smart and they need activities that provide a challenge.

Breed History

The Border Collie originated along the Scottish-English and Welsh-English “border” country, hence the name. The term “collie” is less easy to pin down. According to some sources “colley” comes from a Gaelic word meaning something useful. Other people claim that the word comes from “coalie” or black. And others say that the “collie” refers to a kind of sheep.

There were numerous collie-type dogs in Scotland along with the Border Collie, including Rough and Smooth Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Bearded Collies, as well as some earlier collies which have disappeared or which were used to create these later breeds. All of these dogs were used to herd sheep and drive them from one pasture to another or to drive them to market as needed. The working Border Collie is still used for this work today.

The Border Collie began to be recognizable as a separate breed from the Collie and other collie-type dogs by the late 19th century. The term “Border Collie” was first officially used in 1915. It’s claimed that most of the best Border Collies today can be traced back to a Border Collie born in 1893 named Old Hemp. His working style put a stamp on the breed, which includes a good, strong “eye” which can often move and control sheep simply by looking at them or glaring at them.

Appearance

In appearance there is some practical difference between dogs bred for the show ring and dogs bred for herding sheep. The most noticeable difference to the layman is the amount of coat carried by the dog. Dogs bred for the show ring will often have a more profuse coat while dogs from lines which still herd sheep or which participate in herding trials usually have less coat.

Otherwise, the dogs look very similar in most points. Border Collies are medium-sized dogs. They do not have any real physical extremes. Among the herding dogs coats may range from virtually short-coated to long-coated. Dogs from show lines will always have longer coats. Many colors are seen in the breed but black and white is the most prevalent. Tri-colors are also seen regularly (black/tan/white or sable). Red and white, red tricolor, blue, lilac, red merle, blue merle, brindle and even solid colors are also found. They may not be solid white. Eye color also varies from brown to yellow to blue, or even odd-colored eyes. Ears can vary from upright to drop ears. In short, there is a great deal of variety in the breed, especially among the working lines. The show-bred dogs will resemble the breed standard more closely.

For conformation show purposes, dogs should range from 19-22 inches for males; 18-21 inches for females.

In The Home

In the home the Border Collie is extremely energetic. They need regular activity and exercise. If they do not get enough exercise they will be destructive. Since they are so intelligent they also needs things to occupy their minds. Otherwise they can develop behavior problems. Many Border Collies are turned into shelters or rescues because their families cannot cope with them. This is not the dog’s fault. It is because the dog and the family weren’t a good match.

Border Collies do make wonderful pets for the right owner or family. They have an intense desire to bond with people and to please. They do make good watchdogs and they are usually good with children. They are very affectionate. But before you get a Border Collie make sure that you have plenty of time to devote to the dog and that you can provide the exercise and activities to make them happy.

Care

Border Collies do need regular grooming to take care of their coats. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly and their nails trimmed. A Border Collie puppy needs to be well-socialized from a young age so he won’t be shy or try to dominate other dogs. This will also help him with his interactions with people and he’ll be more confident in general.

Border Collies are a generally healthy breed but they can have problems with hip dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Collie Eye Anomaly. When you talk to a breeder you should always ask about these health issues in the parents and ask what tests have been done. Puppies are too young to be tested for these problems but testing parents and other relatives can help reduce the incidence of these issues.

Where To Find A Border Collie

Finding a good Border Collie is a little trickier than finding a good dog of some other breeds. There are several organizations in North America which claim to be the official registry for Border Collies. If you would like a good pet, a dog for agility or obedience, or if you intend to show your dog, then you should look for an American Kennel Club Border Collie.

The majority of working Border Collies — dogs which still herd sheep or which participate in sheep herding trials — are registered with the American Border Collie Association. There is also the North American Sheep Dog Society (NASDS) and the American International Border Collie Association (AIBC). But before you get a dog or puppy registered with these organizations please be aware that these are hardcore working dogs. Getting one of these dogs as a pet is the equivalent to bringing home a racehorse to keep as a pasture ornament. These are high-powered dogs with lots of drive to herd and work. Unless you seriously plan to work with your dog and do some training, you will probably have some problems.

Around the world there are some registries which accept dogs based purely on performance and herding instinct. The appearance of the dog doesn’t matter. If the dog can prove that he can herd like a Border Collie he can be accepted into a Border Collie registry.

So, consider what you are looking for in a Border Collie before you get one. It will make a big difference in where you look.

You can also check with Border Collie breed rescue. AKC Border Collie clubs have breed rescue available and they often have Border Collies in need of new homes. Do ask questions before taking on a rescue dog. You need to find out why a dog’s former home didn’t work out so you won’t be repeating the same situation.

Border Collies can end up in shelters. Again, make sure you know why the dog is there. Many Border Collies do develop serious behavior problems if they have been in the wrong homes. Take this into consideration before bringing home a dog from a shelter.

Border Collie Reviews

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