Border Collie: Training, Characteristics, Exercise, Health

Also known as: Sheep Dog.

About Border Collie

Origin and History of the Breed The Border Collie is a type of herding dog that originated in Northumberland lying on the border of Scotland and England in the United Kingdom. The breed had been developed from old British droving/gathering breeds and spaniels. The mention of the ‘Collie’ or ‘Colley’ type of dogs first appeared towards the end of the nineteenth century. A tri-color dog known as Old Hemp has been regarded as the common ancestor of all Border Collie dogs of the day. Old Hemp had been bred from a black and tan dog and a black-coated, strong-eyed bitch. Hemp had been a quiet and powerful dog that sheep responded to very easily.

It is Hemp’s working style that went on to become the Border Collier style as many shepherds had used Hemp for stud and the number of offspring of Hemp that were developed bore his characteristics.

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A General Appearance of the Dog

This dog is active and alert. The Collie’s body has strong foot pads and muscular hindquarters. The ears are not cropped and are medium in size. The overall body shape is balanced and appears to be athletic. The Border Collie is strong and can endure the physical demands of work appropriate to the breed. In addition, Collies are known to be intelligent animals, and their facial expression is lively and alert.

Coat

The Border Collie is bred in several color combinations, which include solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle, and sable.

The dog’s coat can be either rough or smooth. The Border Collie’s coat is thick and water resistant. The topcoat is straight or wavy and is coarser than the undercoat. The undercoat is short and dense, with a softer feel than the topcoat.

Height

This breed is shorter in height than in length.

Male: 19 to 22 inches
Female: 18 to 21 inches.

Weight: 30 - 45 pounds.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Border Collies are very intelligent and protective of family members as well as well-behaved with people who are familiar to them. However, they are also known to destroy property if they are left idle for long periods of time, and they require a great deal of personal attention. Unfortunately, Border Collies are frequently seen in animal shelters because their owners find that they cannot give them enough attention.

The Border Collie is a ‘working dog’ and it needs to be challenged. It is more suited to an outdoor environment, and it behaves well with children and cats, but should be monitored if in the presence of other small animals. The Collie behaves well with dogs of the opposite sex, but it tends to be aggressive with dogs of the same sex. Due to its tendency to stare and monitor behavior, the dog is sometimes seen as intimidating people or other animals. Even with proper attention and exercise, a Border collie is an intelligent animal who may act impulsively. For example, the Border Collie has a natural inclination to escape an environment, so care should be taken so that the dog doesn’t try to jump over fences or ‘bolt’ through an opening in the yard.

As a companion animal, the Border Collie shows affection toward people who are familiar, but the dog will be reserved when a stranger is in the home. Border Collies relate to people by demonstrating interest and alertness; the dog will not show fear or apathy. If the dog becomes overtly aggressive, vicious, shy, or reticent, the owner should consider hiring a professional trainer as these behaviors are considered to be serious faults by professional breeders. These dogs require physical and mental exercise on a daily basis. As a result, they are not well suited to an environment that cannot provide this stimulation.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

When a person is considering a Border Collie as a pet, he or she must be aware that these animals require consistent physical, as well as mental attention. The dogs respond well to an outdoor, active lifestyle and to long walks, training classes, or another companion dog. In the event that training classes are required, a personal trainer is recommended due to the level of attention required by a Border Collie. An owner needs to prevent the dog from overexertion during periods of high temperature.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

Historically, Border Collies were kept due to their natural inclination for work and high level of energy. In addition, they were easy to train due to their above-average level of intelligence. As puppies, they easily socialize with people and other animals. However, when Border Collies are house pets, they maintain the herding instinct. It is not uncommon to see these dogs attempt to herd small animals, family members, and even large vehicles into a specific area of the house or yard. They will try to herd children out of a swimming pool! Therefore, these dogs are not suitable for households with small kids.

Training

If Border Collies are left alone for long periods of time without any mental or physical stimulation, they can become destructive and suffer from behavioral problems due to neglect.

A Border Collie needs consistency during training. For example, any words or body movements used during training need to be consistently repeated; otherwise, the Collie will perceive any differences as a new command. As previously stated, Border Collies are very intelligent and will pick up on subtle changes in an owner’s or trainer’s behavior.

When Border Collies are puppies, they experience physical elimination simply as a ‘need,’ not a discipline. The dog will feel a need to urinate or defecate and not have the ability to control the urge. An owner or trainer needs to have the Collie pup go outdoors on a regular schedule every day for at least six months. The time outside should be between thirty and sixty minutes. Border Collies tend to drink a great deal of water during the day, so they need to be put outside frequently and consistently.

Activity Level

How active is the breed?

Because of their genetic predisposition toward activity, Border Collies can become restless when confined inside a home or pen. These dogs respond well to indoor activities such as playing with familiar toys, new toys, and learning new tricks. These activities provide the mental stimulation required by this breed of dog. Outside, the Collie enjoys physical exertion such as running across large areas, engaging in ‘herding’ behavior, and playing ‘catch’ with familiar objects.

Exercise Needs

Indoors or outdoors, the Border Collie can learn how to play ‘hide and seek’ with people or with hidden treats. This breed easily learns how to locate objects due to its sharp sense of smell. The dog will engage in this type of play for hours. If the dog must be left alone for a period of time, a companion dog will help keep him/her from getting bored. Also, hiding treats and toys around the yard will provide amusement for the Collie.

Sometimes Border Collies are not inclined to become active when left alone. They may require someone to prompt them and assist them in active behavior.

Grooming

It is important to care for the Border Collie’s undercoat, especially during times of the year when the dog sheds. It is recommended that the Collie’s feet be groomed under the knee only; the hair on the tail and upper-leg areas can be left alone. This is mainly due to the dog’s preference for the lower leg areas to be closely trimmed.

There are several grooming tools which can help groom a Border Collie, such as a matt splitter, a palm brush, and a nail clipper. A matt splitter should be used sparingly to break apart areas of thickly matted fur. A soft-bristle palm brush will result in a smoother coat and a relaxing massage for the dog. Owners can also use a ‘parrot’ (rounded) nail clipper, but it is recommended that a professional groomer or veterinarian perform toenail clipping to prevent harm or discomfort from ‘short trimming’ the dog’s nails.

The breed requires weekly grooming, which includes combing and brushing, to maintain its coat, prevent shedding, and detect insects or fleas. The Collie has a soft, short thick undercoat and an outer coat that is long and dense. The Border Collie requires bathing only if necessary, not on a regular basis. The ears should be checked for ticks and fur in and around the openings of the ears should be trimmed to a short length.

Health & Care

Genetic Problems

The most prominent illnesses found in Border Collies are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. In addition, males with the ‘merle’ gene (which produces a multi-colored coat) may develop eye problems, hearing problems, or both. It is recommended that a Border Collie be checked for the above illnesses during middle age, beginning at approximately six years of age.

Litter Size: Averages 6 puppies.

Life Span: 10 to 14 years

National Breed Club

In the United Kingdom, the Border Collie is promoted by The International Sheep Dog Society. This organization provides information primarily to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The Society can be reached via the Internet at http://www.isds.org.uk/society/membership.htm.

In the United States, this breed is represented by The American Kennel Club. This organization can be reached via the internet at http://www.akc.org/index.cfm?nav_area=homepage. The AKC) voted to recognize the Border Collie as an official breed in February, 1995. The AKC confirmed the showing of Border Collies at competitions in October, 1995.
Recognition

Recognition

The Border Collie is recognized by The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom in the ‘pastoral’ classification. In the United States, the dog is recognized by the American Kennel Club in the ‘herding’ classification.