Breed Spotlight: Border Collie Dogs — What Owners Need to Know
Border collies are tremendously energetic, athletic, and brilliant dogs with a strong work orientation. The border collie is an enormously popular breed, a medium-sized, muscular dog recognized for its alert expression and unequaled herding ability. They also make wonderful companion dogs with their tendency toward playfulness, unwavering loyalty, and dedication.
History
The border collie dog originated in Great Britain, descending from the British Isles’ sheepdogs and getting its name from England and Scotland. It was trained to work side-by-side with its owner, helping to herd livestock. Over time this beautiful animal has remained true to its heritage as the perfect sheep-herding dog.
As the years passed and the border collie cemented its reputation as a born herder and a driven, determined, and intelligent, hard worker, the breed was brought over to Australia and New Zealand in the last century. It worked on the sheep ranch to earn its keep, proving itself to be very successful at rounding up any stray or lagging sheep.
Finally, in 1995 the border collie was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Characteristics
While generally medium-sized, the border collie is a muscular dog known for its surprisingly powerful strength. With a broad head, semi-erect ears, and a tapered muzzle, the border collie has a rough outer coat and a smooth coat underneath. It can be medium in length and requires regular grooming.
These constantly active dogs with the unfailing herding instinct normally live anywhere from 10–17 years.
Coloring
Although border collies are known for their black and white coats, they actually come in a vast array of colors, such as solids, bicolor, tricolor, blue or blue merle, red or red merle, sable, and black. They can come with the generally expected white patches or without them.
Diet and Nutrition
A border collie requires two meals a day consisting of three quarters to one cup of dry dog food. How much food you give your dog naturally depends on his size and how active he is. Always make sure he has plenty of clean, fresh water readily available.
With dogs, their feeding requirements will continue to change as they age, so you have to make sure to keep an eye on your pet, and if you see that he’s gaining weight, you want to consult with your vet about what steps to take. Perhaps you will have to change the type of food you are giving your pet or how much. You may even need to adopt a different feeding schedule.
Common Health Problems
All responsible breeders aim to uphold the utmost in breed standards as recognized by kennel clubs like the American Kennel Club. These standards are designed so that dogs bred by them are less apt to inherit certain health problems. However, despite these efforts, some hereditary health conditions can and do occur in the breed. Listed below are some disorders you need to be aware of:
Hip dysplasia — A condition where the socket of the hip develops in an abnormal manner.
Epilepsy — A neurological disease that results in the dog having seizures.
Osteochondrosis (OCD) — The cartilage on the end of the bone grows abnormally.
Collie Eye Anomaly -An inherited condition particularly seen in this breed. It hinders their eyesight but is normally mild in border collies. Breeders can screen for the presence of this disease.
Dental Disease-You might be surprised to learn that dental disease is the most common problem in pets. And unluckily, border collies are more susceptible to this issue than other dogs. Difficulties with their teeth start with a build-up of tartar, then advances to a gum infection that includes the teeth’ roots. If steps are not taken to keep this from happening, or if the issue is not treated, your dog will be facing bigger problems than just losing his teeth. He could develop damage to his kidneys, joints, liver, and heart. Considering the above, you should pay special attention to your dog’s dental hygiene and brush his teeth about 3 times a week.
Separation Anxiety. It’s a fact that some dogs need to be with their humans all the time, or they become anxious and upset. Border collies are that way in spades. A border collie won’t stand for being left alone. This can lead to destructive behavior as your pet becomes bored and nervous. This is particularly true if they lack proper exercise and mental challenges. This is why it’s vital to make sure your puppy gets the alone time right from the start along with playtime so that he will become used to being by himself for brief periods of time.
Nails — Remember that it’s important always to keep your dog’s nails neatly clipped. While some border collies that are particularly active may wear their nails down naturally, be sure to check your pet’s nails regularly and trim them when needed. Doing this will ensure that their feet stay healthy.
Grooming — A border collie should be given a bath every 2–3 months, and it isn’t necessary to do it more often than that. However, when it comes to caring for his lush, beautiful coat, you need to keep up with this by regularly raking and brushing your dog’s coat to keep it from becoming tangled and matted.
Your border collie’s coat is composed of two layers. The top overcoat is usually coarse and resistant to weather and water. It can be short and have a rough feel to it or be mid-length and very soft. The undercoat of fur that lies nearest to the skin is thick and soft and does an excellent job keeping the dog nice warm even in the colder months.
Your border collie doesn’t have to be a working or show dog to need regular grooming. Ordinary exercise such as running in the backyard or playing in the house can make for matted fur and tangles, so keep this in mind if you want your pet to have a smooth and silky coat of fur.
One suggestion we offer here is that if your dog has a severe problem with matted fur and tangles, you might want to try using a detangling spray before you start to brush your dog. This will not only make the brushing process easier but lessens hair breakage.
As the owner of a border collie, it’s essential that you not underestimate the importance of properly grooming your dog. There are several reasons why this is such a critical task.
The amount of time you devote to grooming your best friend will serve to create a stronger and deeper bond between the two of you.
Furthermore, grooming provides you with the ideal chance to give your furry friend a thorough examination to be certain that he is doing ok. This includes the eyes, teeth, ears, nose, toenails and paw pads, tail, skin, and fur.
This is a good way to spot any serious health problems early on before they become emergencies or s source of extreme discomfort for your dog.
Shedding
Yes, you may have to buy a new vacuum cleaner or two. It’s natural for your border collie to shed on a relatively regular basis all of the time. This is nature’s way of ensuring that your pet’s coat is always up to standard and can keep them warm when they are exposed to the elements outdoors.
There is also seasonal coat shedding which occurs twice a year when the seasons change. You’ll know when the time arrives because the dog’s natural shedding will greatly increase.
Haircuts — Because of how the fur grows, and its short to medium length, most people who own border collies let their dog’s coat grow naturally.
The interesting thing is that even border collies raised for the show must present coats that look natural, except light trimming about the paws, lower legs, and ankles.
If your dog has a longer coat with a tendency to tangle and become a nuisance while running or playing, then a light trim is a good idea.
Temperament — The border collie is one of the smartest dogs and very easy to train and enter in agility competitions or the like. In fact, they welcome the work and the challenge. Truth be told, this type of dog is most content when working or playing with all its heart, and they can make wonderful companions in households that are prepared to accommodate them.
Before getting one, it’s essential that you understand that border collies aren’t just energetic dogs. They are very high-energy dogs. What this means is that they require lots of exercise and many activities to focus their attention on. With this breed, you must keep their body and mind engaged and not allow them to become bored and restless.
While these dogs are gentle and affectionate, with a high level of friendliness towards just about anyone they deem to be ok, and generally enjoy being with children, their ever-present herding instinct can cause some problems for smaller children; older kids should have no problems with them. I have young grandchildren, and my border collie, Betty, was fine around them. I did monitor the kids and Betty closely, never leaving them alone together.
This breed of dog is extremely alert to noise and will warn you of visitors, people passing by your home, and any other unusual sounds or movements they detect. Like any dog, they can be disturbed by fireworks, thunder, or any loud noises.
In general, this is a very intelligent, playful, and lovable dog that easily wins over people’s hearts and will bond closely with its human family.
Exercise and Training — Because they are one of the smartest dog breeds known to us today, border collies crave lots of mental and physical activity.
If you are looking for something fun that you and your dog can do together, border collies do fantastic with agility training, and their ability to handle a Frisbee is truly amazing. Border collies are a sensitive breed, and they love to receive praise from their owners for a job done right, so love on your dog.
This lust for activity and need to have their minds stimulated, means that border collies can quickly become bored when left with nothing to do. This may lead them to develop annoying and destructive habits such as digging up the yard or chewing on the furniture. They don’t care if that table is an antique that came from your great-grandmother and has been in the family for generations. All they know is that they don’t have anything to do and they don’t like it.
This is why it is best for a border collie to be in a home where there is lots of activity going on so that they can utilize both their brain and their body frequently.
Life With Your Border Collie
Some people experience no problems controlling their border collie and reining in their herding instincts, but for others, this high energy, this clever dog can be hard to deal with. But they will certainly help you stay in shape, as due to their extremely high level of energy, they require at least one brisk, long daily walk, and in some cases two. This is an absolute must if you want to keep your pet happy and out of mischief.
Also, regardless of how well-trained your dog may be, please don’t make the mistake of walking him without a leash. Border collies need to be walked on a leash because of their unquenchable urge to chase bicycles and even cars. Cars are the leading cause of death to border collies because they feel compelled to run out into the street and chase in circles around cars. Once you reach a safe area, you can then remove the leash and play freely with your dog. They love games of fetch and are real pros at catching Frisbees.
Play with your dog until he seems to be tiring out because they must get to work off some of that mighty energy which seems to replenish itself quite rapidly.
Your intentions may be good, but it is just not sufficient to put your dog out in the backyard with plenty of room to romp and think that he will be ok. This breed requires someone to play with and loads of things to do to keep their active minds busy. A border collie left alone in the backyard will likely create his own entertainment, which may include digging, destruction, and escape.
Their extremely high energy and constant need for challenging activity make this dog breed not that appropriate for apartment living. However, having said that, my border collie has done well in an apartment setting. We take three long walks per day and go for long hikes on the weekends. She wants to play every night around 9 pm and will throw a toy at my head to get my attention. She has a remarkable aim. It may not be ideal, but we have made adjustments, and she is doing well. What they really should have is a large fenced-in yard to run free in. I would like a nice yard myself. Someday…
If you have an active home, with lots of goings-on to distract your pup, and if you are prepared to face life with a dog who never tires, and never stops thinking, or plotting as it is, but is friendly, hard-working, relatively easy to train, brilliant, and very loving, affectionate and devoted, then you should be able to make a go of it owning a border collie.
Conclusion
In the end, what it comes down to is that most of what you should do to keep your border collie dog happy and well socialized is basically what you would do for any other dog. At least on the surface. But this is a demanding breed of dogs that will require a lot of your time, energy, patience, and most of all, love.
Don’t be taken in by the appeal of those intense dark eyes or that expressive face. This dog doesn’t know the meaning of the word innocent. And they’ll challenge you at every step. That’s why the best training is a gentle but firm approach, be as unyielding as your dog and establish yourself as being the leader and in charge right from the start.
If you do that, plus set firm boundaries for your dog, it will make all the difference. Also, please do not get this breed of a dog unless you are positive that you can do what is necessary to help them burn up all that extra energy. That means walking them anywhere from once to twice a day, playing for long periods of time with them, giving them a fenced-in yard to romp in, and providing them with the toys and entertainment necessary to occupy their time when you can’t be with them. Do all of this, plus the physical part of caring for your dog, and you will be rewarded with a loving, loyal, and protective friend. A relationship with your border collie is a partnership, and that’s just the way they like it. Treat them right, and you and your furry friend will have a long and loving life together.
References
�American Kennel Club — https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/border-collie
Mills Veterinary Care — https://millsvetcare.com/client-resources/breed-info/border-collie
Embarkvet — https://embarkvet.com/resources/dog-breeds/border-collie
