Contents
Breed Profile: Border Collie
Where to Get a Border Collie
Gear for Your Border Collie
How to Feed Your Border Collie
How to Groom Your Border Collie
Border Collie Healthcare
How to Socialize Your Border Collie
How to Train Your Border Collie
How to Fix Border Collie Behavior Problems
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- The best places to find and adopt a border collie
- The gear and care you need to make sure your collie settles in at home
- Feeding, grooming, and training tips to keep him healthy and well-behaved
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Breed Profile: Border Collie
Border collies have been bred for hundreds of years with one goal in mind: supreme herding ability. The early history and origin of border collies and other herding dogs is largely unknown, but contemporary border collies were developed in the borderland between England, Scotland, and Wales and were also called collies, sheepdogs, and shepherd’s dogs. Border collies herd using their “eye”—
an intense gaze that gives them the power to hold, control, and move livestock.
The border collie came to America in the mid- to late 1800s, when Scotsmen from the border country immigrated and brought their working dogs with them. The border collie was given American Kennel Club recognition in 1955.
Appearance
The following description is of an “ideal” border collie. Not all border collies fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.
- Height: Height ranges from 19–22" (48–56 cm) for males and 18–21" (46–53 cm) for females.
- Weight: Weight should range from 30–45 pounds (14–20 kg) for males and 27–42 pounds (12–19 kg) for females.
- Coat: The border collie has a water-resistant outercoat and a shorter, dense, insulating undercoat that protects him against water. There are two types of outercoats: rough and smooth. The rough coat is medium in length, silky, and can be either straight or wavy. The smooth coat has short hair that’s coarser in texture than the rough-coat variety.
Temperament and Personality
The ideal border collie is high-energy, very intelligent, and good-natured. But border collies vary widely in temperament and can be happy and mellow, shy and nervous, or even aggressive (though rarely vicious) toward other dogs. Most border collies are highly active and love to be included in all family activities.
Traits
Here are some traits to consider when determining how well a border collie is going to fit in with you and your family.
Companionability
It’s often said that border collies do not make good pets because were bred specifically for herding, which requires a lot of energy. Indeed, border collies have a tendency to herd humans by biting and nipping at their ankles and for that reason are not recommended for households with very small children. However, if you take the time to understand the border collie and are willing to spend significant time exercising, training, and interacting with him, you will have a wonderful pet and cherished companion.
Environment
Border collies need owners who can spend the majority of their free time with their dog. A rural environment is much more suited for border collies because it offers open space to run and play. Border collies do not make good apartment dogs unless the owner can devote time to multiple outdoor excursions throughout the day.
Exercise Requirements
Border collies need a great deal of exercise, particularly if they are kept as pets and not as working dogs. Frequent, high-energy activities such as jogging, hiking, swimming, or Frisbee are necessary to meet the breed’s physical and mental needs. A secure fenced yard or other enclosed space is ideal, giving border collies freedom of movement outside and off-leash without the risk of running off or endangerment.
Trainability
First and foremost, the border collie is a working dog who needs a job. The job does not necessarily need to be herding, but a variety of other activities, such as obedience training or exercise, are essential to keep him active.
Border collies are quick to learn, so training is not a difficult process. However, though border collies love to work for and please their owners, they do not like to be bullied and must be trained with respect and consistency.
| Text & Photos Copyright © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
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