Border collie | Facts & Information

Care: must be brushed and combed periodically

Other names: Scottish Sheep Dog, Border Collie dog

Origin

The Border Collie is native to Northumberland, a region of Scotland and England. The breed is thought to be descended from old British shepherd and herd breeds with some influences of spaniel breeds. Long before Britain was indistrualised, the British Isles relied on sheep farming to sustain their economy.

Herds of sheep needed constant supervision, so it was the Border Collie who carried out this activity in a manner worthy of all admiration. The Border Collie was first mentioned in 1570 in a book about English dogs.

Since then, different breeds of shepherd dogs have been created, but none compare with the Border Collie. Initially, the breed was perfected around 1890, in the border provinces between England and Scotland, the povinci after whom the breed was named. His skills as a good overseer of sheep herds and his enthusiasm resulted in an increased demand for this breed in Australia as well as in New Zealand.

Even today, there are people who still believe that the Border Collie is native to Australia. One of the most skilful breeds, the Border Collie was also used in the detection of narcotics and bombs, in search and rescue operations and in the police service. Some specimens have been successfully trained for use as guide dogs for people with disabilities.

Feeding The Border Collie

Once you're an adult, it won't cost you much in terms of food.

That's because he is not particularly picky and lustful, his appetite and the amounts of food he needs within the normal range.

However, when they are small, they should be seriously fed, especially between 4-8 months, but avoiding over-feeding.

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Appearance Border Collie

The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog with a muzzle neither too large nor too small. The head is conical in shape with a prominent stop, and the ears are carried partially or totally raised. The muzzle narrows to the black nose. Oval eyes are generally dark brown, with the exception of the merle variety in which one of the eyes may be blue. The long tail can reach up to the middle third of the hind limbs, being worn in lengthening the spine only when the dog is aroused and never pretzel on the back.

Double fur is weatherproof. There are two varieties of fur, one smooth and short and the other long. The hair around the neck is longer forming a mane. The hair on the face, ears and forelimbs is always shorter and smooth. Border collie is found in a variety of colors and color combinations, but White is generally not the predominant color. The most common color is black with or without the traditional white spots at the tip of the tail, collar, head and extremity of the limbs and with or without the tan markings.

Other colors are represented by merle (The Color of the Blackbird) and sable (the color of the Sable). The adult border Collie can reach a body weight of about 14-20 kg in the male and 12-19 kg in the female and a height at the Withers of about 48-56 cm in the male and 46-53 cm in the female.

Behavior Border Collie

Border Collies are particularly intelligent and receptive, they are too intelligent to sit all day in the house to linger. If they are not given enough time and attention they will become bored and can become destructive and develop behavioural problems.

They have a special sensitivity that makes them easy to train, they are suitable for agility competitions. If he has an extensive exercise program to keep him busy, he will get along great with other breeds. Establish a wonderful relationship with children, with whom they love to run and play.

Border Collie dogs are perfectionists and have a tireless desire to please the owner, ideal for them would be for him to have experience in raising dogs and especially time to really deal with them and to value their qualities. Just physical exercise is not enough for these particularly intelligent and energetic puppies, they want to work and have to do this with both the mind and the soul, and this is what they achieve by performing various tasks.

Dressage Border Collie

The Border Collie likes to learn and play. The Intelligent Border Collie needs a dedicated, consistent and willing owner to spend a lot of time (more than other breeds), especially when it involves training and educating them.

Otherwise, you will have a frustrated, timorous and difficult to control specimen. Many Border Collies can be trained to perform commands only at certain hand signs or at certain Beeps. Watching a Border Collie during his work supervising a flock of sheep is an extraordinary experience.

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Features Border Collie

The Border Collie needs a lot of activity and mental stimulation to prevent the development of behavioral disorders. Quick and agile, this little dog has an endless energy, constantly feeling the need to play or have something to do.

The Border Collie needs to be brushed and combed periodically to keep its fur in good condition. Special care should be taken when its deeply soft and frequent fluff is replaced. Bathing and grooming with dry shampoos (powder) will be performed only when the situation requires it. Border Collie sheds moderately and seasonally.

Border Collie Diseases

It is generally a hardy and healthy dog with few medical sensitivities. However, the following conditions have been reported with an increased frequency:

hip dysplasia is a malformation of the coxofemoral joint that results in consecutive pain, lameness and arthritis.

- cryptorchidism is a disorder manifested by the lack of migration of one or both testicles into the scrotum. The testicle, respectively, the testicles that have not migrated into the testicular bursa, remaining in the abdominal cavity or on the trajectory have all the chances later or earlier to tumor. For this reason, specimens with cryptorchidism will be castrated.

Collie's eyeball anomaly is a condition characterized by a defective development of the eyeball. It is a genetic disease, and most eye injuries associated with this disease occur from birth. The disease affects the retina, choroid and, in a few cases, the sclera and optic nerve.

progressive retinal atrophy is a disease that causes retinal nerve cells to degenerate. The condition often starts in older dogs and can lead to blindness.

- Panus is a condition of the eyeball that results in the appearance of inflammation.

lens dislocation is the detachment or displacement of the lens from its anatomical position within the eye.

cataracts cause a loss of normal transparency of the lens. The condition can occur in one or both eyes and gradually lead to blindness.

osteochondrosis of the shoulder is a congenital disorder that induces a degenerative arthropathy of the shoulder joint.

congenital deafness is present at birth.

In addition, the Border Collie is prone to allergy to flea saliva and epilepsy.

The average life expectancy of the Border Collie breed is about 11-14 years.