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Border
Collie
Photo by Dogtime.com
Description
Arguably considered the World’s
best herding dog, the Border Collie is smart, an intense worker with legendary
focus that when applied to a set task, gets positive, effective results. The
Border Collie’s most noticeable features are its intelligence, incredible
agility, obedience, and incredible sense of loyalty to its owner. Do not take that
intelligence for granted though, because this is among the smartest of all breeds
and one whose owners need to pay attention or they might find that they have
been outsmarted. The Border Collie is a medium sized dog; they have double
coats, and when they have short hair, the coat remains smooth, as their hair grows
longer, the texture of the coat becomes wavy and course. The Border Collies’ many
different colors and color combinations include the solid color, bi color, tri
color, merle, and sable colored. Often white patches are found about the dog’s
body or head. Due to the Border Collie muscular structure, the dog is able to
run gracefully and have a tireless, effortless stride, changing direction and
covering ground almost effortlessly. The Border Collie’s stamina and agility
also allows it to remain active for long periods. Today, the collie is more
likely to be pampered as a house pet than toiling in the field as a farm or
field dog. It adapts well to a many home environments, so long as they are
given plenty of exercise on a daily basis.
Origin
Though the exact origins of the
Border Collie are unknown, the belief that they originated in the border
country between Scotland and England. The Collie has been called Collis,
Colley, Coaly, names that probably derived from col or coll, the Anglo-Saxon
word for black. Others have said that the name comes from of the sheep that the
dogs worked. The British first began using dogs to help guard and herd
sheep. In the border country between
Scotland and England, the herding dog became one of the most valuable assets a
shepherd could have, and the best working dogs were made to breed with each
other. As Borders often tended their flock alone, they had to think
independently and be able to run around 50 miles a day in hilly country. These
herding dogs became associated with the areas in which they were used, and were
represented in name by their regions such as Welsh Sheepdogs, Northern
Sheepdogs, Highland Collies, and Scotch Collies. the Border Collie today is
still recognized as the premier sheepherding dog. The breed’s superior herding
ability leads many fanciers to advocate breeding Border Collies only to
working, not conforming to standards.
Compatibility
Highly energetic, the Border
Collie is intelligent, obedient and loyal to their masters. Eager to learn, the
breed is most in its element when challenged with difficult tasks. Its training
ability and responsiveness to praise are due to its eagerness to please.
Collies are represented among the leaders in competitive levels in various
sports, excelling in agility skills, obedience, sheepdog trials and Frisbee.
These competitions are right up their alley, and they are commonly used to win.
Expecting a Border Collie to spend his days in the backyard and his evenings
keeping you company while you watch your favorite TV shows is a sure way to
create a barking, bored, destructive dog instead of a calm, well behaved, loyal
companion you thought you were bringing home. Due to their demanding
personalities and need for mental stimulation and exercise, many Collies
develop neurotic behaviors in households that are not able to provide for their
needs. The breed’s herding traits, an intense stare, crouching, creeping
movement, and gathering behavior, will be turned on children, other pets, and
vehicles if the dog isn’t provided with guidance, training and an outlet for
instinct to round up and bring people and objects together. They are infamous
for chewing hole in walls, destructive biting or chewing on furniture, and
digging holes out of boredom. One of the prime reasons for getting rid of a
Border Collie is their unsuitability for families with small children, cats and
other dogs, due to their string desire to herd. Due to their work heritage, the
Border Collies are very demanding, playful, and energetic that they are better
off in households that can provide them with plenty of play and exercise with
humans or other dogs. You can keep this breed in and apartment as long as you
are extremely physically active, doing something your dog can also do, such as
training for marathons or cycling.
Health
Border Collies are generally healthy,
but like all breeds, they’re prone to certain health conditions. Not all Border
Collies will get any or all of these illnesses, but it’s important to be aware
of them if you’re considering this breed. This breed has a 10 to 14 year
lifespan, and is prone to minor health issues such as seizures, progressive retinal
atrophy, and hip dysplasia, among other diseases.
Source
dogbreedinfo.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
dogbreedinfo.com.
dogtime.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from dogtime.com.
pawnation.
(n.d.). Retrieved from pawnation.com
vetstreet. (n.d.). Retrieved from vetstreet.com
wikipedia.
(n.d.). Retrieved from wikipedia.org
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