Border collie

Border collie is extremely intelligent, sensitive, focused on cooperation with people shepherd with semi-long or short, thick, soft hair. Perceptive, very smart, tireless, requires extremely much movement and activity.

Nature

Border collie is a dog with a great temperament and a cheerful disposition. His double nature is surprising: he is firm at work with the herd, and submissive and devoted to the owner. Friendly and gentle, not suitable as a watchman. He is not aggressive towards people. In working lines, there are less trusting individuals, but this is rather due to the specifics of their classes, and not to character defects.

He is tolerant of his counterparts and does not start fights. He enjoys playing with dogs that match his condition. Weaker than himself usually ignore. I need close contact with the owner. Caring and patient, ideally suited to children’s play companion. Exuberance in showing affection and the desire to constantly be with the owner can, however, be tiring, so you have to reckon with this when deciding to buy a dog of this breed.

Border collie must be busy. It has high requirements that are not easy to meet. It needs a lot of traffic, combined with the performance of specific tasks. The longest walk is not able to tire him, mental effort is also necessary. Left alone, even on large terrain, he will be bored, which may result in disobedience, a tendency to escape and destroying things.

The strong herding instinct makes a dog of this breed try to drive everything that moves – birds, people and cars on the street. Therefore, it is better to keep it on a leash in busy places.

Skills

A characteristic feature of border collie is his way of working with a herd. It moves on slightly bent paws with the head lowered low and eyes fixed on animals. This mesmerizing look allows him to maintain discipline and lead the group in the right direction.

It does not bark at work, like some herding breeds. Focused on the task, he responds to every order of the shepherd. He can also work with other dogs and share duties. In addition to herding, he has the ability to find lost sheep and bring them back to the herd.

Border collie is not only a herding master. It also works as a rescue dog (e.g. debris, avalanche), in dogotherapy or drug detection. He is unsurpassed in dog sports. You can play agility, flyball, frisbee, obedience or dance with a dog with him.

Training and education

Gifted with outstanding intelligence and always willing to work, he learns with great ease. However, traditional training courses are not suitable for him – he gets bored too quickly. In his case, the best will be twenty-minute, varied lessons that take place several times a day.

Border collie will reach its full potential only under the guidance of an experienced guide. Sometimes he is stubborn, which in combination with his unique cunning and intelligence sometimes gives a mix difficult to master for novices. Both proper socialization and consistency are important in raising a dog of this breed – but you must not use force against it.

Who is this race for?

The dog of this breed is not suitable for a householder who likes quiet walks. The owner of the board should lead a sporty lifestyle. He must also have time for training and regular training with his dog.

Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

requires a lot of movement combined with exercises and regular training
intrusive in showing affection
hates loneliness
can destroy

Advantages

devoted and attached to the owner
gentle and friendly
extremely intelligent and clever
tolerant of other dogs
great athlete

Health

Border collie is prone to eye diseases – collie eye anomaly (so-called CEA) involving hypoplasia of the choroid and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). There are hip and elbow dysplasia as well as neurological diseases. Borders are also hypersensitive to ivomec and anesthetics.

nourishment

For this energetic quadruped, food for active dogs will be suitable. You need to add calcium and vitamin preparations containing ingredients to protect your joints to your own menu. During intense workouts or hard work, increase the amount of food.

Care

We comb the dog once a week, using a comb with rotating teeth, a dense metal brush and so-called felt, which is used to comb the tangles. During the intensive molting period, care must be performed daily.

If necessary, we bathe Bordera in shampoo, e.g. with the addition of mink oil. Before drying, you can use an antistatic liquid or a coat protection agent against excessive softening.

History

Border collie was bred for hard work in all weather conditions. His ancestors are descended from Roman dogs, who accompanied the legions during the conquest of Britain. Large, massive quadrupeds were then used to protect livestock.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Vikings arrived on the British Isles, and with them spitz- type dogs, used to graze herds. After crossing them with local quadrupeds, smaller, lighter and more agile animals appeared. They are considered the ancestors of English shepherd breeds.

The first mention of working shepherd dogs dates to 943. In the book of Johannes Cain from 1573, there is a description of border collie dogs that not only grazed cattle, but also rushed them to the market. Starting from the 15th century, the number of animals on farms increased, along with the demand for sheepdogs. Many local varieties of dogs were created then, adapted to the conditions and type of tasks performed, and even specialized in working with a specific breed of sheep.

An important test of their skills were sheepdog trials, organized since 1873, during which dogs were tasked to drive sheep, geese or ducks down the obstacle route and introduce them to the farm. The shepherd could give verbal commands or whistle.

The representative of the breed Old Hemp, whose appearance was used to create the pattern, had a great impact on the image of modern border collies. He was also a great utility dog, and the record results he obtained for sheepdog trials were not beaten until the end of his life.

In 1906, the International Sheepdog Society (ISDS) was founded. His task was to be to develop innate breed predispositions, and their test – regularly organized sheepdog trails.

The official name was given to the breed by James Reid in 1916. The first part refers to the region located between England and Scotland, called the Border Country, where the type of border was shaped similar to the modern one. The word “collie” in Celtic dialect means something black and useful.

Initially, ISDS did not agree that the border collie would be considered a show dog, fearing that this would adversely affect its utility. This was done only in 1976. The first applications for the exhibition champion were granted to a representative of this breed in 1982 at the Crufts exhibition in Great Britain.

Template

Border collie – group I FCI, section 1, reference number 297

Country of origin: Great Britain
Original purpose: herding dog
Character: dog of high temperament, cheerful, strong and durable; very attached to the owner, submissive and devoted, possessive in showing affection; friendly and gentle, he will not be a watchman
Size: ideal height at the withers 53 cm, bitches slightly smaller
Coat: available in two varieties: half-haired and short-haired – in both cases, the coat is thick and quite hard, the undercoat is soft and thick. The variety with longer hair has a generous neck orifice, thigh tops and a tail feather; short and smooth coat on the muzzle, ears and forelegs
Ointment: various colors allowed (whiteness should not exceed 30% of the dog’s body surface area)
Reaching puberty: 2 years
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Molting: intense, twice a year
Activity: very high; needs regular traffic connected to specific tasks
Training: the basics of obedience needed; he can be trained as practical (shepherd rehearsals, rescue dog) and for sport (agility, flyball, frisbee, obedience, dancing with a dog)
Vulnerability to training: outstanding; high intelligence dog, learns quickly and willingly; requires consistency in the upbringing
Attitude towards children: friendly
Relationship to other dogs: tolerant
Weather resistance: resistant
Apartment: can live anywhere; Close contact with the owner is required
Preparation for exhibitions: refreshing the coat, correction of hair on the feet and removal of dead hair behind the ears
Possibility to buy a puppy: no problems with buying

Interesting facts

Border collie and Australian Shepherd are two breeds that are often mistaken. What is the difference?

Border is usually lighter and more elongated than the Australian Shepherd and is most often found in black and white. However, all colors are allowed except white, so tri-color and marbled borders are common.

The Australian (who despite his name comes from America) is stronger, more compact and often endowed with a residual tail. He often has marbled ointment. There is also an ointment without burns. In addition, borders can be short-haired.

However, the shepherd’s work style differs the most. Borders are characterized by so-called a strong eye, therefore, sometimes lurks in everyday life.

The Aussie works like most shepherds, rather using pinching and barking.