Bred to gather and control sheep, the Border Collie is known for their intense stare with which they control their flock. Bounding with unlimited energy, stamina, trainability, intelligence and working drive, Border Collie’s are the ultimate herding dog and still work on farms today but are they your ultimate pet?
QUICK FACTS
Height: 45cms – 56cms at the shoulder
Weight: 13.5kgs – 20.5kgs
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years, although some have lived until they are 18
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Breed Type: Herding Dogs
BREED CHARACTERISTICS AND SUITABILITY
Exercise Needs
Trainability
Health and Grooming
All Around Friendliness
Adapability
Information reference dogtime.com
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HISTORY
The Border Collie originated on the border between England and Scotland, hence their name, but due to their amazing qualities as a sheepdog has been adopted as an Australian working dog. All of today’s registered Border Collies have been bred from the original working dogs and their lineage can e traced back to one dog .
PERSONALITY TRAITS AND BEHAVIOUR
Family: Highly family orientated and MUST be part of it in every sense of the word. Be prepared to have a dog joining you for family outings, they are not a dog to be left in a backyard. They are a good match for an owner who is as active as they are!
Read more on “How long can you leave your dog alone?”
Personality: Supernatural amount of physical and mental energy and stamina. Not a cuddly, couch-potato dog – wants and needs a “job”. An owner or family willing to properly socialise and train them will find a soul mate in this intelligent, sensitive breed.
Temperament: Keen, alert, active, inquisitive, intelligent, loyal and faithful companions.
Trainability: With minds like a sponge these intelligent dogs absorb all new tasks with an eagerness and willingness to please. You can teach this old dog new tricks as they love to learn new tasks and tricks all their life. Great for an owner eager to get involved in dog sports.
Sociability (other pets): Enjoys socialising with their own breed, but will be quite sociable with any pet. Very adaptable, if well socialised and trained as puppy.
Barking: Low tendency – If an issue, training can control barking & turn it into a controlled ‘trick’.
GROOMING
Grooming Needs: Thorough combing and brushing weekly is needed. This removes dead coat and ensures no matting occurs, especially after water exercise.
Coat Type: Double coated dogs with short thick undercoat and a moderately long medium textured top coat.
Moulting: Moderate.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL NEEDS
Exercise Needs: A simple walk or game of fetch is not enough. A minimum 30 minute walk each morning and evening is essential to keep your pet fit, alert and happy. Enrichment toys, activities, and training is also important to keep them mentally stimulated and alert. Its recommend to hire a dog sitter, doggy day care or dog walker if you’re away for longer periods of time.
Diet: 1.5 to 2 cups of high quality food a day, divided into two meals. This is a guide and how much your dog eats depends on their size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don’t all need the same amount of food.
Average Life Span: 12 – 15 years; although some have lived until they were 18.
Special Considerations: This breed needs to be kept busy or they become bored, which leads to destructive behaviour such as barking, digging or chasing cars.
An ethical breeder will have tested both parents for Collie Eye Anolomy (CEA),Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL) and Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) and have had their hips and elbows scored. To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill or pet store. Why not adopt from your local RSPCA.
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TALENTS
Excel at obedience, agility, herding or rally-o trials, fly ball, dancing with dogs, heelwork to music.
PAWESOME FACTS
DID YOU KNOW?
- The first recorded import of a Border Collie to Australia was in 1901.
- A Border Collie holds an oddly specific Guinness World Record: “Fastest car window opened by a dog.” It took Striker, a Border Collie from Hungary, 11.34 seconds to wind down a non-electric car window with his paw and nose.
- Ranked the No. 1 smartest dog breed. No breed can beat the Border Collie in intelligence. The bright pooches were bred to be independent problem solvers capable of solving complex tasks
- Crouching is a technique – Border collies can move swiftly in a catlike, crouched position, thanks to a space between the tops of the shoulder blades, which lets the dogs slither by while staying low to the ground
- Chaser the Border Collie has an impressive vocabulary. She knows the proper noun names for her 1000 unique toys.
- All Border Collies can trace their lines back to one dog. The father of all Border Collies is Old Hemp, who lived from 1893 to 1901.
THE REAL FURBABIES OF AUSTRALIA
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