Border Collie Dog Overview
This is a medium-sized dog with a robust bone that is slightly longer than tall and combines grace, agility, substance, and stamina.
The trot of the Border Collie is sleek, ground-covering, and relentless, moving with stealth and strength. They have the ability to alter speed and direction quickly.
Even after working for extended periods of time, this breed may demonstrate exceptional agility. The coat may be smooth or rough.
The smooth coat is short that is all over the body, whereas the rough coat is medium to long in length and textured flat to slightly wavy.
The BC’s expression reflects its disposition, which is intelligent, alert, enthusiastic, and full of interest.
Border Collie Highlights
- The Border Collie is extraordinarily sensitive, often responding to the most modest commands and seemingly capable of anticipating his owner’s desires.
- The Border Collie, a workaholic who thrives on mental and physical stimulation, needs a positive outlet for his energy. Otherwise, he’ll design his own games — and he’ll be difficult to live with.
- The Border Collie herds anything that moves, including children, cars, bicyclists, cats, and squirrels. If he is let to wander freely in the neighborhood, he can become a big nuisance; a well secured yard is needed.
- The Border Collie’s herding tendency can be stimulated by the boisterous play of young children, causing him to pinch, nudge, and bark.
- Border Collies must be adequately socialized to avoid timidity.
- Although the Border Collie does not often roam, his curiosity and intellect might lead him to become an escape artist.
Border Collie Breed Features & Ratings:
Rated base on a 5 Star Scale
ENERGY LEVEL: 5 Star
EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS: 5 Star
PLAYFULNESS: 4 Star
AFFECTION LEVEL: 4 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO DOGS: 3 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO OTHER PETS: 1 Star
FRIENDLINESS TO STRANGERS: 2 Star
WATCHFULNESS: 3 Star
EASE OF TRAINING: 5 Star
GROOMING REQUIREMENTS: 3 Star
HEAT SENSITIVITY: 3 Star
VOCALITY 4 Star
Border Collie Characteristics:
- Dog Breed Group: Herding Dogs
- Height: At the shoulder, it should be 18 to 22 inches tall
- Weight: 30 to 45 pounds
- Life Span: 12 to 15 years
- Type: Purebred
- AREA OF ORIGIN: Ireland, United Kingdom
- DATE OF ORIGIN: 1800s
- OTHER NAMES: Scotch Sheep Dog, Sheepdog
- Temperament: Intelligent, Energetic, Alert, Responsive, Tenacious, Loyal, Protective
- Activities: Agility, Conformation, Herding, Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking
- Color: Black, Blue, Brindle, Gold, Lilac, Red, Sable
- Litter Size: 4 to 8 puppies
- Puppy Prices: $800 – $1500 USD on average
Border Collie Health:
A responsible breeder will evaluate breeding stock for health issues such as hip dysplasia, progressive renal atrophy, deafness, epilepsy, collie eye abnormality, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and trapped neutrophil syndrome.
The ears of a BC should be checked for symptoms of infection on a regular basis, and the teeth should be brushed on a regular basis.
The National Breed Club recommends the following health tests:
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Border Collie Grooming:
The Border Collie breed encompasses two coat types such as rough and smooth. Both have a rougher outer coat and a soft undercoat.
The rough variant has feathering on the legs, chest, and belly and is medium in length. The smooth variant is shorter all over, has a coarser texture than the rough variety, and has little feathering.
His coat is usually black with a white blaze on the face, neck, feet, legs, and tail tip, which can be or cannot be tanned. He may, however, be any bicolor, tricolor, merle, or solid color other than white.
The diligent Border Collie isn’t fussy, and he doesn’t require a lot of maintenance to look decent.
His weather-resistant double coat requires weekly brushing to ensure that coat oils are evenly distributed and to prevent matting in the rough variation.
Brushing more frequently during the shedding season is an excellent tip to reduce hair shed around the house (he sheds seasonally).
Bathe him only as necessary — usually every four months or when he’s particularly unclean or smells bad.
Brush your Border Collie’s teeth at least twice a week to eliminate tartar and the bacteria that live within it. Brushing twice a day is even preferable if you want to avoid gum disease and foul breath.
If necessary, trim his nails once a month, and check his ears once a week for dirt, redness, or a strong odor, which can signal an infection.
To avoid difficulties, wipe them out monthly with a cotton ball moistened with a moderate, pH-balanced ear cleanser.
Check for sores, rashes, or symptoms of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, nose, mouth, and eyes, and feet while you groom.
There should be no explicit redness or discharge in the eyes. Your thorough weekly examination will assist you in detecting potential health issues early on.
Border Collie Exercise:
This high-drive, athletic breed is incredibly energetic and demands regular activity that goes beyond a brief roam around the block or romp in the yard.
They flourish when they have a job to complete and plenty of room to run. A Border Collie who does not work needs to be given intense exercise every day.
This is a breed for those active owners, not someone who prefers to stay indoors or travels regularly away from home.
BCs frequently compete in herding events, as well as obedience, agility, rally, and tracking competitions, as well as sports such as flying disc and flyball.
Border Collie Training:
Early socialization is extremely important for Border Collies, requiring good exposure to a wide range of people and settings from puppyhood to around seven months.
Obedience training that begins early and continues throughout the BC’s life will keep him happy and offer him the cerebral stimulation he requires.
Border Collies are extremely intelligent and trainable dogs who excel at canine sports such as herding, obedience, and agility.
They work best with older, well-behaved youngsters due to their proclivity to herd animals and humans. They adore their families but may be reserved towards strangers.
Border Collie Food and Nutrition:
Depending on the canine’s size and activity level, a border collie will require two meals each day of three-quarters to one cup of good-quality dry dog meal.
Make certain that there is plenty of fresh, clean water available.
Your dog’s nutritional requirements will fluctuate throughout time. If you notice your dog gaining weight, consult with your veterinarian to devise a plan of action.
You may need to adjust the feeding routine, food type, or volume of food. You should also assess whether you are giving this naturally active dog enough daily exercise.
Border Collie Temperament and Personality:
Simply put, the Border Collie is a powerhouse. His personality is characterized by alertness, energy, hard effort, and intelligence.
He learns rapidly — so quickly, in fact, that it can be difficult to keep him challenged.
This breed enjoys being active. In fact, he must be kept busy, or he will become bored, which will result in irritating behavior such as barking, digging, or chasing automobiles.
He’s not the type of dog who will sit peacefully on the front porch while you sip your lemonade; he thrives on activity. Remember, he was bred to run and herd sheep all day.
The Border Collie is also known for being extremely responsive to any cue from his handler, from a whistle to a hand gesture to a raised eyebrow.
Of course, the Border Collie is not without flaws. He can be strong-willed and self-sufficient, yet his desire to herd can become misguided.
In the absence of sheep or a profession, he is prone to gathering and chasing youngsters, cars, or dogs.
If he is not properly socialized as a puppy, he may become scared or shy. Puppy courses and a wide range of people, places, and things help the sensitive Border Collie build confidence.
Border Collie Care/Upkeep:
The border collie encompasses a medium-length double coat that can be rough or smooth, with a harsh outer coat and a soft undercoat.
The dogs need to be groomed on a regular basis; weekly brushing is essential to keep the coat tangle-free. They just require a bath about every three months.
Border collies are noted for their alert demeanor, ready-to-go mentality, and powerful intuition. The breed is one of the sharpest canines and is quick to learn new things.
Thorough training is required, but it should not be difficult. Ensure that your dog is properly socialized so that it will be at peace in a variety of scenarios.
It’s critical to recognize that border collies are incredibly energetic canines.
To keep the body and mind fully occupied and in good form, this breed requires a lot of activity and a variety of activities.
You must be able to give a long, brisk daily stroll at the very least (preferably two). Border collies are known to chase automobiles and bicycles, so you’ll need to walk them on a leash.
To work off some of the energy and give the dog a task to fulfill, play fetch or Frisbee in a safe place.
They are excellent herding dogs, but they also excel in most dog sports, particularly agility and disc dog competition. If you want your border collie to thrive, you must provide him with a variety of activities.
The breed’s high energy level and appetite for movement make it unsuitable for apartment living.
It is preferable to give a wide fenced yard or, even better, a farm or ranch where herding labor can be done.
The border collie tolerates both cold and hot weather quite well, but you should always provide a comfortable location for your dog to rest away from any extreme temperatures.
A border collie cannot stand being left alone. It’s not enough to give your dog space to run around; he also needs someone to run around with and something to do.
When bored, this dog may engage in behaviors such as chasing automobiles, digging, chewing up furniture, or barking.
Humans and other pets may also exhibit conventional herding behavior, such as prodding and nipping to get them to line up.
This could lead to squabbles if you have multiple pets. Border collies are extremely sensitive to noise and will notify you to any visitors, passersby, or other movement.
They may also be susceptible to loud, unexpected noises such as fireworks and thunder.
Border Collie Relationship with Children and Other Pets
The Border Collie is a terrific dog for families if he is properly nurtured and trained when he is young.
He gets to spend well with children and other pets, yet his herding instincts make him bite, chase, and bark at children (especially very young children) and animals if they aren’t otherwise guided.
As with any breed, teach children how to approach and touch dogs and constantly monitor any encounters between dogs and small children to avoid biting or ear or tail pulling on either party’s side.
Teach your youngster to never approach a dog who is eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food. No dog, no matter how nice, should be left alone with a youngster.
Border Collie Names
| Rank | Boy Names | Girl Names |
| 01 | Max | Lucy |
| 02 | Charlie | Bella |
| 03 | Buddy | Molly |
| 04 | Cooper | Daisy |
| 05 | Bruno | Bailey |
| 06 | Buster | Chloe |
| 07 | Duke | Stella |
| 08 | Teddy | Lily |
| 09 | Toby | Sophie |
| 10 | Bailey | Zoey |
All About Border Collie
This is a medium-sized, strong-boned dog that is somewhat longer than it is tall, with grace, agility, substance, and stamina.
It moves with subtlety and strength, with a smooth, ground-covering trot. It has the ability to abruptly alter speed and direction.
Border collies must be able to demonstrate exceptional agility even after working for extended periods of time. The coat may be smooth or rough.
The smooth coat of the dog is short all over the body, whereas the rough coat is medium to long in length and textured flat to slightly wavy.
Its expression reflects its disposition, which is clever, alert, enthusiastic, and full of interest.
The Border Collie is a ball of mental and physical energy just begging to be let loose on the world.
Despite being one of the most intelligent and obedient breeds, it is a terrible house dog if it is not given a difficult duty every day. It is a faithful and loyal companion when given enough exercise.
It is focused on whatever it is doing and has a habit of staring, which can be frightening to other animals. It also enjoys chasing other animals. It is guarded, even protective, around strangers.
Border Collie History:
Ancestors of the Border Collie have existed since humans in what is now Britain began employing dogs to guard and herd sheep.
The breed became one of the most precious commodities a shepherd could have in the border territory between Scotland and England, and the best working dogs were bred with each other.
The type differed according to the terrain or the labour necessary in each place.
These herding dogs became known as Welsh Sheepdogs, Northern Sheepdogs, Highland Collies, and Scotch Collies as they became identified with their respective regions.
The Border Collie’s name recalls his Scottish ancestry: the word collie, which refers to sheepdogs, comes from Scottish dialect.
Scotch Sheep Dogs were displayed at England’s second dog show in 1860. Queen Victoria spotted one of the dogs on a subsequent visit to Balmoral and became a fan of the breed.
R.J. Lloyd Price is credited with starting sheepdog trials. He took 100 wild Welsh sheep to London’s Alexandra Palace for a display in 1876.
The viewers’ astonishment at the canines’ keenness, whose only assistance from their handlers was in the form of hand signals and whistles, was documented in the Livestock Journal.
Today, the Border Collie is often regarded as the best sheepherding dog.
Because of the breed’s excellent herding skills, many breeders encourage breeding Border Collies strictly to working, rather than conformation, standards.
On October 1, 1995, the American Kennel Club recognized the Border Collie.
Where to Adopt Border Collie:
The Border Collie Society of America is an excellent place to begin your puppy hunt.
Their breeder referral list includes contact information for breeders and rescue groups around the United States.
More Dog Breeds and Further Research:
If you believe a border collie is the ideal dog for you, conduct additional study about the breed before purchasing one.
Consult with veterinarians and other pet professionals, as well as other border collie owners, responsible breeders, and rescue organizations for advice.
If you’re interested in similar breeds, look into them to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
Border Collie Fun Facts:
- They Are Extremely Intelligent Dogs.
- Their name is derived from their native region.
- They are champion herders.
- One was mentioned in Scottish poetry.
- Queen Victoria adored them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Spend time in the water with them and teach them to appreciate swimming. Dogs who dislike swimming are unlikely to excel at dock diving. Instead of a prey drive, they could construct a toy drive. Border Collies, thankfully, enjoy playing with toys.
Border collies have warm hearts. They’re people pleasers who crave your favor through praise, treats, and cuddles. A border collie will frequently be found staring at you closely. This is partly due to his affection for you, but it is also due to his desire for a Milk-Bone® dog treat.
According to scientists, the passed-out position could be an indication of overheating. This is due to the fact that a dog’s paws constitute sweat glands, and the belly has the least amount of fur on its body, making this position extremely effective for cooling off.