Border Collie dog breed information including description, history, and care.
The Border Collie dog breed originated in the countryside between the borders of Scotland and England. Bred to be good sheep herding dogs, the breed is still prided on its ability to be an easily trained, hard working dog. Originally used for herding and gathering sheep on rough and rugged terrain, the Border Collies of today are still being used as shepherds worldwide, with some breeders even refusing to sell their puppies simply to be used as pets. Border Collies also do well with police work and are frequently being used as narcotics and bomb sniffing dogs.
The Border Collie is a medium sized dog. They mostly have dark brown eyes with black noses. Their ears are somewhat pointed and are kept halfway perked up. They range in size from eighteen to twenty-two inches tall and can weigh anywhere between thirty and forty-five pounds. There are two varieties of Border Collie to choose from, rough coated or smooth. Their coloring can be black and white, red and white, black and gray, tri colored or all black. The longer haired type will have a fluffy tail and ruff but all Border Collies have smooth hair on their faces and front legs. Border Collies are bred for their intelligence and working ability, not for appearance and therefore their looks can vary widely.
Border Collies are extremely intelligent and energetic. They are also very agile and excel in canine sports such as Frisbee. The Border Collie does well in households with children that are not too young, and can get along with other dogs however, they can be aggressive with other dogs of their own sex. They should not be trusted around cats or other types of household pets, unless they have been introduced at a young age. Border Collies can be a bit snippy with young children and strangers. They should be well socialized as puppies to prevent them from becoming shy and introverted.
Border Collies thrive on attention. They are extremely alert and responsive, making them easy to train with a bit of praise and a lot of structure and routine. If left untrained, the Border Collie can become very disruptive and neurotic. They also thrive on a lot of exercise. Having a great amount of stamina, you can never play too long or hard with a Border Collie. This breed needs to be kept occupied. If left to their own devices they get quite bored and can become destructive and so should be kept by owners who have a lot of time to spend with them.
The Border Collie is not suited to apartment dwelling. They like to stay active and need a lot of space to run. The bigger your yard, the happier your Border Collie will be. Never allow your dog to run free as they have a strong shepherding instinct and will chase after anything moving, including cars.
The Border Collie needs regular grooming to keep its coat shiny and healthy. They shed seasonally and will need additional brushing when losing their thick undercoat of hair in the spring.
The average life expectancy of a Border Collie is twelve to fifteen years.
