The Border Collie is a beautiful dog breed that originated in Northumberland. They are known for being very active – they love to work hard and they love to play hard too. Border Collies don’t raise themselves. Owners have to understand that these dogs require diligent attention and lots of time in order to grow up to be well-behaved, obedient, and loving pets. Border Collie puppies should not be adopted until they are at least eight weeks old, and for training purposes, it is ideal if they are not more than twenty weeks old when you bring them into your home, especially if you have young children or other pets in your home. Make sure that you go to a trusted, reputable, and experienced Border Collie breeder to get your puppy.
If you have other dogs or non-canine pets in your home, keep them separated from your puppy at least for the first day. Your new puppy needs some time to explore his or her new home without being distracted – and riled up -- by other pets. Introducing your new puppy to your other pets is a careful process. You never know how they are going to respond to each other right off the bat. Some animals just naturally hit if off from the start while others need time to adjust and bond with each other. Their interactions should be closely monitored by you, especially with cats. If you raise your Border Collie puppy alongside a cat or kitten, the animals are very likely to get along just fine in time, but you have to be careful that your puppy doesn’t play too rough, causing harm to your kitty cat.
Border Collies are full of energy, both as puppies and as adult dogs. They will not be content to lay around indoors with nothing to do – they’ll come up with their own forms of entertainment. If you leave them to be bored, they will entertain themselves in destructive ways, such as by shredding shoes, chewing tables and furniture, and raiding closets. Your puppy needs to get lots of exercise and lots of love. Hopefully you have a big back yard for your new dog to run around in. If not, you should take your dog to a park where he can run free. Border Collies are very intelligent – they can quickly learn to play fetch with a ball or Frisbee. They love pleasing their owners and family, and they are at their happiest when they are busy. In fact, they are great herding dogs, and many farmers benefit from their diligent working nature.
Border Collies should be socialized as soon as they are brought home. If they are not socialized, they can be very shy around strangers and may even be snappy with people they don’t know. As far as their diets are concerned, make sure that fresh, clean water is available all day, and feed your dog a combination of dry dog food and wet dog food, both formulated to be nutritionally complete and balanced for puppies. Border Collies’ coats come in two varieties: course and smooth. Both coat styles require regular brushing and combing, especially when they are shedding. Bring your puppy to the vet for a check-up within forty-eight hours of bringing him home, and do not let your puppy meet your other pets until you have gotten a clean bill of health from the vet. Even if the breeder assures you of the puppy’s good health, it is always best to be on the safe side.
