Border Collie

Border Collies are a working and herding type of dog. They originated on the Anglo-Scottish border and are used to herd livestock, particularly sheep. Border Collies are known for being intelligent, lively, acrobatic, and athletic dogs. They compete successfully in sheepdog trials as well as a variety of dog sports such as dog obedience, disc dog, herding, and agility. They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. Border Collies are kept as pets and continue to be used in their traditional profession of herding animals around the world.

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Collies Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Scientific Name: Canis lupus

Border Collie History

The border collie is a descendant of landrace collies, a breed that is common throughout the British Isles. The breed's name comes from its possible origins in the Anglo-Scottish border. Although the word "collie" is older and has its origin in the Scots language, mention of the "collie" or "Colley" type first occurred at the end of the 19th century. The term 'collie' is also supposed to stem from the old Celtic word for helpful. Many of today's top border collies can be traced back to an old dog named Old Hemp.

James Reid, Secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) in the United Kingdom, coined the term "border collie" in 1915 to distinguish ISDS-registered dogs from the Kennel Club's collie (or Scotch collie, which includes the rough collie and smooth collie), which originated from the same working stock but had developed a different, standardised appearance following introduction.

Old Hemp: Old Hemp, a tricolour dog, was born in September 1893 and died in May 1901 in Northumberland. Roy, a black and tan dog, and Meg, a black-coated, strong-eyed dog, were bred by Adam Telfer. Sheep were attracted to Hemp because he was a quiet, powerful dog. Hemp's working style became known as the Border Collie manner when he was utilised as a stud by many shepherds. All living pure border collies may trace their ancestors back to Old Hemp. Over the course of his life, he is thought to have sired as many as 200 pups.

Wiston Cap: Wiston Cap (born September 28, 1963) is the dog depicted on the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) insignia in a typical border collie herding position. In the history of the breed, he was a popular stud dog, and his pedigree may be found in most modern-day collie bloodlines. Cap was a biddable and good-natured canine bred by W. S. Hetherington and trained and managed by John Richardson. His bloodlines all date back to the studbook's early registered dogs, as well as J. M. Wilson's Cap, whose name appears 16 times in his genealogy across seven generations. Wiston Cap sired three Supreme Champions and is the grandfather of three more, one of whom was E. W. Edwards' Bill, who won the championship twice.

Collies Physical Features

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs with a reasonable amount of coat that is more typically thick and prone to shedding than other breeds. They have a double coat that ranges in texture from smooth to rough, and is curled on occasion. While the Border Collie's most prevalent colour pattern is black and white, the breed can be found in almost any colour and pattern known to dogs. Other colours such as blue, lilac, red merle, blue merle, brindle, and Australian red (also known as ee red, blonde, recessive red, or gold) have been seen less frequently. Border collies with single-colour coats are also possible.

Eye colour ranges from brown to blue, with the exception of merles, who have eyes of a different colour. Border collies' ears are similarly diverse, with some having fully erect ears, some having entirely lowered ears, and yet others having semi-erect ears (similar to those of the rough collie). Although some working border collie handlers have superstitions about their dogs' appearance (for example, handlers may avoid mostly white dogs because they believe sheep will not respect a white or nearly all-white dog), the American Border Collie Association considers a dog's appearance to be irrelevant in general. Instead, identifying a working border collie by its attitude and competence is deemed more beneficial.

Dogs bred for the show have a more uniform appearance than working border collies, as they must adhere to strict breed club criteria on many aspects of structure, coat, and colour to win in conformation shows. Kennel clubs, for example, stipulate that the border collie must have a "keen and intelligent" look and that dark brown eyes are desired. Scars and broken teeth incurred in the line of duty are not counted against a border collie in the show ring, in honour of the dog's working origins. Males range in height from 48 to 56 centimetres (19 to 22 in), while females range from 46 to 53 centimetres (18 to 21 in).

Border Collie Temperament

Border Collies require far more physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis than many other breeds. The border collie is usually regarded as the smartest dog breed in the world. In Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, the border collie is ranked first among the top ten smartest dogs. Although the border collie's primary function is to herd animals, the breed is growing in popularity as a companion animal.

Border collies are quite demanding, lively, and energetic in this capacity because of their working ancestry. They do best in homes where they can get plenty of play and exercise, whether from humans or other dogs. Many border collies develop undesirable behaviours in households that are unable to meet their needs due to their demanding personality and need for mental stimulation and exercise. Boredom has led to them eating holes in walls and furniture, as well as destructive scraping and hole digging. Border collies have a strong drive to herd, and this feature may be seen in them around small children, cats, and other dogs.

Before adopting a Border Collie as a home pet, the American Border Collie Association advises potential owners to make sure they can provide frequent exercise that is comparable with the collie's tremendous energy and stamina. A working collie may run many miles per day to control difficult animals, relying on its experience, personality, and intellect. If these dogs are left alone, ignored, or inactive, they will grow unhappy and frustrated. Border collies, like many working breeds, can be motion-sensitive and chase moving automobiles and bicycles, but this tendency can be changed via training.

Border Collie Common Health Problems

At this time, the chief hereditary illnesses of concern in the breed are collie eye anomaly (CEA) and epilepsy. CEA is a congenital, inherited eye disease that affects border collies. It affects the retina, choroid, and sclera. It is usually a benign condition in border collies, with just minor eyesight impairment. Other eye disorders, such as PRA, cause the retina to slowly dissolve, causing border collies to lose practically all of their eyesight at night, eventually leading to complete daytime blindness. There is now a CEA DNA test available, and breeders can utilise it to assure that they do not produce impacted puppies.

The breed is prone to two forms of hearing loss. The first form is pigment-related and occurs in border collie puppies, while the puppies can also be born with congenital sensorineural deafness. Adult-onset hearing loss is the second form of hearing loss. As puppies, these dogs have a normal auditory brainstem response test, but they gradually lose their hearing between the ages of one and eight. 

Show border collies are only affected with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a rare yet dangerous disease. NCL causes severe neurological impairment and early death in dogs; afflicted dogs seldom live longer than two years. 

TNS is a genetic illness in which the bone marrow produces neutrophils (white blood cells) but is unable to discharge them properly into the bloodstream. Puppies with a compromised immune system will eventually succumb to infections they can't resist. TNS-causing mutations have been discovered in border collies in English working dogs, show dogs from Australia and New Zealand, and unrelated Australian working dogs. This suggests that the gene is widely distributed and likely as old as the breed itself.

Juvenile cataracts, osteochondritis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and canine cyclic neutropenia, as well as carpal soft-tissue injury, are also less prevalent disorders. Border Collies in North America, Europe, and Australia have been diagnosed with an activity-induced collapse syndrome similar to that seen in Labrador retrievers (otherwise known as Border Collie Collapse), which is triggered by episodes of collapse coupled with periods of high exercise.

Elbow dysplasia is also a possibility with this breed. Dogs who are homozygous for the merle gene, also known as "double merles," are prone to vision and hearing problems.

Border Collie Collapse, sometimes known as "the wobbles," is an illness that affects many herding and working dogs. The reason behind this is yet unknown. Border Collie Collapse appears to be linked to high-intensity exercises that the individual dog finds particularly fascinating. Some dogs, for example, can't retrieve a tennis ball because it's too exciting for them, yet they may run for miles without showing signs of Border Collie Collapse. Disorientation, mental dullness, loss of concentration, shaky hind legs, dragging of hind legs, and the need to sit or lie down are all common symptoms. 

Border Collie Food and Diet

Border Collie Puppy Food: Border collies may have musculoskeletal, neurological, ocular, and other problems as a result of their high energy, size, and genetic makeup. Consider a premium brand of wet or dry puppy food that has not just more calcium and complex minerals to encourage growth, but also fatty acids like DHA and ARA to enhance cognitive function and eye health. Border collie puppies will get adequate protein from puppy food or food developed for all life phases, however, adult dog food has too much protein and can cause irreversible damage if fed on a regular basis.

Border Collie Adult Dog Food: Pet owners should consider feeding their adult border collie premium dog food that is high in meat-based protein and has meat as the first and main ingredient, similar to puppy dog food concerns. We recommend an active dog food variety with at least 25% protein and 15% fat to supply all the nutrition border collies require, whether as wet food, kibble, or patties because they remain active well into maturity. They can also follow a raw food diet, which can be bought ready-made or prepared at home.

Border Collie Maintenance and Grooming

Although the Border Collie is a single breed, there are two distinct coat types: long or medium-length rough coats and short, smooth coats. Both are made of two layers. Despite the fact that short-haired dogs are easier to care for, both coats shed on average throughout the year, and more so in the winter. As a result, brushing them at least three times a week is required to keep shedding to a minimum and. Brushes designed for long-haired border collies are required to remove tangles. Curly-coated and bearded coats are two further, lesser-known coat varieties. While the other coat varieties have brown, red and white, red and blue merle, tricolours, and tickling colours, the bearded has varied shades of grey.

Border Collie Training

Border collies are tenacious in their training and will not stop until they have mastered the assignment. However, unlike other hunting breeds, border collies' enthusiasm to please implies that praise and clicker training, rather than electronic collars, are the ideal ways to train them. Originally, they were used for bird hunting and herding sheep and other livestock. They can work fast, relying solely on their owner's hand movements and noises, or they can work independently or in groups with other dogs.

When they find a game or animals, they form a wide perimeter while remaining hidden, then herd the prey to the owner's selected area. Their educated, hardworking, and obsessive personalities make them popular candidates for search and rescue missions. While they may bark excessively when bored, they can be trained to focus their energy on barking on command.

Border Collie Exercise

Border collies require vast properties, such as farms or ranches, or at the very least a large house with a huge yard, due to their muscular bodies and intense energy. Chew toys and hiding toys and treats throughout the home or yard might help your Border Collie burn off excess energy. Obstacle courses, fetch or joining a flyball dog team provide mental stimulation, while obstacle courses, fetch, or joining a flyball dog team provide physical stimulation. Border collies should have at least 20-30 minutes of exercise every day.

Types of Collies

Based on their coat colour, Border Collies can be of the following types:

1. Red Border Collie

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This tint, often known as Australian/Aussie red, gold, yellow, liver, or tan, isn't very popular, making Red Border Collies very rare. This Border Collie colour is recognised in the United States, despite its rarity. The colour red is a recessive gene, thus Borders with this colour have parents with the same hue. Red merle is a version of this colour.

2. Black Border Collie

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It's considered the Border Collie's distinctive look. The majority of their body is black, with white patterns on their face and underbelly. Some have black hair all over their heads, with black and white fur from the collar to the tail. Because black is a dominant gene, it has become a standard for this breed.

3. White Border Collie

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4. Golden Border Collie

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Because of their light-coloured coats, gold Border Collies are commonly referred to as blondes. According to their genetics, they have developed a gold hue as a result of a dilution in their coat's pheomelanin, which is normally red.

5. Australian Collie

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Australian collie is a mix of Australian shepherd and Border Collie.

Dogs Similar to Border Collies

Australian shepherds, Shetland sheepdogs, Icelandic sheepdogs, and Finnish Lapphunds are herding and working dogs similar to Border Collies.

• Shetland Sheepdog: Shares the same collie characteristics of high intelligence, great energy, and outstanding working aptitude, but is preferable for first-time owners or those with smaller houses because it is well-behaved within the home and has a smaller stature.

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• Rough Collie: Rough collies (Lassie is a notable example) have a comparable build and intellect to border collies, but they aren't as physically demanding, requiring merely long walks. They're also easier for inexperienced owners to train.

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• Lurcher: This dog breed is a mix between a Border Collie and a Greyhound, and it has mild qualities to make it more adaptable and ideal for many types of homes.

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