The border collie is not without reason one of the most popular dog breeds to this day. It ranks at the top of the list of the most intelligent dog breeds, can be trained to do incredible things, and last but not least, its appearance is also captivating. It is widely known as a working dog primarily recommended for active owners, and having dog-keeping experience is also beneficial.
Before you want to adopt a puppy, it can be useful to get informed about the characteristics, feeding and raising of dog breeds. Having this information greatly helps in providing the appropriate conditions for the breed as a responsible pet owner.
In this article, you will find all the information about keeping a border collie, which can be fundamental considerations during the selection process. So let's see together what you should take into account.
Appearance
The border collie is a medium-sized breed, weighing between 15-25 kilograms and with a withers height of 45-55 centimeters. Their proportionate and relatively muscular bodies are covered by medium or long fur. In terms of color, many variations can be found, although black and white is the best-known variation.
Additionally, brown, red, cream, as well as bluish-gray variations may also occur. Not only bicolor but also tricolor variations can be found, and generally, it exists in more color variants than you might think. Their heads are broader, eyes are oval, and most often dark brown.
Origin
It can be helpful to know the origin and history of the selected breed. The border collie comes from England, specifically from the areas near the England-Scotland border. Here, it was mainly used as a herding and sheepdog not only for the border collie but also for other collie shepherd dogs. The shepherd dogs kept in this area were long not truly distinguished from each other. Their purpose was to guard the flock, and differentiation was not given special importance.
James Reid, a member of the International Sheep Dog Society, was the first to refer to the breed by the name border collie in 1915, thereby distinguishing the breed. Nevertheless, much more time had to pass before it became a recognized breed as a particularly intelligent and effective working dog. More precisely, it was not recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1995. Since then, however, its popularity and reputation have been unbroken, as many owners choose it as a companion for being one of the most intelligent breeds and an excellent working dog.
Character
In terms of breed selection, character and personality are always the fundamental factors. In the case of the border collie, the strongest traits are intelligence, the constant need for work and activity, and loyalty to the owner.
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Primarily, it is one of the most intelligent breeds, which is really easy to teach and train – provided the owner dedicates the appropriate time. However, perhaps even more important is that the border collie particularly requires training. This does not only mean physical activity but also mental exhaustion and continuous learning.
This is often a more difficult task for less experienced dog owners than providing physical activity for them. Good news for enthusiastic owners is that if they manage to dedicate suitable time to it, it can learn almost every command and trick.
And if that doesn’t sound believable, just think of the border collie that made it into the Guinness World Records, which was able to learn and distinguish the names of more than 1000 objects as well as commands.
Physical activity and a particularly high energy level are also personality and behavior-defining traits. In this case, it is also worth knowing that not just so-called meaningless movement is the key, but providing purposeful and useful work. Due to the high energy demand, it is also not particularly recommended to keep them in an apartment. The ideal environment for them is a large garden, where they can run freely, dig, and play ball.
In addition to all these, it is worth saying a few words about their relationship with their owner. Basically, it can be said that we are talking about a loyal, calm, and friendly dog. Because of these traits, it can be a good choice even around children, as it gets along very well with the little ones.
Feeding
In the case of every dog, a properly composed and high-quality diet is essential. This is especially true for highly energetic and active dogs, such as the border collie.
Since a significant part of their daily routine must consist of some sport or other physical activity, understandably, providing the proper micro- and macronutrients is indispensable for this.
Of course, with border collies, there is no clear answer as to whether kibble, raw, or cooked feeding is the best choice. Whatever option we pick, it is advisable to pay attention to the proper intake of protein and fat. This is always the owner’s individual decision, for which we can of course confidently seek advice from our veterinarian. However, it is worth being prepared for the fact that relatively many veterinarians do not specifically support raw feeding.
It is fundamentally important to pay attention to the fact that we don’t give them too little or too much food. Because both nutrient or vitamin deficiency and overweight can lead to health problems. This is particularly true when dealing with active dogs, as their bodies require adequate nutrients even more so.
Besides the above, it is also worth mentioning different allergies. Fortunately, various food allergies are not very common among border collies, but it is definitely worth paying attention to the telltale signs. These are mainly frequent scratching, red skin, and itchy, red, and dry eyes. So if you notice this on your dog, it may be advisable to consult a veterinarian’s opinion.
Training
After its appearance and character, most information is worth obtaining about its training. As with other dogs, without proper training, a border collie will also present us with a lot of problems – and relatively quickly.
Below we have collected the important aspects that provide a great foundation for planning its training.
Considering Basic Needs
The key to good training is a training plan tailored to the breed’s unique needs, most influenced by the basic traits detailed above. First and foremost, it must be kept in mind that for border collies, varied and useful physical and mental activities are primarily necessary. When selecting these, it is worth considering the breed’s origin, i.e., its working dog and herding dog character. After reflecting on all these, it is advisable to plan its training based on the points below.
Proper physical activity
During physical activity, it is essential to keep variety in mind. That is, it is not enough to tire your dog out with daily routine walks, but it will definitely be necessary to include various sports, agility, and other activities. Instead of agility, you can of course choose other sports as well. Great ideas could be frisbee, ball games, joint hiking, or flyball.
Interestingly, in many places, there is an opportunity for herding sheep specifically for shepherd dogs. This is highly recommended in the case of the border collie, as its herding instinct is still very strong today. Therefore, it might be a good idea to find locations offering such opportunities and visit them regularly.
Proper mental exhaustion
Besides physical activity, mentally tiring out our dog is also relevant. On the one hand, border collies have incredible possibilities for owners who do not spare their time, as they can teach their dogs the most spectacular tricks with a little patience.
Fortunately, many logic and skill-developing games are available in pet stores, which can also be useful, and even if you don't want to spend money on these, you can provide similar tasks for them at home. Whether it is searching for hidden treats or tracking, these will all satisfy their high energy needs and appetite for mental challenges.
Variety and consistency
Although border collies learn very easily and quickly, many less experienced owners may encounter problems. In these cases, we can suspect standard, often occurring errors. One of these is a lack of variety, as a result of which collies quickly lose interest.
Because it is an exceptionally intelligent breed, it can easily lose interest as it constantly seeks new stimuli. Therefore, it is important to teach and entertain your dog creatively and variably during training. The breed is extremely sensitive, and positive reinforcement and consistent education are central factors. Yelling and punishment will not get us far with it.
Socialization
As part of training and education, socialization is also essential, of course. It is advisable to start this as early as possible, preferably during puppyhood. Although border collies generally get along well with other dogs, early socialization greatly contributes to this.
So confidently take your dog to daycare and basic training sessions, and also frequently visit nearby dog parks. This way, you can socialize your dog not only with other puppies but also with older dogs, starting from puppyhood.
Summary
Based on the above, we can see that the border collie is a truly special breed. Its nature and appearance are equally enchanting, but it is primarily recommended for experienced dog owners. The reason for this is that many factors must be taken into account during its upbringing and maintained consistently. Whether it's varied physical activity or mental exhaustion, neglecting these will negatively affect your dog's well-being and behavior.
If you provide it with the necessary attention and care, you will have a very affectionate and loyal companion. From then on, it is only up to you how much time and energy you can dedicate to its upbringing and shared sports.