The Border Collie is a herding dog breed that originated in the old border country between England and Scotland. Border Collie is at risk of becoming extinct, with only 4345 dogs registered by the American Kennel Club as of 2016.
The Border Collie is a beautiful and intelligent dog that needs constant attention and exercise. If it does not receive enough attention or exercise that it requires, the dog may show destructive behaviors such as excessive barking and digging. The Border Collie can easily become bored if not given enough mental stimulation due to its intelligence. The dog is very good with children and other animals. So it also makes a great family pet as long as they are given plenty of attention.
And even with “alert” behavior by raising their hackles or running to their flock when they think another animal is approaching. Some described the dogs as having the appearance of a “badger”. Though this is misleading as badgers are better known for digging than for barking or alerting. They were given different names over time but eventually evolved into what we now know as the Border Collie.
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BORDER COLLIE ASPECTS:
The Border Collie is a friendly and alert dog with a lively and alert character and good strength and stamina. A small dog with a medium dense, wiry coat of black, tan, or dark red with light patches of white. Its size varies between 45 to 60 cm in height at the withers. Males weigh between 35 to 50 kg while females are slightly smaller at 30 to 40 kg. Females are slightly longer, taller, and slimmer than males due to being bred for small frames. The tail is of medium length but thick. The head of the Border Collie is small, square, and broad.
The head, neck, and shoulder areas are of medium length while the legs are compact. A pointed tail with harsh outer ends is often carried in a set. Eyes are medium-sized, dark in color, and alert in expression. Its ears are V-shaped with fine hair on their inner edges making them close together when the dog is alert or on the move. The Border Collie has abundant water under them when it lies down with its legs straight out in front.
The Border Collie is highly intelligent. Which makes it able to perform tasks that most other dogs cannot catch up with within a short period. Border Collies are considered easy to live with and can be trained to suit all situations.
BORDER COLLIE SIZE:
The Border Collie varies in size, as is true of all dog breeds, however, the average height at the withers is 45 to 60 cm for males while females are slightly smaller. The males weigh between 35 to 50 kg while females are slightly smaller at 30 to 40 kg. The length of the female measures between 50 and 55 cm while the male measures between 55 and 60 cm. The tail is of medium length but thick. Between the years 2009 to 2017, Border Collie has maintained its position in 37th place out of 157 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.
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BORDER COLLIE HEALTH:
The Border Collie breed is generally healthy. However, it may be prone to degenerative myelopathy, progressive retinal atrophy, cerebellar abiotrophy, canine epilepsy, and progressive lens luxation. The Border Collie has been known to have a few allergies in its genome. Such as a food allergy in which the dog shows an allergic reaction upon eating a certain food. The dog may also show allergic reactions to fruits and vegetables, grasses, and/or mold spores.
Common health problems found in the breed include bloat in which the dog has an enlarged abdomen filled with gas that can progress into twists of the stomach. The dog may be unable to rise from the ground or the dog may show signs of depression. This condition usually becomes worse if the dog is forced too quickly to stand up, so owners should take care of this aspect. Border Collies are prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems.
The Border Collie’s typical lifespan is 14 – 18 years, but they can live for longer if provided with adequate care and attention. Adding to the breed’s popularity is its relatively low cost – it doesn’t require a large amount of money or space to keep a dog that’s capable of protecting its family and showing great loyalty to them.
BORDER COLLIE TRAINING:
The Border Collie is an intelligent breed that has double-coats that keep the dogs warm in the cold without overheating. It also has a powerful scent making it easy to find due to its barking that is heard up to 7 kilometers away by the dog’s master. The proper training for this breed requires patience, affection, food treats, and mental stimulation since they are extremely intelligent. The Border Collie needs to be trained and exercised daily due to its high energy and keenness. When training, owners should use positive reinforcement or what is also known as clicker training. This way the dog understands that the behavior was correct and it will want to repeat such behavior to get a reward such as a treat given by its master.
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Border Collie puppies
Border Collie puppies are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Their timeless beauty and high intelligence have made them a perfect choice as a family pet. As well as for those who enjoy sports such as sheep herding and agility contests. Border Collies are also known for their unmatched devotion to humans. They love to please and make their owners happy by performing tricks and tirelessly playing games with them.
Border Collie puppies require minimal grooming but will need plenty of exercises to avoid becoming hyperactive or bored. These dogs are intelligent enough that they will continually look for new ways to entertain themselves. Which could lead to trouble if they’re not allowed opportunities like running around in an enclosed area or taking part in obedience training sessions. Border Collie puppies can make excellent watchdogs as long as they are given enough exercise. And socialization from a young age to mature their ears and live up to their common reputation as bright, eager learners. Like all dogs, Border Collies require consistent love and attention from both humans and their owners.
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Border Collie puppies are especially popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Canada. British television series devoted to sheep herding have resulted in widespread popularity for Border Collies in Europe. Because of their high energy levels and high intelligence, these dogs require plenty of exercises to avoid becoming over-excited or bored. Border Collie puppies are eager to please their owners and can be trained very easily when they are introduced to new behaviors positively. These dogs do not respond well when they are shouted at or punished harshly when they make mistakes. This could lead them to become fearful or aggressive toward humans when they become adults.
Border collie coat colors
These are the most common colors used to describe a Border Collie’s coat color. While – this is also known as albino or “piebald.” Although this is not a true dog color, it is very rare. When they occur in a litter, it is usually by chance or because one pup is of mixed breed. White-colored puppies are highly sought after because people think that they are cooler looking than other colors on dogs. White dogs are also easier to see when they tend to wander away from home. They are also considered to be rarer than other colors because most puppies with this color do not live very long.
Black
– the most common color in Border Collie puppies is black. Black dogs are born with a brown or tan colored coat, which will lighten as the dog matures. By the time they reach adulthood, their coat will be mostly black with white markings.
Tri-colored –
A tri-colored puppy will have tan or brown coloring along with black markings covering their faces and tails. Tri-colored puppies are very rare and this type of color is more likely to occur as a result of a “genetic “mutation.”
Red
-red dogs have been found in Border Collie litters, but they are very rare. Red-coated Border Collies are similar to papered dogs as far as the way they look, but their coats do not turn red until after puberty has passed.
Blue-
Blue dogs have also been found in litters of Border Collies. But this type of coat color is more likely to occur due to a genetic mutation than a true genetic gift from the parents. It is believed that the blue coloring is a result of a “genetic mutation“. But this type of color does not follow any kind of breed standards.
Odd-eyed –
odd-eyed dogs occur when the same litter contains a dog with two different eyes, such as one blue eye and one brown eye. This type of trait will pass from generation to generation.
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