In the city, Border Collie dogs are rare, and not surprising. Such an animal needs movement and space. This is a strong, graceful and very agile dog, which has no equal in intelligence. The owner must match her in love for long walks in nature.
Breed history
This shepherd hails from England. The breed was bred by long selection of shepherd dogs. In each generation, the best representatives were selected for their working qualities. The first mention of these animals dates back to the VIII-X centuries of our era, and the official registration of the breed took place in 1915.
The main task of these dogs was to control the herd. They were required not only physical endurance, good health and unpretentiousness in food, but also high intelligence, the ability to independently protect livestock, return stray animals, bring them back to the parking lot. In most cases, the dog had to make its own decisions without relying on the command of the shepherd, who could be far away.
Thus, all the qualities inherent in border collies were formed in the most natural conditions and honed generation after generation. They combine the features of dogs of several different directions: guard, hunter and shepherd.
General characteristics
Border Collie is a fairly large and strong dog with well-developed muscles. Very graceful, rapid, proportional physique. Height at the withers - 50-55 cm. The dog is quite light - up to 23 kg. Her head is wide, without an occipital protuberance, like many hunters, in particular, blunt hounds. The muzzle is moderately short, smoothly tapering to the nose. The eyes are almond-shaped, oval. The ears are small, erect or semi-erect, widely spaced. The backbone of the dog is very strong. The appearance of the animal is not rude and heavy, on the contrary, it is characterized by amazing harmony and smoothness of the lines of silhouette.
These dogs are characterized by a slightly hunched posture and a pretailed tail, this is especially evident in moments of concentration. Their smooth and free movements fascinate. During the run, the collie practically does not take its paws off the ground, which creates the illusion of a rapid glide.
The coat is long enough, thick (there are short-haired boarders, but they are practically not common). The undercoat is thick and soft, waterproof. Dogs of the Border Collie breed can have a wide variety of colors (as for all hunters, this is not the main criterion at the exhibition), only the predominance of white is unacceptable.
Temperament and character
Introducing the reader to the Border Collie, the description of the breed should be supplemented by the characteristics of the nervous system and character. These dogs are quite balanced, one might say reasonable. Devoted to their master completely, very smart. But do not dream to see this dog as a "sofa toy". Boiling energy does not allow her to sit idle.
In order for the border to be obedient, you need to maximize its need for movement. Joint sports, long walks - this is exactly what you need. These are hardworking, persistent, very responsive and attentive dogs. Aggression and nervousness in them there is not a gram, these qualities were excluded during selection. They treat children and other pets very well, take everyone under their care and surround them with care.
Content
Dogs are undemanding to the conditions of detention. Thick hair allows them to live in a nursery, the main thing is not to forget about the need to communicate with animals, physical and mental training. This is not necessarily a shepherd’s job, it’s hard to find a dog in the city like this. Classes on a special site, apparel, games with a ball and sticks, swimming, various obedience competitions will provide the necessary load, and you will have a good time with your pet.
Border Collie does not tolerate imprisonment in four walls. If his energy has nowhere to go, it turns into destructive. If you live in an apartment and work all day, this is not your pet.
The dog is not too picky in food (unless you spoil it). It is not recommended to completely transfer collies to dry food, but their partial inclusion is permissible. At least half the ration should be products of animal origin. Pay particular attention to feed quality. It is better to slightly feed the dog than to overfeed. The animal should always have access to clean water.
Pet care
First of all, they are hard workers, not show class dogs. Therefore, despite participating in exhibitions (recently), they do not require special care. The hair needs to be combed out twice a month, the exception is the molting period, then this becomes a daily procedure. Natural discharge from the eyes can be removed with a swab moistened with chamomile broth or a special lotion. Do not rinse your eyes.
Be sure to clean your ears. This is done with a cotton swab. In case of damage by an ear mite, special means must be used. Get a claw cutter so that the overgrown part of the claws does not injure the paw.
In the spring and autumn, check your pet for ticks. Most often, they bite into the neck, behind the ears or in the inguinal region. To prevent this, use special sprays and collars. Do not forget that ticks carry a dangerous disease - pyroplasmosis.
These wonderful puppies
A dog comes to our house most often with a charming fluff. It must be remembered that a puppy requires attention, affection and patience no less than a small child.
And it doesn’t matter at all whether you have a purebred dog or a mixed breed border collie.
From the first day, select the puppy's own place, buy a feeder and a drinking bowl on a height-adjustable stand. It is very important to work out the correct regimen of the day, observe feeding strictly by the hour. Giving food from your table, you often harm your pet.
Remember that in the first months of life, border collies (puppies) are very sensitive to diet. It should be rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. If the puppy does not eat its portion, remove the cup and carry out the next feeding at the appropriate time.
Do not burden the little collie with exercise and hours of walking. The process of physical development should proceed gradually and as naturally as possible. Caring for puppies is also straightforward: they should be combed out until the puppy fluff is replaced by stiffer hair.
By the age of three months, adolescents become completely ugly. This is the transition period that all border collies (puppies) go through. It is better to take a photo for advertising the future producer a little later, when the dog outgrows this age.
Parenting and training
Kids up to a year only need education. This is the time when the character of the border collie is formed. Puppies need love and affection. A calm and confident tone, consistency in their requirements - the guarantee that the dog will grow up mentally healthy. As in the case of a small child, screaming and physical punishment do not solve anything, they only show your weakness and failure. As a result of this, you gradually lose authority.
Only affection and justice can give a good education. Punishment must be expressed in an adequate form and applied precisely at the time of misconduct. Praises need to be squandered much more often, because the fact that the puppy did wrong does not mean that he is bad.
When the border has grown, you can proceed to training. You only need to repeat the command every day and fix the result with positive incentives. The puppy will easily learn to fulfill all the requirements, it will pass tests of obedience brilliantly for your praise alone. Do not skimp on promotion and affection.
Disease, treatment and prevention
Healthy eating, physical activity and preventive vaccinations are the key to the health of your border collie. There are specific diseases that are characteristic of this breed. These are hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, epilepsy, allergies and osteochondrosis. It is necessary to periodically undergo an examination at the veterinarian in order to timely identify signs of a developing disease and begin treatment.
Breed application
This is one of the few dogs that continues to be used for its intended purpose.
This is not surprising, because the unique qualities that allow her to be the best shepherd have been honed for centuries. Thanks to her high intelligence and good sense of smell, she copes brilliantly with operational search tasks. Finally, quick wit and peacefulness make it easy to train boarders to work as guide dogs. And only their activity and desire for constant movement do not allow to bypass the calmer retriever in this field.
We rarely see a border collie on the street. The price of these dogs is quite high - about $ 500. If we talk about the elite producers of the show class, then it is even more. At the same time, in urban conditions, the breed does not survive well. Without work or constant attention of the owner, the border will spoil your property, chase after its shadow, demolishing everything in its path, and even harm yourself by cracking its paws or tail.
conclusions
Border Collie is a wonderful dog, one of the smartest representatives of his family. If you have a country house and a large farm (especially animals that require grazing), it will become your best companion and companion.