Originating in the Anglo-Scottish region, the Border Collie is a livestock guardian breed popular for its high level of intelligence, athletic body, high energy levels, and affectionate nature.
Head: Flat, and well defined.
Eyes: Well set, oval-shaped, and moderately sized.
Ears: Medium sized, well set, erect or semi-erect.
Muzzle: Strong, tapering to its nose slightly.
Tail: Low set and of a moderate length.
Other names | Scottish Sheepdog |
Coat | Close-fitting, weather resistant, dense double coat which can be rough or smooth; Topcoat– straight or a little wavy and rough; Undercoat: soft, dense, short |
Color | Black, brindle, red, blue, gold, sable, lilac, red merle, white and red, white and black, saddleback sable, slate, seal, white and seal, white and gold, white and sable |
Breed type | Purebred |
Group | Herding |
Average life expectancy (How long do they live) | 12 to 15 years |
Size (How big do they get) | Medium |
Height of a full grown Border Collie | Male: 19 to 22 inches; Female: 18 to 21 inches |
Weight of a full grown Border Collie | 30 to 55 pounds |
Litter size | Approximately 6 puppies |
Behavioral characteristics | Alert, smart, hardworking, energetic, affectionate |
Good with children | Yes, though preferably older kids |
Barking tendency | Mostly no, except when bored |
Climate compatibility | Adapts well to all types of climate |
Shedding (Do they shed) | Moderately high, but excessive during spring and fall |
Hypoallergenic | No |
Competitive Registration Qualification/Information | AKC, FCI, ANKC, CKC, NZKC, UKC, KC (UK) |
Country | U.K, England-Scotland border |
They have a long and eventful history deriving their ancestry from the landrace collies. Collie in Scottish dialect means sheepdogs, and this is the job for which these dogs are extremely famed. When Rome had conquered Britain, they brought along with them their dogs which were big, heavily boned and adept at herding. When the Viking raiders began invading Britain, they also carried their canines which were herding dogs though smaller in size with a swift gait. The old Roman breeds and the spitz-kind dogs were crossed resulting in agile, herding breeds which were adept at working in the hilly terrain of Wales and Scotland. The Border Collie is regarded as the best herder in the world, doing their job with ease and efficiency.
The Border Collies of the modern times, however, is said to have their ancestry linked to the Old Hemp which is a tricolor breed, born in 1893, in Northumberland. The AKC recognized it in its herding dog category on 1st October 1995, and besides U.K and U.S.A, it also attained popularity in Australia as well as New Zealand.
The Border Collie is smart, energetic, alert and hardworking. They make for perfect house companions, but always love to be busy, in some kind of a task. When bored they could indulge in a whole lot of destructive activities like digging holes, scraping furniture and so on. They are initially wary and reserved with strangers but could gradually get friendly when it sees his master greeting the unknown face amicably. They are affectionate towards kids but are better suited with older ones. They are good chasers, and the sight of smaller kids could trigger this aspect causing them to nip or run after the little ones. The same goes for dogs and other pets, hence socialization is needed before you acquaint your Border Collie with other pets.
They are intelligent dogs and may be easy to train if the master is firm and tactful enough. However, they can be independent and often display a streak of stubbornness. Hence proper handling with positive reinforcement is needed.
The National Research Council of the National Academies mentions that a Border Collie having a weight of about 40 pounds needs 1109 calories a day. Choose a good quality dry dog food which has all the nutrient it requires and is devoid of any colorings or additives. While including homemade food have a word with a vet to make sure that you are giving it the right amount of nutrients.
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