Origin

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The border collie is a breed of herding dog developed in the Anglo-Scottish border region to guard herds of cattle, more specifically sheep. It was developed from a type of collie widely found in the British Isles, particularly for its intelligence and obedience.

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Given its origin along the Anglo-Scottish border, the breed takes its name from this origin; the word border meaning border in English. Mention of the type "collie" or "collie" first appeared in the late 19th century, although the form "collie" is older and has its origin in the Scottish language. It is also believed that the word "collie" comes from the old Celtic word meaning "useful".

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It was in 1915 that James Reid, secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) in the United Kingdom, first used the term "border collie". He wanted to distinguish ISDS-registered dogs from Kennel Club-registered collies who originally came from the same working lines but had developed a different appearance following their debut in conformation shows in 1860 and mixes with various types within the breed.

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Physical appearance 

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The border collie can have two types of fur: a relatively abundant double coat or a shorter and uniform coat on the body, both of which provide very good protection against bad weather. By the standards of this breed, both are equally acceptable.

Also, a wide variety of colors is allowed, but the color white should never be dominant. Here are the colors that can be found in the breed: black and white, blue merle, tricolor black, tricolor blue merle, brown and white, red merle, sand and white, etc.

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The ears are normally semi-erect and droop forward of the head when the dog is attentive. Males should be around 53cm (21in) tall at the shoulders and females should be slightly smaller, around 50cm (20in). The average weight of a male should be 14-20 kg (30-45 lb) and that of a female 12-19 kg (26-42 lb).

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The border collie should have a lively, intelligent expression and, other than merle colors where he may have one or two blue eyes, his eyes should be dark brown.

 

Longevity and health

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The Border Collie's life expectancy is typically 10 to 14 years, with an average lifespan of 12 years. The main causes of death in this breed, other than old age, are cancer and cerebrovascular disease. The Border Collie, like any breed, is prone to more breed-specific health issues.

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Collie eye anomaly (COA), which is a congenital and inherited bilateral eye disease of dogs, affects the retina, choroid and sclera. This disease affects many border collies and can be a mild illness or, in more serious cases, cause blindness. COA is caused by a simple autosomal recessive gene abnormality, and unfortunately there is no treatment at this time.

Additionally, deafness, osteochondritis dissecans, hip and elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, and other eye diseases primarily affect the breed. They are more frequently encountered when mating two individuals of merle color, a mixture which risks giving Puppies with significant health problems.

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Energy level and temperament

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The border collie is a very intelligent dog, and the breed is often considered the smartest of them all. As he has a lot of energy, to prevent him from doing silly things in your absence or when your back is turned, you will have to occupy his mind and make him spend his energy. Here are good options that the border collie will love: going for a run, playing Frisbee, doing agility courses or canicross.

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On the other hand, if he is not sufficiently stimulated, he is likely to become anxious and frustrated, especially if he is left in isolation, ignored or inactive. Like many working breeds, Border Collies can be sensitive to movement and tend to want to chase passing vehicles and bikes. However, this behavior can be changed with practice.

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In addition, the border collie is not aggressive at first, he is good with children, but you still have to supervise them so that accidents do not happen. Indeed, he may tend to want to gather a “herd” of rambunctious children! Moreover, the border collie loves to work and please his master. Canine sports are therefore an excellent way to develop this bond between the dog and his master.

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Grooming

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With their double fur, the Border Collie should be groomed once every 4 to 8 weeks, in addition to daily brushing to prevent mats from forming in the undercoat, which could cause skin problems. More rigorous grooming may be needed in the spring and fall when shedding occurs. As long as the undercoat is well maintained, the guard coat layer (the longer hair on top) should be able to protect your dog well against the elements.

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Souce : Mondou.com