The origin of the name border collie refers to the region between the Scottish and English borders. Border Collies, often mistaken for sheepdogs, have become known for their excellence in obedience trials. The main function of these dogs is to herd sheep and cattle, but if kept active and mentally stimulated, they can make great companions. Many people have a tendency to buy other breeds, labelling Border Collies as mere cattle or sheepdogs, thus missing out on owning one as a potential pet.
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The appearance of the Border Collie
The male border collie is slightly bigger than the female. His coat is shaggy and comes medium in length. The tail is moderately long, raised high, and confident when he is excited. The border collie is active and alert and bursting with energy. Border collies come in a number of different colours: solid black, black and white, black, white, and sable and merle.
Border Collie Temperament
Border collies are very intelligent breeds, and with enough activity and mental stimulation, they will do anything you tell them. They need a lot of exercise, as boredom can lead to destructive behaviour if not given enough work to do. Border collies are dependable and make very loyal companions.
The females can be shy and reserved and often don’t take well to strangers. These breeds usually get on with other animals but need to be introduced at the puppy stage, particularly to cats. They do not mix very well with breeds of their own sex and can tend to get quite aggressive. Above all, border collies are loving and very affectionate dogs; they are sensitive and love attention.
How to take care of Border Collies
Although these dogs are generally used for farm work, they can make excellent pets and wonderful companions; all you need to do, is treat them right, and you will become the best of friends. The border collie needs to be walked at least twice a day, preferably long distances, and if you can, change the route as often as possible. If your dog is like mine, he or she will love a ramble through the countryside, anywhere there’s adventure will, without doubt, pique his excitement! Throw a ball – they love to run, fetch and play.
Worm him once every three months and check his ears and coat for ticks and fleas; you can buy this treatment over the counter at any veterinary pharmacy. Regular grooming is essential to keep his coat looking its best and to prevent any tufts of hair from sticking out. Border collies do not like the water – wash him only if he is really dirty.
Don’t overfeed the dog as he can put on weight really quickly; I would suggest giving him a large meal once a day, preferably dry food such as dog nuts. He will get used to this and know what to expect. You may also give the dog some treats that are healthy. Try Pedigree Markies; all dogs love these. Provide clean water at all times and make sure he has a dry place to sleep in.
Reasons why Border Collies make great Pets
The important thing is to train the dog from the very beginning; show him what’s right and what isn’t, either by raising your voice or giving him a light smack. Border collies are very intelligent and know when they are misbehaving. These dogs are also tough in nature and generally don’t get ill. They are also easy to feed and do not have to be fed any special diets. They are clean and make good house pets.
One final note, border collies, are not city dogs and should never be housed in an apartment or tied up outside. They are gentle and sensitive. If you put your whole heart into taking care of them, you can be certain they will return your love and kindness tenfold.
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