Exceptional Border Collie Dog Breed

Please consider adopting a dog, cat or any other pet through one of the numerous rescue sites available to everyone.  There are hundreds of websites on the Internet that are honest and reliable places to seek a furry friend for your family.  Humane societies are also good places to find a new pet that you can give a second chance at life to now.  I mention only two such sites to click on for more information.  “RED” stands for rescue every dog and can be contacted at http://www.rescueeverydog.org or click on:  http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com  I wish to thank Sue for her help in bringing this information about the Border Collie dog breed for me to share with you.

Border Collie Dog Breed photograph is courtesy wikipedia

Border Collie dog breed is exceptional in many ways.  From the picture, this dog seems to be in love with running free.  With that said, this dog cannot be confined in an apartment, small yard, tied up or chained. The country of origin is Scotland/England, where they were bred for herding sheep, goats and  other small cattle critters.  They are healthiest and happiest pleasing the pet owners who will appreciate them with lots of praise.  They don’t need to be performing the herding duties to be content, but they need lots of exercise.  Acreage to roam would be the ideal environment for this breed. 

Weight ranges from 27 to 45 pounds with a height of 18 to 21 inches.  This is considered a medium size dog, yet very energetic and likes wide open spaces or at least genuine daily, mental and physical, extensive activity.  If left alone  for long periods of time, they develop problems with destructive behavior.

Mesmerizing eyes of the Border Collie have a specific stare which allows them to corral  sheep and cattle. One would only need to be present when they are at work to admire their silent mission accomplished.  The entire body is lowered as if they will be pouncing, which when they take off running, it is an obvious swift and focused gait.

2 Pictures of Border Collie herding critters is courtesy wikipedia.com                                                                                                 

Hair on Border Collies is soft, can be medium length or  long with  feathering around the neck, tail, chest and back and sometimes front legs too. Colors could be black and white, tri-colored:  red, white and black or gray or yellow, white, sable and solid black.

They are bred for a keen determination to work,  yet will astound you in their agility, balance and conformation awards at dog shows.  Intelligent, learning lessons well, they perform unusual tasks other canines cannot.  A pet owner should be prepared to be firm, dominant and the pack leader otherwise this dog will fill that roll and take over.

Two Border Collies exercising their abilities of balance, agility and determination. Photograph is courtesy wikipedia.com

Facts prove and breeders agree this is one of the hardest working dog breeds thriving on pet owners praise.  They will represent a diligent, obedient, competitive, skilled, sport minded, physical beauty beyond the actual looks of attractiveness everyday. 

Agility Border Collie entrant.  Photograph is courtesy wikipedia.com

  Border Collie doing a 6 feet jump at Australia Agility rounds. Photo courtesy wikipedia

To introduce the Border Collie to other pets, other than dogs, be prepared to begin early in puppy hood and then use caution for trusting them since they are not a shy dog especially around felines. They get along well with other dogs and children of all ages.  It is recommended to not choose this breed with very young children since the dogs keen sense of sound can cause the breed to react adversely.  Border Collies have been known to herd children as that is such a strong instinct for them. 

Police, search. rescue, therapy work and service are all areas where the Border Collie excels.  The high performance that is expected of this breed seems to never  end with the extension into narcotics and bomb detection too.  The gentleness and devotedness given by Border Collies bring awards to people who own this breed because of the numerous attributes it possesses. They remain an active working canine in many areas of the United States and countries with large farmlands and cattle ranches.

Grooming is a weekly brushing with intermittent bi annual bathing. They are medium shedders.

It is so important for the complete wellness of this pet, it has to be repeated that this would not be the dog for a person not willing to spend much time making sure it has both mental and physical exercise daily.  The Border Collie has a lifespan of 9 to 17 years with admiration from pet owners and good health  maintenance.