How to Care for a Border Collie

Border collies, originating from the border of England and Scotland, are bred to herd livestock and are extremely intelligent and agile. A border collie can weigh between 30 and 50 pounds when it reaches maturity. But don't expect this breed to mature when it's one year old; they can take two to three years to reach full maturity.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Vaccinate your border collie when you first get it, and then get yearly booster vaccinations to maintain the dog's immunity to diseases. Worm your adult dog every three months, and consult your veterinarian about flea control products.

2. Check your dog's ears regularly for ticks.

3. Feed your border collie dog food in which the first ingredient is meat, if you want a high-quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent, and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content should be 4 percent or less.

4. Brush your border collie's coat two to three times per week, for no more than 10 minutes.

5. Bathe your collie only when necessary. They are generally clean, since their coats shed much of the dirt they pick up, but they do need to be brushed frequently to remove excess hair. Also, check and trim their nails weekly.

6. Take your border collie to obedience training at a very early age. Because of their high level of intelligence, these dogs can get into a lot of trouble if they are bored and untrained.

7. Train your border collie early to socialize with children, as it is a dominant breed and has a tendency to nip at heels. Also, teach children to stop running and to stand still if your border collie is chasing them. This will usually prevent the dog from trying to herd and nip at the child.

8. Provide chewable toys and bones for border collies. They love to chew and will destroy furniture if left unsupervised or without a chew toy.

9. Exercise your border collie twice a day for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. They won't exercise on their own in the backyard. They need human stimulation. Collies are ideal pets for runners and hikers, as they rarely tire.

10. Understand the health problems common to the border collie before you purchase one. They are prone to hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint); progressive retinal atrophy (progressive damage to the retina); collie eye anomaly, which can cause blindness; osteochondritis desicans, which can cause lameness; and other diseases. Be sure to check with potential breeders to see if they screen for these health problems before they breed.

11. Expect your Border Collie to live for 12 to 13 years.

Tips & Warnings

• Border collies love to play fetch with a ball or a flying disc, and they will chase just about anything. They also enjoy swimming.
• Border collies get along well with other pets.
• Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to learn more about hip dysplasia in border collies.
• A backyard fence isn't enough to keep a border collie in. This breed can easily clear 6-foot fences, and if she can't clear the fence, she will try to dig under it. They can also open doors.
• Border collies can exhibit strange behaviors, such as chasing water and shadows.
• The border collie has been referred to as hyper at times, because it usually doesn't slow down inside the house or after it has exercised.
• Be alert when exercising your border collie in the heat. Because they usually don't slow down, they can exercise to the point of death. This holds true on cold days as well. Also be aware that collies can wear out the pads of their feet from too much running on asphalt.

[glws]

on 1/7/2009 I have a great 1 year old that somebody abandoned she is beautiful, but very hyper. She digs our grass up but that's okay. I am keeping her now but I have a cat, wondering if she's good with her. I also want to know how much and how many times a day to feed a pup. Her teeth is beautiful. She trains easy. To stop a dog from going in front of you put her on a traing chain and when she goes turn aroud and go in the opposite direction. ...I guartee she will pay attention.

[wotshewrote]

on 9/3/2007 I had no dog experience when I got my collie. He came to me at 6 weeks and we bonded immediately. Now, 3 years later, he's my best and most loyal companion. There are a few things about the Border Collie that should be considered by any potential owner (a) they are highly strung and can have a psychological response to unexpected stimulus. Training and kindness are crucial.. (b) they may suffer separation anxiety because they are bred to be one-man-dogs (this can be trained out of them).. (c) they are highly (highly!) intelligent and do not easily get fooled (i.e. tricking dogs into a pattern is harder with a collie).. (d) they thrive on routine and may even tell you off if you suddenly do things differently... (e) they have a herding history so should be carefully raised amongst children. For the right person, a brilliant choice of dog. Great guard dog and a terrific friend.

on 8/8/2006 I live in a fairly large city, (p. 250,000) and my family thought twice about getting a Border collie, but with enough training, we managed to have a calm dog. To keep her that way we have started running with her. She is one year old now, and we have started training her with different tricks. A really neat trick is to get them to weave between your legs. You put a treat in each hand, and say "weave" and then guide the dog through your legs in a figure eight. Eventually she will follow this command without treats.

on 8/8/2006 My Border Collie never barks. He is very sweet and loves lots of attention. He does like to run ahead of me though. You have to keep a good grip on them because they are very strong. I like to say he walks me. I couldn't ask for a better dog. If you are looking for a great breed, Border Collies are it! You can't get much better than them.

on 8/8/2006 If you like peace and quiet, don't buy a Border collie. If you like manic and mayhem, they are fantastic! But be prepared when walking him, they think all balls are theirs, and everyone wants to play fetch. We have just picked out our second Border collie, because we're zany!