Information on the Border Collie Dog Breed

The Border Collie dog breed has excellent herding instincts. Unlike most herding dogs who nip and bark to get livestock to move, the Border Collie dog breed uses intense staring and a predatory-like stance to intimidate the livestock into moving. The Border Collie dog breed is also extremely intelligent. While instinctively inclined to herd, he does very well with human direction. Most Border Collies who are trained to work today are trained with whistles. Each distinctive whistle directs the Border Collie to circle left (come bye), circle right (away), go forward (walk on), stop (lie down), etc.

Because of his strong drive to work and his high intelligent level, the Border Collie dog breed can be a very high maintenance dog. If he does not have a job to do and doesn't have a way to exert his energy, he can be extremely destructive. If you are considering getting a Border Collie dog breed as a pet, be sure that you have an active lifestyle and that you can fit your dog into this lifestyle. A Border Collie dog breed needs lots of vigorous exercise as well as mental stimulation. Many owners of the Border Collie dog breed enter into dog agility clubs. At a dog agility club, the dog has access to an obstacle course and mental stimulation is provided by the owner who teaches him to navigate the course. Some areas even have a herding club. Other forms of exercise and/or mental stimulation include jogging, fetch, flying disc, and more.

The Border Collie dog breed also makes a great search and rescue dog. They have a good nose, a good drive to succeed, and are lightweight. Although the Border Collie dog breed stands 18 to 23 inches tall, they generally only weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. It is easier for this light and lithe dog to navigate debris, forests, and mountains.

The Border Collie dog breed can have a short smooth coat or a long rough coat. The short coat is actually a medium length and lies flat while the longer rough coat is relatively flat and sometimes even wavy. This coat-type needs brushing twice a week in order to prevent tangling and matting.

The Border Collie dog breed can be a solid color such as red, sable, black, or brown. Or he can be a bi-color which is a solid color or blue merle with white, or tri-color which generally includes tan markings with the bi-color. The color combinations are endless and almost every color is accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Probably the most common we see is black and white.

The ears of the Border Collie dog breed are carried erect and are sometimes slightly folded forward. His tail is carried low but generally curls slightly upward at the tip. He has a flat skull of moderate width, a tapering muzzle, and oval brown eyes set white apart. The blue merle can have one or both eyes blue. The expression of the Border Collie dog breed should reflect interest, alertness, and intelligence.

Like most pure bred dogs, the Border Collie dog breed can be susceptible to a number of genetic diseases. Hip dysplasia is common as it is with most big dog breeds. He can also have eye issues such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), lens luxation, and Collie eye anomaly (CEA). Seizures and heart defects are other genetic issues common in the Border Collie dog breed.

Besides being high energy, the Border Collie dog breed is also gentle and obedient. He is easy to train, can do well with children, and can be moderately affectionate. However, he may not be good with other pets and may be wary of or protective against strangers. If you are considering getting a Border Collie dog breed as a pet, be sure to review the breeders to make sure they are reputable breeders and not backyard breeders or puppy mills. Researching breeders will help reduce the chances of getting a dog with genetic health issues. Also, consider rescuing a Border Collie dog breed. Many Border Collies at rescue groups are dogs who did not make the cut to be herding dogs.

(The dog pictured at the very top of this page, Annie, belongs to my cousin who got her from a dog herding school. Annie did not make the cut to be a herding dog because she didn't have a high enough drive to herd. She is still high energy, but just not as good at herding as other dogs at the school. Annie loves to go jogging, gets along well with their other dog, and is friendly to any stranger who wants to play fetch. She does not, however, do well when left alone in the house or in the back yard for long periods.)