The origins of the Border Collie
Originally from Great Britain, the Border Collie is a herding dog that would result from a cross between two breeds: the English Pointer and the Gordon Setter. The name “Border Collie” was adopted in 1915, although it has been known for several centuries. It will still be necessary to wait until the 1970s for these dogs to arrive in France. This breed has always been appreciated for its aptitudes in the pastoral environment and for his “friend of man” side. The Border Collie is a working, hunting and herding dog.
The physique of the Border Collie
- size: between 48 and 52 cm (female) and between 50 and 55 cm (male);
- weight: between 18 and 25 kg (female) and between 18 and 22 kg (male);
- hair: medium-long and dense;
- hair color: all colors are accepted, but white should not predominate;
- shape of the head: not very broad skull, rather short muzzle, clear stop;
- eye shape and color: almond-shaped, wide set and usually brown;
- shape of the ears: semi-erect or straight, of medium size;
- other particularities: hanging and bushy tail.
The character of the Border Collie
The training of the Border Collie is easy, thanks to the docile nature of this excellent sheepdog. Renowned for his intelligence, the Border Collie learns quickly and is obedient. According to thestudy Border collie understands object names as verbal referents, conducted in 2011 by Alliston K. Reid and John W. Pilley and published in the European journal Behavioral Processesa Border Collie was able to remember up to more than 1,000 object names.
This dog is the ideal family companion. Accomplice, he likes the presence of other animals, dog or cat. He also likes children. Lively, the Border Collie needs to exercise. It is strongly advised to adopt a Border Collie only if you live in the countryside. Short walks are not enough: two hours of daily outings are essential! In case of taking your dog to the beachwatch out for the sand in the eyes.
Border Collie Health
The Border Collie is a healthy dog. Easy to maintain, it must be brushed regularly and must take a bath between 3 and 4 times a year. If he spends a lot of time outside, then the frequency of his baths will be more important.
Retinal atrophy is one of the major concerns when it comes to health problems. The study Progressive retinal atrophy in the Border Collie: retrospective studyconducted between 1996 and 2012, shows that out of 1,358 dogs of this breed, lesions were identified in 113 of them (with an average age of 4 years).
He is also prone to osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia. The Border Collie lives between 10 and 14 years. As this breed of dog can suffer from stomach upsets, it is important to divide the food into two meals a day.
The price of the Border Collie
You have to pay between 800 and 1,200 euros to buy a Border Collie. Added to this are around 1,300 euros a year for the maintenance of the dog: food, veterinary care, etc.
