Border Collie

The Border Collie is a first-class, everyday working dog, famed for herding cattle and rounding up sheep. This is the star of sheepdog trials, the persistent winner of obedience competitions, the breed favoured by those who want a 'working' dog.

The Border Collie (the name refers to the England-Scotland border) was bred for speed, stamina and brains. It makes a firstclass companion, is good with children and is one of the most trainable dogs.

Origin and history

The present-day Border Collie IS descended from collies of the Lowland and Border counties of England and Scotland. They are working sheepdogs of a distinct, recognizable type, which have been exported to many countries of the world where sheep are farmed, and they are also excellent as guide dogs for the blind

It was not until July 1976 that a standard for the breed was approved In the United Kingdom by the Kennel Club. This standard was a combination of several proposed standards submitted by interested bodies, including the recognized one from the Australian Kennel Club.

Border Collie Puppies

Good points

Intelligent
Loyal
Ideal choice for obedience
competitions
Good family and/or working dog

Take heed

This breed will herd anything, people included, if sheep and cattle are not available

Size

Dog about 21in (53cm); bitch slightly less.

Exercise

This is essentially a working dog that enjoys being out of doors, whether trotting at its master's heels on a routine walk, doing exercises at a dog training class or working on a farm. It will adapt to whatever role you have for it but is not ideally suited to town life.

Border Colloe Information

General appearance

The Border Collie should be a well-proportioned dog, the smooth outline showing gracefulness and perfect balance combined with sufficient substance to convey the impression that it is capable of enduring long periods of active duty.

Colour

A variety of colours is permissible.

Head and skull

Skull should be fairly broad, occiput not pronounced. Cheeks should not be full or rounded. The muzzle, tapering to the nose, should be moderately short and strong; and the skull and foreface should be approximately the same length. Nose black; nostrils well developed. Stop very distinct.

Tail

The tail should be moderately long, the bone reaching at least to the hock joint, set on low, well furnished and with an upward swirl towards the end.

Feet

Oval In shape; pads deep, strong and sound; toes moderately arched and close together. Nails short and strong.

Border Collie Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Brush regularly with a good pony dandv brush and comb. Inspect the ears for signs of canker and the ears and feet for foreign matter. Dead fur should be removed when grooming.

Feeding

About 13-200z (369-587g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 1314-3 cupfuls of a complete dry food, mixed In the proportion of 1 cup of feed to '12 cup of water.