Border Collie: breed description and cultivation

Anyone who is fortunate enough to be the owner of a Border Collie dog, its main advantage will be called remarkable intelligence and intelligence. Coupled with charm, these qualities make her a real "pearl" among dogs.

The most popular version of the appearance of this breed is the crossing of deer race dogs (dogs driving deer) on the border of England and Scotland with herding dogs of various colors living in that area. This is how the ancestors of the modern representatives of the breed appeared. There were no special requirements for herding breeds, they just had to be able to drive livestock. Medium-sized and medium-sized dogs did the best for this. It was these dogs that best of all showed such qualities as reliability and indefatigability.

Only those dogs that showed excellent qualities were involved in breeding. The desired type of breed was an individual of medium size, strong, agile, energetic. This breed is mixed with the blood of such breeds as the Bearded Collie, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Greyhound. For the first time, the ancestors of modern border collies are mentioned at the end of the 16th century.

1894 is a significant year for the breed, because it is not recognized by the world community, the Border Collie beat the competition to become Best Shepherd Dog in Great Britain... However, this did not lead the breed to the leaders, leaving it in the shadows. Border Collie received official recognition in the world only in 1976. As soon as the breed was recognized, its representatives became real stars - they began to be loved, started in many families.Performance, intelligence, charm and dedication are the characteristics that have made these dogs so popular and loved by breeders around the world.

The Scots' love for the breed was so great that a monument to this dog was erected by sculptor Innes Elliott on Lake Tekapo in New Zealand. It happened in 1968 in memory of the help that animals provided to migrated Scottish shepherds in their sheep grazing activities.

In Scotland, there is also a similar monument, it was installed in 1896. This is a monument to Flora MacDonald, who saved Prince Charles from the pursuit of enemies. Flora is depicted accompanied by a Border Collie.

The breed standard was adopted on June 24, 1987. The description of the breed necessarily includes the mention of an expressive and intelligent look.

Representatives of border collies reach 54 cm in height, and in weight - 20-21 kg. The life span of dogs is about 16 years. They are very graceful and proportionally built with a relatively small stature.

The properties of the breed are:

• an elongated head;
• the nose is colored black, gray or brown, depending on the color of the dog;
• the eyes are small, oval in shape, with a brown iris, marble border collies have a light color of the iris;
• ears are a triangle, their size is small, widely spaced, in a standing position;
• mouth with a scissor bite and with medium-sized pure white teeth;
• black pigment of the lips, they fit tightly to the jaw;
• medium length neck with good muscle development;
• paws are long and slender;
• the body is muscular, elongated with a broad sternum, convex barrel-shaped ribs;
• saber-shaped tail, on it thick and long hair, twists when moving, hangs in a rack.

The movement of the border collie is light and graceful. During a fast run, it seems that her paws are not touching the ground, but she is floating.

The breed has two varieties - long-haired and short-haired, which is sometimes called smooth-haired. The wool is two-layer - this is the wool and the undercoat. The coat is thick and somewhat coarse, and the undercoat is soft and silky. In long-haired dogs, the coat is fluffy, and the tail resembles a fox.

The colors of the breed representatives are different according to the standard. One rule is constant - the white shade should not be dominant. There are several color options:

• black;
• black and tan;
• Brown;
• brown and tan (red);
• marble (the only color in which the tricolor is possible) - blotches of blue can be found, the eyes of marble border collies come in different colors or blue.

The muzzle can be completely white, and spots can be located in the collar or sternum, paws or tail. There are dark blotches on white spots.

Border Collies are quite complex in nature. They are not dirty or mean, but because of their high intellectual abilities, they are unusually cunning. This can greatly complicate the educational process. These dogs have the ability to scan the owner, look for weaknesses in him and use them to avoid doing what they do not want. If the owner does not succumb to the provocations of his dog, then after some time he will stop provoking him, since, due to his ingenuity, he will understand that such tricks do not work.

The rest of the nature of the border collie is wonderful. They are very curious, so they like to accompany the owner wherever they go. Together with curiosity, they are unobtrusive, trying to keep their distance from the owner, if he is not in the spirit. The dog will always wait for the owner to call him to communicate. You can't call them sticky.

While at home among the family members of the owner, the dog observes each of them. Observation is in their blood - after all, from time immemorial they were outstanding shepherds.In some cases, representatives of the breed may make an attempt to organize or rein in the "young" in the family or other pets, but they do not show aggression. With children, they are kind, playful.

On a walk, these dogs behave in an exemplary manner - they do not stick to other dogs, do not fight, do not bark. They love to play and run and need long daily walks. Unless they "run out" outside and look tired, they will play and run at home, which can lead to clutter.

Like any other breed, the Border Collie has advantages and disadvantages.

The pluses include:

• high intelligence - apart from the mind, they have developed intuition, capturing the nuances of the owner's mood;
• excellent learning ability - the border collie often remembers commands the first time, easily understands not only them, but also the intonation of the conversation;
• sharp mind;
• unobtrusiveness;
• the breed is quiet, does not have the habit of barking for no reason, while sociable and very social - it wants to communicate with both people and other dogs;
• hard work;
• docile nature, which makes training fast and makes it possible to prepare the pet for participation in exhibitions and competitions.

Of the minuses or, rather, difficulties with the breed, the following can be noted:

• the pet will need at least 4 hours every day for intense walks with games and teams;
• it is a very nimble and active dog;
• not suitable for slow and calm people, as it needs constant interaction with the owner;
• is not an ideal companion;
• she lacks watchdog qualities;
• the puppy learns to go to the toilet outside the house for a long time and, in principle, matures for a long time, remaining in the shower as a baby;
• the need for constant care of the dog;
• genetic predisposition to epilepsy, deafness, vision and eye abnormalities, hip dysplasia.

Border Collies bear little resemblance to their thoroughbred fellow tribesmen, which is why they should be purchased only in reputable nurseries. If you do not take into account the breed standard or do not know about its requirements, you can buy a dog with a marriage or a defect, and in the worst case, a mongrel. No one claims that a mongrel is worse than a purebred, but buying it for the price of a purebred is completely undesirable.

The breeder must provide the new owner with all the documents for the puppy. - pedigree, information about the absence of genetic diseases, upon request - information about the parents, including their health. If the puppy has been vaccinated, this information must also be provided.

Since the socialization of puppies begins before they reach 8 weeks old, by this age they should not be shy of people, not be aggressive. A socialized puppy should not whimper or growl when handled.

Kennels in Russia are not numerous, so it may not be possible to buy a border collie puppy in a small town. The price for them is very high, few can afford to buy it painlessly for the family budget. This is because the Border Collie is considered the smartest dog in the world.

Buying a puppy from a private seller can cost 20-25 thousand rubles. Buying in a nursery will cost much more - from 45 thousand rubles. A puppy who will be able to participate in breeding in the future costs between 60-70 thousand rubles, and a potential champion with an excellent pedigree - about 100 thousand.

Having settled a border collie puppy in the house, you should take care of its safety.There should be nothing within the dog's reach that he can spoil, and nothing that could harm him. These are wires, and small objects, and household chemicals, and a loosely closed trash can, and cosmetics, and a lot of other things. If the house is two-story, the puppy should not climb the stairs on its own, because this can damage its skeleton. Chocolates and candies should also not be available as they are toxic to the puppy.

If the house has a balcony, you should block the puppy (and the adult dog) from entering it. The temperament of a representative of the breed is such that, following an object that interests him like a bird or an unknown sound, he can simply fall out of the window or from the side of the loggia.

Of course, the pet should have its own place to rest and sleep, its own bowl for food and a cup for water.

Buying a puppy of this breed should take into account the fact that he will live in a house or apartment. In the conditions of the street, he cannot live permanently, only in the daytime in a spacious aviary on the fenced territory of a country house. Dogs have no more whims in everyday life.

The long-haired variety needs to be brushed out every day with its luxurious coat. Otherwise, the Border Collie will look unpresentable. If you are the owner of a show-class pet that regularly participates in exhibitions and competitions, daily brushing is required.

Of course, vaccinations in accordance with the schedule are necessary, as well as timely treatment against ticks and other parasites. This is a list of standard activities that a representative of any breed needs. The claws are trimmed with special rounded scissors - simple manicure scissors will not work for this procedure. After walking, the legs should be wiped with a damp, clean cloth, and also inspected for scratches, splinters or cuts. In winter, paws should be washed and wiped with special diligence, without leaving traces of toxic reagents on them.

You can feed dogs both natural and ready-made food, but just not mixing one with the other. Finished feed must be either premium or super premium.

If you have chosen a natural food, then the dog will definitely need useful additives - calcium, fish oil, probiotic, linseed and olive oil. They will ideally support the dog's tone and good mood.

The basis of the dog's diet should be meat, which serves as a source of protein. She will receive the required amount of carbohydrates from vegetables and cereals, and dairy products will become a source of calcium.

Feeding should be done on schedule. It must be strictly observed. The Border Collie is one of those breeds that never give up food, but do not always feel hungry.

Puppies are fed 3-4 times a day, two meals a day will be enough for adult dogs. Puppies are transferred to two meals a day when they reach six months. Puppies need more energy to grow and develop, which means more calories. The maximum calorie requirement for adult dogs is 1400 kcal, but at the same time they must be very active, engage in constant physical work.

If dry food is selected for the dog, its dosage should be seen on the package, but double-checked yourself. Manufacturers do not always indicate the actual required amount of feed on the packaging, sometimes it is overestimated. This is done because each manufacturer has an incentive to buy more of their products.

If the owner chose natural food for his pet, then meat and offal can be given both boiled and raw, but first deep-freeze them, and also select all the bones. This applies to both meat and fish - bones should not enter the dog's body, it can choke and disrupt the digestive process. Vegetables are given raw, but first they should be grated or cut into pieces convenient for feeding.

Of the treats to reward, your dog will enjoy dried liver the most. Tasteful bones are good for growing individuals, they will help in the correct formation of the bite, and prevent the appearance of tartar and gum disease.

When encouraging a dog, you should not get carried away with treats, you need to choose a dish that contains a low amount of fat. You can't give a dog sweet.

When transferring a puppy to an adult diet, it is important to gradually reduce the amount of protein in the diet, otherwise the muscle frame will form too quickly, like the bone one. This provokes an incorrect formation of the skeleton. Phosphorus, calcium, and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids are essential supplements that should be included in the diet, however, it is important to adhere to the dosage accurately. Their excessive presence in the daily menu is just as dangerous as their lack.

It would be a mistake to assume that such an intelligent and quick-witted animal does not need to be educated and trained. It is necessary, otherwise the coexistence of the owner and the dog will not be equally comfortable for both.

Breed training can bring the following problem: they pretend to be silly and do not understand what the owner wants from them. In fact, this means that the pet is lazy or bored to follow the commands of the owner. He can yawn, scratch, look away, "withdraw into himself", and the most cunning can portray a disease such as lameness or weakness. Also, the animal may try to escape from the class. The owner must immediately stop such actions, otherwise the dog will turn it into a custom.

Upbringing begins from the moment the puppy appears in the family. Since puppies of this breed are terribly curious, they will climb everywhere, gnaw on things, including the owner's. You should immediately make it clear to him that this is wrong, that this is not possible. But the puppy must have its own toys - teething, squeaky, other things with which he can play. You do not need to buy the first available or the cheapest items - you should take time to choose, because not only the development of the dog depends on this, but also the formation of its gums, jaws, and bones. There should be a lot of toys so that the pet does not get bored.

Each owner of a representative of this breed notes the amazing intelligence, quick-wittedness and excellent learning ability of his pet. The dog is also called friendly. Due to centuries of activity in the protection of the Border Collie herd, he attempts to gather a company, resting in nature, together, lightly biting those who walk far away, by the heels.

As already noted, the walk should be intense, and this is not just running back and forth until exhaustion, but games with meaning - with a frisbee plate, with the execution of commands. The daily load should be both mental and physical. Otherwise, the border collie can harm the apartment or house in which it lives.

All about the border collie dog breed, see the next video.