Border Collie Dog Breed
The Border Collie has been bred for over
100 years with functionality as the number one priority. These sheep
herding dogs were abundant in Great Britain during the 1800s, however they were
made up of different types. Most of these dogs were considered to be “fetching”
dogs who had the ability to circle stock and guide them back towards the
shepherd.
Sheepdogs (as the Border Collies were
called) became very popular and in 1873 the first official sheepdog trial took
place to test the qualities and function of the animals. This led to one of the
first famous Border Collies known as “Hemp”.
Hemp did very well at the trials and sired
a high number of offspring. In fact, he is considered to be the father of the
Border Collie. Hemp's way of herding was done with intimidation, using eye
contact with the livestock.
Although these dogs were very popular and
functioned superbly at their sheepdog abilities, it wasn't until 1915 that
“Border Collie” was officially announced as the proper name for the breed. And
as soon as the Border Collie came to America
they were instantly appraised by serious shepherds who needed the
animal's magnificent herding abilities. Amazingly enough, it took until the
year 1995 for the AKC to officially recognize the Border Collie as a show dog.
Personality
As far as temperament is concerned, Border
Collie dogs have enormous amounts of intelligence and is highly obedient. While these attributes are positive, it can
make for a disastrous house dog when kept enclosed with little exercise. Border
Collies are very loyal and protective towards its family, so be prepared for
its reserved and guardian-like personality to spring up when in the company of
strange dogs and other animals.
Taking Care Of Your Border Collie
This is one dog that thrives off of
physical and mental stimulation each and every day. You can easily say that the border collie
simply “needs a job to do” whenever possible.
He is extremely work-oriented and genetically programmed for labor.
Border Collie dogs can certainly live
outdoors in very mild to cool climates, but of course it prefers and enjoys the
company of its family inside the house, especially at night. This is one animal
that should not be forced to live in a small apartment.
Health Information
Border Collie's have a lifespan of up to 15
years, with 12 being the average.
Fortunately, this dog breed does not have many health problems that
arise. Major concerns are only CHD.
Minor health issues that may come up are hypothyroidism, PRA, PDA, CEA,
seizures, OCD, and lens luxation, but these occurrences are extremely rare.
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