Larry Slawson - The Border Collie: A Guide for Owners

Throughout history, few dogs have been capable of matching the level of intelligence, playfulness, and general pleasantness exhibited by the Border Collie. Well-known for their remarkable degree of intelligence and capacity for learning, the Border Collie is an extraordinary dog breed worthy of praise and respect in the canine world. This work examines the Border Collie, and provides an in-depth analysis of the dogs behavioral patterns, temperament, and general characteristics. It is the authors hope that a better understanding (and appreciation) of this fascinating animal will accompany readers following their completion of this work.

• Common Name: Border Collie
• Binomial Name:Canis lupus familiaris
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Canidae
• Genus:Canis
• Species:lupus familiaris

The Border Collie was first bred in Great Britain as a sheep-dog trained to work closely with its owner and to herd a variety of livestock. Believed to have descended from reindeer herding dogs first brought to Scotland by the Vikings, breeders were able to successfully create the Border Collie by crossing this breed with Valee Sheepdogs.

Although the breed was generally referred to as Sheepdogs for several decades, the dog was officially recognized as the Border Collie around 1915 (petmd.com). It is widely believed that the term Border was selected since the breed was developed on the Anglo-Scottish border around Northumberland.

Body

• Height: 18 to 22 inches
• Weight: 30 to 50 pounds

The Border Collie is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a relatively short (but long) stature. Known for its relatively broad head and tapered muzzle, the Border Collie also possesses semi-erect ears and a smooth double coat of fur that often takes on a white and black coloration.

Head

Overall skull of the Border Collie is flat with a moderate width. Skull and muzzle should be proportionate in length, with both running parallel to one another. Sitting atop the head is a series of medium-sized ears that are usually semi-erect. Ears are relatively mobile with the tips generally falling forward. Completing the head is a series of oval-shaped eyes, along with a strong muzzle that possesses a well-developed jawline, pigmented nose, and wide nostrils.

Forequarters

Within this region of the Border Collie, typical forelegs run parallel with one another (when viewed from the front), with the shoulder blades and legs being relatively long. Shoulder blades are known to meet the upper arms at a right angle, whereas the elbows are generally straight. Finishing the forequarters is a pair of compact, oval-shaped feet with deep pads and arched toes.

Hindquarters

Similar to the forequarters, the hindquarters are both broad and muscular in appearance (akc.org). With the rear legs running parallel to one another (as with the front), it is generally acceptable for the rear feet to face slightly outward in appearance. Finishing the hindquarters is a compact, oval-shaped pair of feet with deep pads, arched toes, and a series of strong nails.

Coloration and Coat

The Border Collie typically sports a double coat that is weather resistant. Top coats are usually straight (or slightly wavy), with the undercoat taking on a short and soft texture. Generally speaking, the forelegs, chest, and underside are known to take on a feathered appearance with this breed, whereas the face, ears, feet, and front legs possess a short (but smooth) coating of fur.

Despite being renowned for their black and white coloration, Border Collies appear in a wide array of colors, including: chocolate, lilac, sable, red, and blue (a diluted black coloration). Tri-colors are also common with this breed, allowing for a wide spectrum of color patterns to exist.

Tail

Tails on this breed are set relatively low on the body, with a medium-sized length. When happy or excited, the tail typically has a slight upward curl at the end while wagging. Tails, however, should never curl above the back.

The Border Collie is well-known for its high energy levels and need for exercise. Considered highly intelligent and attentive, this breed is extremely easy to train and showcases a steady willingness to obey their master. It should be noted, however, that Border Collies are extremely sensitive breeds, and thrive on praise from their owners (Schuler, 29). For this reason, Border Collies are not for the faint-hearted, as they require owners that can devote a substantial amount of time and energy into their well-being and development.

General Characteristics

• Energy Level: 5/5
• Exercise Needs: 5/5
• Playfulness: 4/5
• Affection Towards Owners: 3/5
• Friendliness Towards Other Animals: 2/5
• Training Difficulty: 1/5
• Grooming Level: 3/5

Note: Scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Lowest, 5 = Highest )

Temperament

The Border Collie possesses an abundance of physical and mental energy due to their natural herding instincts and high-degree of intelligence. Classified by breeders as hard-working and adaptable, potential owners should be aware that the Border Collie requires intensive exercise on a daily basis to be happy. Due to their sensitive nature, owners should also be aware that Border Collies are prone to shyness and fearfulness if not properly socialized during their puppy stages of development. Despite these issues, owners can generally expect their Border Collie to be quite affectionate.

Are Border Collies Good with Children?

Yes! Border Collies are well-suited for family life due to their intelligence and high-levels of energy. However, due to their natural instinct to herd, the Border Collie is usually not recommended for households with smaller children (i.e. toddlers). While it may seem humorous (at first) to see your Border Collie herding your kids around the house, their tendency to bite (nip) at the ankles can be problematic for younger children.

Due to their sensitive nature, the Border Collie is also known to become fearful (untrusting) of younger children if not properly socialized. This is a problematic trait, as nervousness can lead to potential biting. Prospective owners should, therefore, spend a substantial amount of time teaching both their new Border Collie and children, alike, how to properly play with one another in order to avoid potential injuries and mishaps.

How Smart is the Border Collie?

The Border Collie is a highly intelligent animal, and is largely considered by experts to be the most intelligent breed of dog in the world. In fact, it has been observed that this breed is capable of learning new commands within just a few minutes (with only a few repetitions of the task/action). For this reason, the Border Collie often makes for an excellent competitive breed (for dog shows and events). They are also well-suited for police work (due to their remarkable sense of smell), search and rescue, as well as companionship for disabled individuals.

As a result of their intelligence, the Border Collie requires extensive mental stimulation on a daily basis to prevent boredom (and the onset of destructive behaviors) from occurring as the animal attempts to entertain itself by chewing, climbing, digging, or chasing.