The highly intelligent Border collie was originally bred specifically for herding lifestock in the Scottish Borders. Their obedience and responsiveness to training is the reason they are the breed most people think of when they imagine a Sheep Dog.
This heritage means they're full of energy and stamina, so they require lots of exercise and stimulation.
Whilst making the perfect working dog, they're also well known for their loyalty and thrive on company which makes them a very popular family dog.
If you are considering owning, or already own a Border Collie, below are common characteristics and health issues you should consider.
Border Collies are well known for being incredibly affectionate. They can be very child friendly, when properly trained and looked after, and exceptionally welcoming to strangers.
Their high intelligence means they are very easy to train, and quick to pick up new tricks and rules. This intelligence and high energy levels means they must get very regular exercise and stimulation. Without this, they will quickly get bored which can lead to barking, chewing, digging.
It’s vital that their exercise and stimulation regime includes a way to properly channel their herding instinct. If they don’t have this, their instinct can take over which can cause them to nip, chase, and bark at children, animals and even cars.
Their high energy levels and intelligence means Border Collies need an experienced owner who can give them the attention and exercise they require.
The ideal home would have a large back garden and be far from busy roads to avoid them chasing cars if their herding instinct takes over.
This is not a breed you can leave at home alone whilst you go to work. They are incredible loyal and can get extremely anxious when left alone. This means the ideal owner would be someone who works at home, can take their dog to work, or can rely on someone to stay with them during the day.
They can be a highly sensitive dog which means they don’t respond well in chaotic environments. If your house can get overcrowded and loud, perhaps a Border Collie isn’t your ideal breed.
Border Collies boast two varieties of coats: rough and smooth. Both variations are double coats consisting of a courser out layer and soft undercoat.
Owners don't need to worry about excessive grooming. It is recommended to brush weekly, bathe when necessary or roughly every 4 months, brush their teeth at least 3 times a week, cut their nails monthly, and clean their ears weekly.
It is important to brush weekly to keep natural oils well distributed which keeps their coat waterproof. During shedding season, you may want to brush more regularly to reduce the amount of dog hair in the house.
Whilst grooming, always check for rashes, sores, or any sign of infection when you groom.
Regularly following the above guidance will help avoid and/or spot potential health problems.
Generally speaking, the Border Collie is a healthy breed with a good lifespan and not too many common illnesses.
They have a medium potential for weight gain, which is usually a symptom of them not receiving enough exercise.
It is recommended to feed high quality dry food, twice a day. The quantity of which depends on multiple factors including age, size, exercise levels etc.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is often, but not always, inherited.
The condition causes mild or severe seizures which may show themselves as unusual behaviour such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, hiding, or even by falling down, limbs rigid, and losing consciousness
Although seizures are frightening and saddening to watch, the long-term prognosis for sufferers is generally very good.
If you suspect your dog has epilepsy, take your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment as there could be other reasons for seizures.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina.
Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind, with the loss of sight during the day occurring as the disease progresses.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but it is known that the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort and most dogs will adapt well to their limited or lost vision, so long as their surroundings and environment stay the same.
Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited condition which causes changes and abnormalities in the eye, sometimes leading to blindness.
Changes can include choroidal hypoplasia (an abnormal development of the choroids), coloboma (a defect in the optic disc), staphyloma (a thinning of the sclera), and retinal detachment.
Usually Collie Eye Anomaly occurs by the time the dog is two years old and sadly there is no treatment.
Dogs suffer from allergies in much the same way that humans do with the three main types being food, contact, and inhalant.
As the saying goes – prevention is better than a cure.
Treatment for food allergies is as simple as eliminating certain foods from their diets.
Contact allergies can be anything from shampoos, to flea powders, and other chemicals. If you notice your pet has had a reaction, try a new product with different ingredients.
Inhalant allergies are caused by airborne allergens such as pollen and dust. This is a difficult one to avoid, but you can try to do so with vet recommended medications and environmental changes.
Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) is an orthopaedic condition caused by improper growth of cartilage in the joints.
Improper growth can sometimes be caused by feeding puppy’s growth formula or high-protein foods which unnaturally speed up development.
The condition usually occurs in the elbows but has been seen in shoulders as well. The main symptom is painful stiffening of the joint, to the point that the dog is unable to bend their elbow.
OCD can be detected in dogs as early as four to nine months old, so call your vet if you notice your pet in visible pain in the elbow region, particularly when trying to bend.