Border Collie. Border collie puppies. Border Collie - breed description

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In the city, dogs of the Border Collie breed are rare, and no wonder. Such an animal needs movement and space. This is a strong, graceful and very agile dog, which has no equal in intelligence. The owner must match her love for long walks in nature.

History of the breed

This sheepdog comes from England. The breed was bred by a long selection of shepherd dogs. In each generation, the best representatives in terms of their working qualities were chosen. The first mention of these animals dates back to the 8th-10th centuries AD, and the breed was officially registered in 1915.

The main task of these dogs was to manage the herd. They were required not only physical endurance, good he alth and unpretentiousness in food, but also high intelligence, the ability to independently protect livestock, return stray animals, and bring them back to the parking lot. In most cases, the dog had to make its own decision, not relying on the command of the shepherd, who may be far away.

So everyonethe qualities inherent in the border collie were formed in the most natural conditions and honed generation after generation. They combine the characteristics of dogs from several different directions: a guard, a hunter and a shepherd.

General Features

The Border Collie is a fairly large and strong dog with well-developed muscles. Very graceful, swift, proportional physique. Height at the withers - 50-55 cm. The dog is quite light - up to 23 kg. Her head is broad, without the occiput, like many hunters, in particular blat hounds. The muzzle is moderately short, gradually tapering towards the nose. The eyes are almond-shaped, oval. The ears are small, erect or semi-erect, widely spaced. The dog's bones are very strong. There is no rudeness and heaviness in the appearance of the animal, on the contrary, it is characterized by amazing harmony and smoothness of the lines of the silhouette.

These dogs are characterized by a slightly hunched posture and a tucked tail, especially in moments of concentration. Their smooth and free movements captivate. During the run, the collie practically does not take its paws off the ground, which creates the illusion of a rapid glide.

The coat is quite long, thick (there are short-haired borders, but they are practically not common). The undercoat is dense and soft, waterproof. Dogs of the border collie breed can have a wide variety of colors (as for all hunters, this is not the main criterion at the exhibition), only the predominance of white is unacceptablecolors.

Temperament and character

Introducing the reader to the Border Collie, the description of the breed should be supplemented with features of the nervous system and character. These dogs are quite balanced, one might say, sensible. They are devoted to their master undividedly, very quick-witted. But do not dream of seeing this dog as a "sofa toy". The seething energy does not let her sit idle.

In order for the border to be obedient, you need to maximize its need for movement. Joint sports, long walks - this is exactly what you need. These are hardworking, persistent, very responsive and attentive dogs. There is not an ounce of aggressiveness and nervousness in them, these qualities were excluded during selection. They treat children and other pets very well, take everyone under their care and surround them with care.

Contents

Dogs are undemanding to the conditions of detention. Thick coat allows them to live in a kennel, the main thing is not to forget about the need to communicate with the animal, physical and mental training. This is not necessarily a shepherd's job; in the city it is difficult to find such a use for a dog. Classes on a special area, fetching, ball and stick games, swimming, various obedience competitions will provide the necessary exercise, and you will have a good time with your pet.

The Border Collie does not tolerate being confined within four walls. If his energy has nowhere to go, it turns into destructive. If you live in an apartment and work all day, this is not your pet.

In nutritionthe dog is not too picky (unless you spoil it). It is not recommended to completely transfer collies to dry food, but partial inclusion is acceptable. At least half of the diet should be animal products. Pay special attention to the quality of feed. It is better to underfeed a dog a little than to overfeed. The animal must always have access to clean water.

Pet care

First of all, these are hard workers, not show class dogs. Therefore, despite participation in exhibitions (recently), they do not require special care. Wool must be combed twice a month, with the exception of the shedding period, then it becomes a daily procedure. Natural discharge from the eyes can be removed with a swab moistened with a decoction of chamomile or a special lotion. Do not rinse your eyes while doing this.

Be sure to clean your ears. This is done with a cotton swab. In case of damage by ear mites, special means must be used. Get a nail cutter so that the overgrown part of the claws does not injure the paw.

In the spring and autumn, check your pet for ticks. Most often they dig into the neck, behind the ears or in the groin area. To prevent this, you should use special sprays and collars. Do not forget that ticks carry a dangerous disease - piroplasmosis.

These wonderful puppies

The dog comes to our house most often as a charming fluffy. We must remember that a puppy requires attention, affection and patience no less than a small child.

It doesn't matter if you have a purebred dog or a mixed border collie.

From the first day, give your puppy his own place, buy a feeder and drinker on a height-adjustable stand. It is very important to develop the correct daily routine, to observe feeding strictly by the hour. By giving food from your table, you often harm your pet.

Remember that in the first months of life, border collies (puppies) are very sensitive to the diet. It should be rich in proteins, vitamins and trace elements. If the puppy does not finish his portion, remove the cup and give the next feeding at the proper time.

Do not exercise your little collie with hours of exercise and long walks. The process of physical development should proceed gradually and as naturally as possible. Grooming puppies is also easy: they should be brushed while the puppy down is replaced by a coarser coat.

By three months, teenagers become quite unsightly. This is the transition period that all Border Collies (puppies) go through. It is better to take a photo for advertising the future producer a little later, when the dog outgrows this age.

Education and training

Babies up to a year only need education. This is the time when the character of the border collie is formed. Puppies need love and affection. Calm and confident tone, consistency in their requirements - a guarantee that the dog will grow up mentally he althy. As in the case of a small child, screaming and physical punishment does not solve anything, they only show your weakness and failure. As a result, yougradually lose authority.

Only affection and justice can give a good upbringing. Punishment must be expressed in an adequate form and applied precisely at the time of the offense. Praise needs to be lavished much more often, because just because the puppy did not do well, it does not mean that he is bad.

When the border has grown up, you can move on to training. You only need to repeat the command day after day and reinforce the result with positive incentives. The puppy will easily learn to fulfill all the requirements, brilliantly pass obedience tests for your praise alone. Don't skimp on encouragement and affection.

Diseases, treatment and prevention

He althy eating, physical activity and preventive vaccinations are the key to the he alth of your border collie. There are specific diseases that are characteristic of this breed. These are hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, epilepsy, allergies and osteochondrosis. It is necessary to periodically undergo an examination by a veterinarian in order to identify signs of a developing disease in time and begin treatment.

Application of breed

This is one of the few dogs that continues to be used for its intended purpose.

This is not surprising, because the unique qualities that allow her to be the best shepherd have been honed over the centuries. Thanks to her high intelligence and good sense of smell, she brilliantly copes with operational-search tasks. Finally, intelligence and peacefulness make it easy to train boarders to work as guides. And only themactivity and the desire for constant movement do not allow to bypass the more calm retrievers in this field.

We don't often see border collies on the street. The price of these dogs is quite high - about 500 dollars. If we talk about elite show-class manufacturers, then it is even more. At the same time, in urban conditions, the breed does not take root well. Without work or constant attention from the owner, the boarder will damage your property, chase its shadow, demolishing everything in its path, and even harm itself by gnawing its paws or tail.

Conclusions

The Border Collie is a wonderful dog, one of the smartest members of his family. If you have a country house and a large farm (especially animals that require grazing), he will be your best companion and companion.