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Border Collie - Is This The Dog Breed You Want?
By Michael Russell
Are you thinking about getting a border collie? This dog makes a
great pet as long as he has lots of work to do. The border
collie was bred to herd animals and that is what it will want to
do. It may even start herding your kids or your other pets!
Border Collie Obedience Training
By Sean Green
Border collie is one of the best trainable dogs out of all
the breeds. They usually perform in obedience, fly ball, Frisbee
and agility trials. If you obtain this dog, mere physical
exercise will not keep the dog active. They should be given some
task to keep their mind as well as body energetic. Border collie
is an extremely energetic dog. He needs open space to exercise
and being a working sheep herding dog, he always performs tasks
happily. He will get too bored and perhaps destructive when you
make him sit in a place. Border Collie Obedience Training is
very easy to carry out as the dog is extremely agile and
intelligent.
Border
Collie - The Facts Every Owner of this Dog Breed Should Know
By Robert Benjamin
Bred for their intelligence and herding instincts, Border
Collies are descended from British herding dogs. A medium sized
dog, Border Collies will grow to about 19 to 22 inches and 30 to
45 pounds. They will live about 12 to 15 years. Border Collies
have medium to longer hair that comes in a variety of colors and
are prone to shedding. Border Collies need to be brushed
regularly to keep the coat healthy and dirt free. Border Collies
are also known for their stare. Though their eyes can be brown,
amber or blue, it is the Border Collie stare that people
remember. This is part of the herding instinct, and a Border
Collie will attempt to herd almost anything, including cars and
children.
Border Collie - For Rescue And Protection
By Daisy Sawtelle
These border collies are way above average. I wouldn't be
surprised if many are MENSA DOG members already. They protect us
and we don't even know it. Many Border collies keep emailing me
bragging about their other talents and I am impressed. However,
I am currently on line with Malcolm, a protector collie that
locates lost humans and is a real professional.
Border Collie Puppy And Dog Information
By Mitch Endick
The Border Collie is a highly intelligent dog that regularly
wins awards for obedience. She needs lots of open space to
exercise. She is a working sheep herding dog and she is the
happiest with a job to do. She will get too bored and possibly
destructive just sitting around a house alone. She is considered
to be one of the most intelligent dogs.
The Border Collie: Excelling at Herding, Search and Rescue,
Competitive Sports and Much More
By Carol Stack
Scout is a Border Collie we were given four years ago. He is a
beautiful tri-colored dog that is full of energy. The first two
years we had him he hardly stopped running.
The Border Collie
The Border Collie is a
breed of herding dog that originated in the border country of
England and Scotland. They are widely regarded as the most
intelligent dog breed. Border Collies are highly energetic, and
as a result have a tendency towards neurotic or destructive
behaviour if not given enough to do. They are still frequently
used on farms all over the world for assisting with the handling
of livestock, and they have also become popular as pet and sport
dogs. Though known to be reserved with strangers, these dogs can
also be protective of a human family member and affectionate to
those they know.
Border Collie physique
Weight: 30-50 pounds
Height: 19" to 22" for males, 18" to 21" for females.
Coat: They come in many different coats, black and white,
solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle and sable dogs. The
Border Collie's coat is made of two layers.
Life span: 12-15 years
In general, Border Collies
are medium-sized dogs without extreme physical characteristics
and a moderate amount of coat. Their double coats can be
anywhere from slick to lush, and can come in many colors,
although black and white is by far the most common. Black
tricolor (black/tan/white), red and white, and red tricolour
(red/tan/white) also occur regularly, with other colors such as
blue creme and yellow white, red merle, blue merle, "Australian
red"/gold, and sable seen less frequently. Solid Black is also
seen.
Eye color varies from deep brown to amber or blue with
occasionally one eye of each color, usually seen with merles.
The ears of the Border Collie are also highly variable — some
have fully erect ears, some fully dropped ears, and others
semi-erect ears (similar to that of the Rough Collie). Although
working Border Collie handlers sometimes have superstitions
about the appearance of their dogs (handlers avoid mostly white
dogs due to some genetic problems found in Border Collies.), in
general a dog's appearance is considered to be irrelevant. It is
considered much more useful to identify a working Border Collie
by its attitude and ability than by its looks.
Those dogs bred for the conformation ring are more homogeneous
in appearance than working Border Collies, since to be
successful show dogs they must conform to breed club standards
that are specific on many points of the structure, coat and
color. Kennel clubs specify, for example, that the Border Collie
must have a "keen and intelligent" expression, and that the
preferred eye color is dark brown. In deference to the dog's
working origin, scars and broken teeth received in the line of
duty are not to be counted against a Border Collie in the show
ring.
Height at withers: Males from 19" to 22", females from 18" to
21". (See various breed standards for details.)
Temperament
Border Collies are an intelligent, biddable breed with an
instinctive desire to work closely and intensely with a human
handler. They are very well behaved dogs, as long as they are
trained well and fixed early. They can be very excitable dogs
and if it is not taught from birth, although not meaning to,
their over excitement and enthusiasm can sometimes lead to
aggression.Although the primary role of the Border Collie is
that of the working stock dog, dogs of this breed are becoming
increasingly popular as pets. True to their working heritage,
Border Collies make very demanding, energetic pets that are
better off in households that can provide them with plenty of
exercise and a job to do. Among some breeders in the United
Kingdom there is a common saying: "no sheep, no collie",
referring to the dog's usual unsuitability for people who just
want an "intelligent dog". Border Collies are now also being
used in showing, especially agility, where their speed and
agility comes to good use. However, in an appropriate home, with
a dedicated, active owner, a Border Collie can be an excellent
companion. Participating in dog sports is popular with Border
Collie owners.
Border Collies are unsuitable pets for people who cannot or will
not provide a considerable amount of daily exercise for their
dogs, both physical and mental. They are also a poor choice for
households that are not prepared for the characteristic
behaviors that are part of their working heritage. For example,
as with many working breeds, Border Collies can be
motion-sensitive and may attempt to control the movements of
family members, cats, squirrels, bicycles, cars, or anything
else that moves if not given enough mental and physical
stimulation. These dogs are also generally not suitable for
households with small children, because they frequently try to
"herd" the children or react rather quickly to unexpected
movements. Many Border Collies who end up in shelters or rescue
groups are there because owners, who may have been attracted by
their appearance and intelligence, were not prepared to meet
their dog's needs.
Health
Hip dysplasia, Collie eye anomaly (CEA), and epilepsy are
considered the primary genetic diseases of concern in the breed
at this time. CEA is a congenital, inherited eye disease
involving the retina, choroid, and sclera that sometimes affects
Border Collies. It is sometimes mistaken for conjunctivitis and
can affect other breeds . In Border Collies, it is generally a
mild disease and rarely significantly impairs vision. There is
now a DNA test available for CEA and, through its use, breeders
can ensure that they will not produce affected pups. There are
different types of hip testing available including OFA
(Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and PennHip. X-rays are
taken and sent to these organizations to determine a dog's hip
and elbow quality.
Elbow dysplasia or Osteochondritis, deafness, and hypothyroidism
may also occur in the breed. Dogs homozygous for the merle gene
are likely to have eye and/or hearing problems. Responsible
breeders do not mate merles to one another.
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a rare but serious
disease. NCL results in severe neurological impairment and early
death; afflicted dogs rarely survive beyond two years of age.
The mutation causing the form of the disease found in Border
Collies was identified by Scott Melville in the laboratory of
Dr. Alan Wilton of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular
Sciences, University of New South Wales. There is no treatment
or cure, but a DNA test is now available to detect carriers as
well as affected dogs.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) [10] is an inherited autosomal
recessive disease which results in mature neutrophils being
unable to migrate from the bone marrow into the blood stream. .
Puppies affected with this disease usually succumb to infection.
Because TNS is an immune deficiency, the puppies can present a
variety of symptoms depending upon the type of opportunistic
infections they contract, as a result TNS has largely gone
undiagnosed in the past. Once thought to be rare, TNS is now
believed to be responsible for many cases of "fading puppies".
The mutation responsible for TNS was identified by Jeremy
Shearman in the laboratory of Dr. Alan Wilton of the School of
Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South
Wales. There is no cure, but a DNA test is now available to
detect carriers as well as affected dogs.
History
The Border Collie is
descended from droving and gathering breeds originating on the
Scottish and English border. Mention of the "Collie" or "Colley"
type first appeared toward the end of the nineteenth century,
with every current Border Collie tracing back to a dog known as
Old Hemp. Old Hemp, a tri-color dog, was born September 1893 and
died May 1901. He was bred by Adam Telfer from Roy, a black and
tan dog, and Meg, a black-coated, strong-eyed bitch. Hemp was a
quiet, powerful dog that sheep responded to easily. Many
shepherds used him for stud and Hemp's working style became the
Border Collie style.
Wiston Cap is the dog that the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS)
badge portrays in the characteristic Border Collie herding pose.
He was the most popular stud dog in the history of the breed,
and appears in a huge percentage of pedigrees today. Bred by W.
S. Hetherington and trained and handled by John Richardson, Cap
was a biddable and good-natured dog. His bloodlines all trace
back to the early registered dogs of the stud book, and to J. M.
Wilson's Cap, who occurs sixteen times within seven generations
in his pedigree. Wiston Cap sired three Supreme Champions and is
grand-sire of three others, one of whom was E. W. Edwards' Bill,
who won the championship twice.
These dogs were traditionally known simply as "collies," but
terms like working collie, old-fashioned collie, and farm collie
have also been applied to them. It was in 1915 that James Reid,
Secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society in the United
Kingdom, first used the term "Border Collie" to distinguish
those dogs registered by the ISDS from the Kennel Club's
"Collie," which originally came from the same working stock but
had developed a different, standardized appearance following its
introduction to the show ring in 1860.
Breed Standards
As is the case with many breeds of dogs that are still used for
their original purposes, breed standards vary depending on
whether the registry is more interested in a dog that performs
its job superbly or a dog whose appearance meets an ideal
standard.
There are two types of tests, or standards, to determine the
breeding quality of a Border Collie. The original test was the
ISDS sheepdog trial, still used today, where a dog and handler
collect groups of livestock and move them quietly around a
course. The 'standard' comes from the fact that, the world over,
there are certain standard elements to this test. Sheep must be
gathered without being too much disturbed, from a distance
farther than the typical small airport runway. They then must be
directed through obstacles at varying distance from the handler,
and then the dog must demonstrate the ability to do work close
at hand by penning the sheep and sorting them out. It is these
elements which have shaped the working abilities of the Border
Collie and defined the breed. These dogs are necessarily capable
of incredible feats of athleticism, endurance, intense focus,
and high levels of trainability.
In nearly every region of the world, the Border Collie is now
also a breed which is shown in ring or bench shows. For the
people who participate in these events, the Border Collie is
defined by the breed standard, which is a description of how the
dog should look. Temperament is also a major consideration for
show dogs. In New Zealand and Australia, where the breed has
been shown throughout most of the twentieth century, the Border
Collie standards have produced a dog with the longer double coat
(smooth coats are allowed), a soft dark eye, a body slightly
longer than tall, a well-defined stop, as well as a gentle and
friendly temperament. This style of Border Collie has become
popular in winning show kennels around the world, as well as
among prestigious judges.
Blue Merle Border Collie puppy at fourteen weeks demonstrating
stereotyped breed-specific behaviors including eye (gaze and
lowered stance); this dog's eyes are different colors, which is
not uncommon in merles.
Blue Merle Border Collie puppy at fourteen weeks demonstrating
stereotyped breed-specific behaviors including eye (gaze and
lowered stance); this dog's eyes are different colors, which is
not uncommon in merles.
Few handlers of working Border Collies participate in
conformation shows as working dogs are bred to a performance
standard rather than one based on appearance. Likewise,
conformation-bred dogs are seldom seen on the sheepdog trial
field, except in Kennel Club-sponsored events. Dogs registered
with either working or conformation based registries are seen in
other performance events such as agility, obedience, tracking or
flyball, however these dogs do not necessarily conform to the
breed standard of appearance as closely as the dogs shown in the
breed rings as this is not a requirement in performance events,
nor do they necessarily participate in herding activities.
Registries
In the UK, there are two separate registries for Border Collies.
The International Sheep Dog Society[14] encourages breeding for
herding ability, whereas the Kennel Club (UK) encourages
breeding for a specific appearance. The ISDS registry is by far
the older of the two, and ISDS dogs are eligible for
registration as pedigree Border Collies with the Kennel Club
(KC) — but not vice versa. The only way for a Border Collie
without an ISDS pedigree to be added to the ISDS registry is by
proving its worth as a herding dog so that it can be Registered
on Merit (ROM).
In the United States, the majority of Border Collies are
registered with the American Border Collie Association, which is
dedicated to the preservation of the working dog. Historically,
there were two other working-centric registries, The North
American Sheep Dog Society (NASDS), and the American
International Border Collie Association (AIBC). The
International Border Collie Association (IBCA), the U.S. Farm
Dog Registry are two registries that accept dual registrations
with the ABCA as well as the AKC. These two registries are
younger than the established registries, but are growing at a
significant pace. These two registries offer owners greater
flexibility in what they may do with their dogs in regards to
conformation and working ability. United States Farm Dog
Registry is a working Border Collie registry that will allow
working dogs from any registry.
The breed was also recognised in 1982 by the American Kennel
Club (AKC) after occupying the AKC's Miscellaneous Class for
over fifty years. The recognition was under protest[15] from the
majority of Border Collie affiliated groups, such as the United
States Border Collie Club, which felt that emphasis on the
breed's working skills would be lost under AKC recognition. AKC
registrations have gradually increased since recognition and by
the year 2004 there were 1,984 new AKC registrations of Border
Collies, with a further 2,378 for the year 2005. By contrast,
the American Border Collie Association registers approximately
20,000 Border Collies annually.[16] Because of the inherent
tension between the goals of breeding to a working standard and
an appearance standard, the American Border Collie Association
voted in 2003 that dogs who attained a conformation championship
would be delisted from the ABCA registry, regardless of ability.
Cross-registration is allowed between the working registries,
and AKC accepts dogs registered with ABCA, AIBC and NASDS; but
none of the working registries in the U.S. honor AKC pedigrees,
except United States Farm Dog Registry, there they believe that
it is about actual work and not about the registry or politics.
Border collie jumping 6 foot at Wool Expo, Armidale, NSW
Border collie jumping 6 foot at Wool Expo, Armidale, NSW
In Australia, Border Collies are registered with an Australian
National Kennel Council (ANKC) affiliated state control body or
with a working dog registry. Between 2,011 and 2,701 ANKC
pedigreed Border Collies have been registered with the ANKC each
year since 1986.[17] Inclusion on the ANKC affiliate's main
register allows Border Collies to compete in conformation,
obedience, agility, tracking, herding and other ANKC-sanctioned
events held by an ANKC affiliated club, while inclusion on the
limited register prohibits entry in conformation events. The
ANKC provides a breed standard, however this applies to
conformation events only and has no influence on dogs entering
in performance events. Non-ANKC pedigreed dogs may also be
eligible for inclusion on an ANKC associate or sporting register
and be able to compete in ANKC performance or herding events.
Agility organisations such as the Agility Dog Association of
Australia (ADAA) have their own registry which allows the
inclusion of any dog wishing to compete in their events.
In Canada, Agriculture Canada has recognised the Canadian Border
Collie Association[18] as the registry under the Animal Pedigree
Act for any Border Collie that is designated as "Pure Breed" in
Canada. The criteria used is based on herding lineage rather
than appearance. It is a two-tiered registry in that dogs
imported that are registered with a foreign Kennel Club that
does hold conformation shows are given a "B" registration,
whereas those that come directly from other working registries
are placed on the "A" registry. Recently, the Canadian Kennel
Club has polled its members to decide if Border Collies should
be included on the CKC "Miscellaneous List". This designation
would allow Border Collie owners the ability to compete in all
CKC events, but the CKC would not be the registering body.
People who compete in performance events support the move. The
CBCA is against this designation.
The registration of working sheepdogs in South Africa is the
responsibility of the South African Sheepdog Association. ISDS
registered dogs imported into the country can be transferred
onto the SASDA register. Dogs not registered can become eligible
for registration by being awarded a certificate of working
ability by a registered judge. Occasionally they will facilitate
the testing of dogs, used for breeding, for Hip dysplasia and
Collie eye anomaly to encourage the breeding of dogs without
these genetic flaws.
Activities
Livestock work
Working border collies can take direction by voice and whistle
at long distances when herding. Their great energy and herding
instinct are still used to herd all kinds of animals, from the
traditional sheep and cattle, free range poultry, and pigs, and
ostriches. They are also used to remove unwanted wild birds from
airport runways, golf courses, and other public and private
areas.
The use of dogs for herding sheep makes good economic sense. In
a typical pasture environment each trained sheepdog will do the
work that it would take about three human individuals to do if
there were no dogs available. In vast arid areas like the
Australian Outback or the Karoo Escarpment, the number increases
to five or more. Attempts to replace them with mechanical
approaches to herding have only achieved a limited amount of
success. In general stock handlers find dogs more reliable and
more economical to run.
Shepherds in the UK have taken the most critical elements of
herding and incorporated them into a sheepdog trial. The first
recorded sheepdog trials were held in Bala, North Wales, in
1873. These competitions enable farmers and shepherds to
evaluate possible mates for their working dogs, but they have
developed a sport aspect as well, with competitors from outside
the farming community also taking part. In the USA, the national
sanctioning body for these competitions is the USBCHA.[19]. In
the UK it is the International Sheep Dog Society, in Canada the
Canadian Border Collie Association (CBCA)[20] and in South
Africa it is the South African Sheepdog Association.
Dog sports
Border Collies excel at several dog sports in addition to their
success in herding trials. They dominate the higher jump heights
at dog agility competitions, so much so that in England
competitions often include classes for ABC dogs, "Anything But
Collies". You will also see many Border Collies competing in
Flyball.
The Border Collie's speed, agility, stamina have allowed them to
dominate in up-and-coming dog activities like flyball and disc
dog competitions. Their trainability has also given them a berth
in dog dancing competitions.
Border Collies have a highly developed sense of smell and with
their high drive make excellent and easily motivated tracking
dogs for Tracking trials. These trials simulate the finding of a
lost person in a controlled situation where the performance of
the dog can be evaluated with titles awarded for successful
dogs. Because of this skill, Border Collies make excellent
Search and rescue dogs in both Lowland, Mountain, and Urban
areas.
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