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!The border collie originally
comes from Northumberland which is on the English/Scottish border.
It is a descendant of the old British droving breeds but also has
some spaniel in it. This dog is an incredible herder; it can
handle any type of herd. The border collie will crouch down on the
ground and give the animals an intense stare. Herding isn't all
this dog is used for though. It is used for drug and bomb
detection as well as search and rescue. Some are even used as
seeing-eye dogs.
The border collie is one of the most
trainable dogs out of all the breeds. They commonly perform in
obedience, Frisbee, flyball and agility trials. If you get this
dog, physical exercise will not be enough. They need something for
their mind to do as well as their body. They want to work and
carry out tasks. This is an extremely energetic dog.
This dog is also one of the most intelligent
breeds. They are really easy to train and do the best if you give
them lots of praise. When the dog is young it needs to be
socialized a lot so that it doesn't become shy. Most border
collies will get along fine with children and other dogs. If you
get this dog it will need almost constant attention, lots of daily
exercise and a task for it to do. This dog lives for serving its
owner and will not just lie around the house all day doing
nothing. If this breed gets bored, they can become destructive
while it looks for something to do.
If you live in an apartment you definitely
should not get this dog. They need to have lots of room to run and
play. Also, this dog should never be left alone for a long time or
they can become neurotic. You can't just ignore this breed; they
need attention all the time.
Border collies are usually pretty healthy
but some are prone to PRA, hip dysplasia, eye disease, allergies
to fleas, epilepsy and deafness. Most live to be around twelve to
fifteen years old.
The border collie needs to be brushed and
combed regularly to keep its coat healthy. You have to be careful
though when their undercoat sheds. They are considered to be an
average shedder. Only give them baths when it is necessary.
The most important thing to remember with
this dog is that it must have something to do. If you don't
provide activities for the dog, you will run into problems. If you
give the dog a task, make sure it gets lots of exercise and give
it plenty of attention, you will have a great pet. The border
collie absolutely loves to make its owner happy.
