The origins of the dog breed Border Collie are very old, in fact traces of its existence are already found in the treaties of the sixteenth century. It was towards the end of the eighteenth century, when sheep farming spread in larger and larger territories south of Scotland, that there was a need for a dog that had the characteristics of the Border Collie, a dog that was able to control the flocks of sheep. And it is precisely on the border between Scotland and Great Britain that we find the origins of this dog, whose first part of the name “Border” means border.
As for the second part of the name, “Collie” its origins are very controversial, according to some it would derive from “coleius” (faithful, in Welsh), according to others from “coley” (black), finally, according to a third hypothesis, from “colley”, a breed of Scottish sheep. Anyway this dog has been selected as a working dog, to guard sheep, but also other types of flocks or herds.
Today they are also used in other activities not related to the life of the fields, but of a recreational type, such as dog agility and flyball, or in important contexts such as rescue and anti-drug, anti-bomb and in search missions for missing persons. It is also a good guide dog for the blind.
This dog is still used today in flocks to control the sheep. In fact, nowadays the border collie can be considered the emblem of the world’s leading dog, both in the practice of sheepdog and in real sheep farming, it is the most used breed, for its intelligence, obedience and quickness of movement.
For its breeding there are two schools of thought, one that focuses on the aesthetic aspect, the other that focuses mainly on its working activities. In fact There are often phenotypic differences between the show dog and the working dog.
Character of the Border Collie dog breed
Border Collies are very docile dogs, prone to forming a very close bond with their owner and his family. Smart, alert, very sweet and good especially with children. It is one of the most intelligent dogs in the world but it risks becoming aggressive if it is not given the opportunity to let off steam outdoors. This is why it is better suited to life in the country, where it can work; in fact, this breed would need to keep itself always busy. It is not very suitable for living in an apartment.
Because of his herding instinct, he is protective of his family and territory and is an excellent guard dog. It is easy to train because it immediately understands what is asked of it, therefore it is suitable even for those who are at their first experience with dogs, however it needs great attention from its owner, who must try to engage it very often, even if only with the retrieval of a ball. He needs to move a lot and to be stimulated also at a mental level. In fact, according to research carried out by some psychologists, it seems that his brain is as developed as that of a 2 year old child, and that he can memorize over 1000 words in three years.
We must also consider that it is very smart and cunning, it loves and protects what it holds dear, both a herd and a family. In obedience or agility competitions he is unrivaled. Its great energy, if it is not channeled in the right way, can be vented with the classic damage done at home and it is also led to this by loneliness; it is not a dog that can be left alone for several hours a day.
This dog can be dominant and not very sociable towards other dogs, for this reason it must be accustomed to their presence since it is a puppy with a good socialization, to be started very early. In this way it can get along well with cats and other animals present in the house.
If socialized from an early age, it has no problems with strangers, unless it senses a danger, it usually welcomes strangers by wagging its tail and above all it is never aggressive.
Appearance of the Border Collie dog breed
The Border Collie is a medium sized dog; the height of males is about 55 cm and their weight ranges from 20 to 25 kg. Usually females are shorter and weigh less. It is very well-proportioned and has an athletic and harmonious appearance, resembling a less heavy Australian shepherd dog.
It is an agile and fast dog and also very resistant, its morphology is that of wolves. The body is slightly longer than high, the tail is moderately long, attached low, well provided with hairs, (usually longer than the rest of the body), which ends curved upwards. In action it can rise, but is never carried on the back.
The head has a broad skull and a strong muzzle, the ears are erect with the tip falling forward, the eyes are medium in size, oval in shape and can be of various colors depending on the coat, usually dark brown, but also hazel, amber and even blue.
The coat is short or semi-long, or even long and smooth, in any case dense and soft-textured. The colors are various: black and white, red and white, black and gray, single-color black and tricolor. It has a compact and dense undercoat.
Care and Health of the Border Collie Dog Breed
The Border Collie is a very robust breed and generally has few health problems. The most frequently encountered diseases are eye disease, dysplasia and epilepsy. It has a life expectancy of about 14 years.
Like all dogs that have a very active temperament, the Border Collie tends to put on weight if he does not do the necessary exercise or has a very sedentary life, he must eat healthy and in a way that is balanced to his size and lifestyle.
As far as the care of the coat is concerned, it is easy to maintain as long as it is brushed a couple of times a week, and more than anything else with those with long hair where the hair tends to tangle a little, it is necessary to act a little more.
