Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Pets Feed
The border collie is considered the most intelligent dog in the world, according to Stanley Coren, professor and researcher in neuropsychology of the famous book “The intelligence of dogs”, published in 1994. The border collie is a breed of dog which is distinguished by his great ability to learn in different areas: basic obedience, advanced dog, canine skills, grazing or agility among others.
But beyond its intelligence, the border collie stands out from other dog breeds for the strong bond it creates with its owners, its remarkable beauty and its predisposition to physical exercise. Although the border collie dog is not a suitable breed for everyone, it is a dog with many qualities that deserve to be known, especially if we are big dog lovers.
| Breed name | Border collie |
| Country of origin | England |
| Weight | 15 – 22 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 47 – 52 cm |
| Life expectancy | 12 – 15 years |
| Size | Medium |
Border Collie photos
Physical characteristics
Border Collies are proportionate and medium in size. They are graceful dogs, but strong and muscular. The size of the Border Collie varies by gender. The height of the female is 47-52 cm, the males are larger – they reach a height at the withers of 50-53 cm, and the weight of an adult border collie does not exceed 15-22 kg.
Distinctive features
- Head: The head is proportional to the size of the body. The skull is moderately wide. The occiput is weakly expressed. Judgment expressed. The length of the muzzle corresponds to the length of the skull. The muzzle tapers from the base to the nose.
- Jaws: Scissor bite. The teeth are strong with straight incisors.
- Ears: The ears are medium in size, curved or semi-curved, depending on the mood. Tied high and at a great distance from each other.
- Eyes: The eyes are oval and of medium size. Placed at a great distance from each other. Color – brown, rarely blue.
- Frame: The body is long. The chest is voluminous. The belly is turned up, but not skinny. The back is strong, arched.
- Limbs: The legs are placed in parallel. The front is straight, the back slightly curved. The paws are oval, the fingers are collected in a dense mass. Strong, dark nails.
- Coat: The coat is a thick, soft and dense undercoat. Color: black, beige, red. The predominant white color is considered a defect.
Character and behavior
Border collies can run around all day, they just follow the owner’s commands. Good instinct and fearlessness make them vigilant watchmen. They can be trusted to guard the house, but this collie won’t become an evil guard dog. Border collies get along well with other pets, even cats or rodents. Become a leader for them, go graze and protect.
By nature, the dog is friendly, affectionate, very loyal. he likes to watch the owner, accompany him everywhere, because he is very curious. But it will never be imposed, not subject to a violent manifestation of emotions.
With children
Border Collies are great with children. The dog will be a nanny for the little ones, she is not afraid to entrust a child. The dog will be happy to play outdoor games with teenagers.
With other animals
The border collie gets along well with other animals, the dog makes friends with a cat, birds or rodents. This dog will subdue all the animals in the house and round them up. Problems can arise with other dogs, as not all breeds are ready to submit and accept the leadership of the Border Collie.
Health
In recent years, the Border Collie dog has become increasingly popular and excessive, which has led many illegal individuals and breeders to significantly increase the population of this breed, without having the necessary knowledge to ensure proper rearing. puppies.
All this has had a very negative impact on the breed, causing an increase in hereditary diseases and the appearance of certain behavioral problems, mostly related to aggression and fear.
- The health problems that affect the most the breed is:
- Ocular abnormality of the collie.
- Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome.
- Lipofuscinosis or storage disease.
- Ocular abnormality of Colley.
- Multidrug resistance gene.
- Imerlund-Gräsbeck syndrome.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Epilepsy
In order to avoid them and to detect them in time, it is recommended to regularly consult the veterinarian, to follow the schedule of the obligatory vaccinations and to deparasitate the dog internally and externally.
Life expectancy
The average life expectancy of a Border Collie is between 10 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed with a good quality diet, adapted to his age.
Care
The Border Collie dog breed has a long, thick coat that needs to be brushed 2-3 times a week. Some owners even sew socks from this wool, they are very warm and pleasant to the touch.
The eyes should be cleaned of deposits daily and the ears should be kept clean.
Bathe the dog once or twice a month. Keep in mind that the Border Collie breed is sensitive to sun and heat.
Exercise
Because of its need to be busy and its great desire to please, The Border Collie likes to train. It’s a great way to exercise your mind and body. They are like a gift for those who wish to participate in competitions of obedience, agility, ball recovery, freestyle and grazing.
Lack of exercise can cause the dog to behave very badly and to be aggressive. An adult needs at least two hours a day of exercise.Fun Facts
- This breed occupies the first position in the classification of Stanley Coren on the intelligence of dogs. Although the study analyzes a dog’s obedience after several repetitions of an order, not intelligence as such, it is true that the border collie has a unique ability to understand an order and obey him in less than 5 repetitions, with a 95% success rate in compliance.
- The border collie is one of the best dogs for the practice of Agility, a sport based on obedience from a distance where it can also eliminate a good part of its contained energy.
- The popularity of the border collie has been increased thanks to Queen Victoria’s penchant for this breed, as she had several specimens. This is why border collie records in the UK and Ireland have skyrocketed for a long time.
- The Border Collie is capable of walking up to 70-80 kilometers per day, there have been cases when the dog ran more than 80 kilometers per day.
- According to scientific research, the intelligence of the border collie is at the level of a three-year-old child.
- Borders are unusually hardworking dogs. They are able to work without rest for about 12 hours a day.
- The most intelligent dog among all dogs in the whole world was proclaimed the Border Collie named Rico.
History of the breed
Although the origin of the border collie dog breed is somewhat uncertain, it is known that it has developed and officially recognized in the British Isles. Some archaeological remains found indicate that the direct ancestors of certain breeds of dogs, including the border collie, arrived in the British Isles between the 5th and 1st century BC by the hand of Celtic tribes. In fact, it is suspected that their name could come from the language of these communities, because “collie” means “useful” in Gaelic.
These tribes settled in Ireland, but the border collie that we know today developed between Scotland and England. Celtic dogs were bred with dogs from the United Kingdom, giving way to several types of collie dogs, such as the Bearded collie, one of the direct predecessors of border collie dogs.
In fact, its name literally means “border collie” by establishments located between the borders of Scotland and England. Already at that time stood out as a sheepdog to guide the cattle, work that still plays today for his agility and his intelligence.
It was not until the 20th century that various dog organizations, such as the Fédération Cynologique Internationale or the Kennel Club, began to recognize the border collie dog breed in an official and standardized manner.
