Border Basics |
Q. Are Border Collies hyper? A. Like most subjective questions, the answer depends on what you consider hyper. Border Collies are a herding breed (is there anyone alive who doesn't know that?) and a herding dog is expected to be able to move with the flock all day long. In the border country of Great Britain a dog might go out with the flock in the spring and not come back to the sheep pens till months later. That takes some energy and stamina. Today most people want Border Collies as pets and don't want a dog who is constantly demanding high-energy interaction. Left alone or ignored, a dog like that becomes destructive out of boredom. But not all Border Collies are high-strung and constantly on the move. Your Border Collies' temperament is partly a genetic expression of its parents' temperaments, combined with the environment the dog was raised in and how much unsupervised activity you allow the growing pup to engage in. Many Border Collie bloodlines in the United States were bred for strong herding and prey drive. Strong is something of an understatement here! These dogs are nearly impossible to live with unless one is an Edgar Allen Poe fan. The locked-on stare of your dog, tensed at your feet, trembling with anticipation of your next millionth Frisbee throw can be a little wearing on the nerves. Rather like Poe's beating of the Tell Tale Heart. Thankfully, not all Border Collies are like that. Black Rock Border Collies are bred to be steady, biddable, and willing companions; as content to lie asleep at your feet, as to take a quiet walk in the woods, as to go for a three-mile run. Q. Is it true that Border Collies are the smartest of all breeds? A. I'm certainly a smart enough breeder not to answer "no" to that question! Q. What kinds of medical problems do Border Collies typically have? A. Like most dogs, Border Collie medical problems can range from epilepsy and diabetes to heart disease. But thankfully, these cases are not the rule. The breed has other problems that are just as serious however, and you will want to be sure your breeder has screened for the more common and genetically linked diseases. Genetic traits such as hip dysplasia and Collie Eye Anomaly are common. Ask to see the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or Penn Hip certificates of both sire and dam, and the Canine Eye Research Foundation certificates of both sire and dam prior to purchasing any animal. Other diseases such as Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CL, sometimes called Border Collie Rage) and Trap Neutrophile Syndrome require the heartbreaking decision to euthanize your pet. So failing to inquire about them is a serious oversight. Responsible breeders have done in-depth pedigree research prior to breeding a litter and are familiar with the risk factors, if any, for these diseases. Ask your breeder what heriditary risks are in their breeding bloodlines! After all, even a pet quality dog should be healthy. For more information about inherited diseases in the Border Collie, click on the "It's in the Genes" link on the home page. Q. Are Border Collies easy to train? A. Most Border Collies are very easy to train and eager to learn. And, while you can teach an old dog new tricks, the training will be best absorbed if applied during the early months of life - beginning at two months of age. Association with unusual noises, surfaces, routines, and a plethora of different people will lead to a confident, outgoing, and trustworthy companion for the many years to come. Untrained, a Border Collie soon learns tricks on its own -- tricks you may wish it didn't have time to think about like fence jumping, barking at falling leaves, and tunneling to China. Q. How long do Border Collies live? A. A general rule of thumb is - the bigger the dog, the shorter the life span. Border Collies are ever so slightly smaller than Australian Shepherds -- in the middle of the dog-size spectrum. Assuming no genetic or congenital complications and taking into account the many environmental factors that can lead to chronic and acute diseases, your Border Collie should still be healthy and active on its 12th birthday. Many Border Collies will live much longer; 15 years is not uncommon. |
