Border Collie

The Border Collie is a very hardy breed, generally with few health problems. However, as with many breeds, they can suffer from hereditary eye disorders and hip dysplasia (a condition that can lead to mobility problems). Eye testing and hip scoring of dogs prior to breeding is therefore important. Epilepsy is also relatively common in the breed.

With their need to be busy and their great desire to please, the Border Collie thrives on training, which is a great way of exercising their mind and body. They are like a gift from heaven for those wanting to compete in dog sports such as obedience, agility, flyball, freestyle or herding trials. Failure to exercise them can result in the Border developing behavioural problems or making them difficult to live with. For an adult, two hours-plus of daily exercise is needed, along with mental stimulation.

This is very much a rural dog who needs space for their extensive exercise and training requirements. The urban life is often way too stimulating for a Border Collie as they prefer a quiet country life.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

In both the medium-length and smooth variety, the top coat is dense and the undercoat thick and soft. With the longer-haired coat, there is a noticeable mane around the neck and shoulders. The coat is easy to maintain, providing it is brushed a couple of times a week for the medium-length and once a week for the smooth variety and any tangles dealt with on a regular basis.

A Border Collie needs training and lots of it. They thrive with a job to do and are a hyper-intelligent breed whose need to work must be appropriately challenged to prevent them getting themselves into trouble. They are also sensitive dogs who need reward-based training and a way to channel their instinctive desire to please their owner.

Try and find a class who understands this breed and who offers training in agility, obedience or other canine sports. For owners who understand the requirements of this breed, they are unbeatable and will shine in every dog training class and amaze everyone with their skills and behaviour, as well as be a joy to own.

Due to their intelligence, this is an easy dog to train – but potential owners shouldn’t mistake ‘easy to train’ for naturally well behaved! By nature, the Border Collie is often a relentless herder, and so will try and round up children, other pets and indeed anything and everything they can find. A Border Collie who is not given a suitable outlet for their passion for work can resort to undesirable behaviour such as aggression, destructive behaviour, nuisance barking and be totally manic around the house.

While Border Collies can live with sensible dog-friendly children, they are not a great family dog as they are way too active and can find children overly stimulating, leading to behaviour problems and even nips, or else want to herd them and their friends!

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.