BORDER COLLIES
"The Border Collie"
(An Article published by BCSA and reprinted with permission.)
Breed Characteristics
The herding ability of the Border Collie is
legendary.  Once you  have seen these dogs in
the field working sheep, you will never forget
the intelligence, eye, and motivation of this
exceptional breed.  Living with such a dog can
be challenging.  The Border Collie Society of
America offers its present and continuing
support.
As described in the Border Collie standard, the Border Collie is a well-balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance, displaying grace
and agility in equal measure with substance
and stamina.  His hard, muscular body has a
smooth outline which conveys the impression
of effortless movement and endless endurance,
characteristics which have made him the
world's premier sheep herding dog.  He is
energetic, alert, and eager.  Intelligence is his
hallmark.
The Border Collie is a workaholic, requiring
substantial mental as well as physical exercise.
That's the good news.  The bad news is that
these are the very traits that can make him
difficult to live with.  A fenced yard or enclosure
is important to keep your Border Collie safe.
Traffic is especially hazardous for this breed,
since the dogs tend to try to herd cars if not
carefully trained to avoid them.  A fenced yard
will not provide enough physical exercise, nor
will a walk around the block and a few tossed
balls.  Boredom is the source of many
behavioral and training problems.  A Border
Collie that is confined alone for long periods of
time tends to develop compulsive behaviors
such as chewing or digging.  He also may
become depressed.  This is not a dog that will
happily lie in a corner and watch the world go
by.  In addition to being intelligent and eager, as
a breed they can be quirky, inventive, strong-
willed, moody, independent, territorial, and
manipulative.  They are driven to participate in
as many family activities as possible.  It is up to
you to make this participation constructive.  Dog
performance activities such as herding, agility,
obedience, tracking, and flyball can help
provide the physical and mental exercise a
Border Collie requires.  Obviously very
appealing in a thirty second TV commercial,
this dynamo can be frustrating in a pet home
environment.
The Border Collie will herd anything that moves.
While chasing cars can be disastrous for the
dog, when misdirected towards children, the
Border Collie's herding instinct can be
problematic for the entire family.  If the Border
Collie decides that children are not obeying, he
might think that a nip is in order to discipline
them.  Most Border Collies react very quickly to
stimulation, which can make them extremely
sensitive to sudden sounds and movement.
They often find the noisy games older children
play disturbing and over-stimulating.
Training
While a well-trained and socialized Border
Collie makes a superb companion and working
partner, this does not happen by accident.
Many Border Collies tend to be uncertain and a
little spooky.  They need to be reassured that the
world at large is a fine place.  Although a certain
amount of firmness may be necessary, harsh
behavior on your part might tend to create a shy
and fearful dog.
All dogs should be trained to use a crate, as this
is the safest way to protect the dog and your
belongings when the dog is home alone or
unsupervised.  The safest way for the dog to ride
in a car is to be confined in a crate.  You should
attend Puppy Classes which are now available
in most cities in the United States.  Puppy
Classes provide a head start on the training
process.  They are an easy and pleasurable way
to socialize your puppy and to expose him to
new things in a safe setting.  More advanced
training will make him a welcome part of your
household and allow participation in many of
the exciting activities offered by the AKC and
other organizations.
Spay and Neuter
Breeding Border Collies is a tremendous
responsibility.  The breeder has in his hands the
future of the breed, both physical and mental.
Responsible breeders will evaluate their
breeding stock on the basis of herding ability,
temperament, structure, physical soundness,
and overall health.  The Border Collie is subject
to such genetic diseases as hip dysplasia, eye
disease, and epilepsy.  A predisposition to
allergies also occurs.  The breeder should have
researched pedigrees and checked that the
stock is free from genetic defects to the extent
possible with current technology.
Responsible breeders will have the time,
facilities, and finances to properly raise,
socialize, and provide health care for their
litters.  They investigate potential buyers and
educate new owners to understand Border
Collie needs and instincts.  They do their best to
make certain the dog and family are well suited
to each other.  Finally, they will take back, at any
time and without question, any pups they
breed, so that the dogs are not abandoned,
relinquished to shelters, or placed with rescue
organizations.
The Border Collie Society of America
recommends that any dog being considered for
breeding be not only of sound temperament
and structure, but also have achieved some
success in performance events, especially
herding.  The dog should be certified as being
free from hip dysplasia and eye disease.  For
the sake of their pet and the breed as a whole,
owners have a responsibility to spay or neuter
those Border Collies that do not meet the
highest standards for breeding.  Spaying and
neutering are both relatively simple procedures
and have positive health benefits.  Neutered
males and spayed females tend to live longer,
in part due to a lower risk for some cancers.
Neither procedure will cause the dog to gain
weight.  It may take the edge off of an
aggressive or anxious dog, but otherwise will
not change the dog's temperament.  The AKC
welcomes spayed and neutered dogs into all
herding, obedience, agility, tracking, and Junior
Showmanship events.
Once you have your Border Collie, feel free to
call your breeder if you have questions or
problems.  Chances are that the breeder has
encountered the same questions before and
will be able to help you.  Consult your
veterinarian when you encounter behavior
problems.  Often there is a physical cause.
The Border Collie Society of America will be
pleased to provide you with more information
about this remarkable breed.

For further information contact:

BORDER COLLIE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
c/o Georgia Thomas
P.O. Box 892
Fulshear, TX  77441-0892
BCSA WEB SITE
http://www.duke.edu/~awho/bc/bcsa.htm
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