To adopt a dog in your home, it is essential to know all the care it needs. It is the only way to know if you are prepared to keep him in good health and take responsibility for his education. All breeds have particularities, as is the case of the border collie, which in fact is a dog that is not suitable for any home, so it is important to delve into its basic needs before welcoming it home.
There are so many dog breeds that it is normal to ignore the more specific physical, psychological and social care of some of them. If you want to adopt a border collie in your family, try to know everything about this breed before making a final decision. To discover what the care of a border collie is , its origin and basic characteristics, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you continue reading this article.
You may also be interested in: How to know if a border collie is pure
Index
- Origin and history of the border collie
- Border Collie Characteristics
- border collie health
- border collie feeding
- border collie exercise
- border collie hygiene
- Education and socialization of the border collie
Origin and history of the border collie
The Border Collie, as it is known today, originated in Northumberland , an area located on the border between England and Scotland. Its name is due to this location: Border (Frontier) and Collie (Useful). In the 1860s the breed gained popularity due to the need for agile, robust and highly intelligent dogs that were quick learners and with the ability to work long hours in herds in mountainous and rocky terrain.
Shows became fashionable and Collies quickly entered this world. Of the Collies that the shepherds had, some puppies went to the exhibitions and the shepherds could not continue raising dogs with a double purpose: work and show. For this reason, at the beginning of the 20th century there was a separation between show Collies and working Collies . The shepherds raised the breed enhancing its working capacity and those intended for exhibitions were raised giving greater importance to their physical appearance and family character.
Herding and sheepdog agility competitions helped establish a modern Border Collie heritage through selective breeding. In this program, the quality of the characteristic ‘eye’ of the Border Collie was selected and its capacity and style of work, agility and durability , characteristic aspects of this canine breed, were highlighted.
Border Collie Characteristics
Among the most outstanding characteristics of the border collie is its great intelligence , which translates into a great capacity for concentration , agility for learning processes and obedience. It is an affectionate, vigilant, alert, docile and sociable dog with other animals and with people.
It is a very curious and grazing dog , so it needs a lot of physical activity and a wide space to develop it. Another important aspect that distinguishes him is an enormous loyalty towards his family, whom he sees as his group or commands and will always bravely accompany, thus establishing a strong emotional bond. Of course, it is easier for it to happen with just one person or two than with all the members of the family if there are many.
Taking into account the characteristics of these dogs, it must be understood that living in the countryside or in large places where they can get their energy is the best thing for them. In addition, for this reason and because they are herding dogs, they do not usually get along very well living in the middle of big cities , where too many things move at different speeds and these dogs cannot order, guide or manage these objects, people and other animals. they will not listen to them. Thus, a herding dog with this high level of activity can become frustrated and have a lot of stress and anxiety in this situation. For this reason, it is vital to learn about these dogs and know what we can offer them and what we cannotto determine if they are suitable to live with us and our lifestyle or not (or if we and our lifestyle are really the most suitable for them).
border collie health
Like all dogs, whether purebred or mestizo, the border collie needs to go through regular veterinary check -ups. In addition, it is essential that you take him to the vet to comply with his vaccination and deworming program .
It is a dog that is generally in good health, but with a genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia, eye diseases and neurological disorders . Therefore, frequent visits to the veterinarian are the most effective way to prevent or quickly detect any of these pathologies. Here you can read about How to know if my dog has hip dysplasia .
border collie feeding
The border collie’s energy needs are quite high, so its diet is based on a nutritious and energetic feed . High percentages of meat and fish for protein and vitamins are necessary to cover all your nutritional needs.
This breed can have a delicate stomach, so it is important to find a feed that suits it so that it does not cause discomfort and vomiting due to its stomach sensitivity. For this reason, natural feed is usually better digested by the border collie. The absence or minimal amounts of gluten and cereals also favor good digestion.
For this reason, there are also those who choose to prepare natural food for the border collie , either completely homemade or with several of the options that are on the market today, beyond feed.
border collie exercise
The border collie needs to take daily walks , at least 3 times a day, for at least 40 minutes. In any of these outings, try to let him run so that he can exercise intensely and channel the accumulated energy. A lack of exercise and loneliness at home causes negative consequences in their behavior, falling into frustration and insecurity, leading to problems such as separation anxiety, constant howling and barking, breaking things at home.
If it is difficult for you to take three daily walks of 40 minutes, distribute the routine of at least one hour a day of exercise to satisfy the physical needs of your furry little one. It is also important to stimulate their mind , since they are very intelligent and can easily learn almost anything (some learn by themselves just by observing their environment), so it is vital to teach them tricks, commands and other physical and mental activities .
We encourage you to read these other articles on How to bike with my dog and How to exercise with my dog at home .
border collie hygiene
It is a dog with short or medium-long hair with a double coat that needs to be combed at least twice a week. Even so, it is best to brush it daily by combining a carding brush and a soft one .
Border collies should only be bathed when they are really dirty , never daily or weekly. You have to think that the border collir is a grazing dog and does not need much care in this regard. To bathe him, use a specific shampoo for dogs to avoid damaging the pH of his skin and fur. Here we clarify more about a common question on this topic: Can I bathe my dog with my shampoo?
Education and socialization of the border collie
Due to its great intelligence and obedience, the education of the border collie is a process that can be agile but it is still complex, that is, it is convenient to know what we are doing and, therefore, it is usually better to attend some sessions or classes. You will learn new commands with little repetition . So that he does not get bored during learning and so that it is really optimal and a good experience, bet on positive reinforcement and on activities that are attractive to him, such as running with pets, herding sheep, agility or looking for Lost objects.
Regarding its socialization, it is a sociable dog with people and other animals , but in adulthood it can be more shy and reserved. For him to have a balanced character, it is important to start the socialization process as a puppy , maintaining positive contact with other people and animals. In this way, your border collie will be friendly and trusting also in adulthood. Here are some tips on how to socialize a puppy with adult dogs and people
