The Border Collie was born in the British Isles
and grew to maturity in the border country of
England and Scotland. There are several theories
surrounding the derivation of the "Collie" portion of
his name, but no doubt as to his purpose in life. Some
historians claim that "colley" derives from a Gaelic
word meaning something useful, some say it comes
from "coalie," a word meaning black, and a third
source trace the meaning from the name of a breed
of Scottish sheep. But few would disagree that the
Border Collie is the finest sheepherding dog, a
marvelous competition dog, and a suitable if
somewhat hyperactive pet for lively households.
The British Isles are home to about three dozen
breeds of sheep. These animals had to be brought in
from the fields periodically for shearing or driving to
market or moved from one field to another as the
seasons changed. Several breeds -- Smooth and
Rough-coated Collies, Bearded Collies, Old English
Sheepdogs, Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis,
Shetland Sheepdogs -- developed to do these tasks,
but none is as fanatically dedicated as the Border.
and grew to maturity in the border country of
England and Scotland. There are several theories
surrounding the derivation of the "Collie" portion of
his name, but no doubt as to his purpose in life. Some
historians claim that "colley" derives from a Gaelic
word meaning something useful, some say it comes
from "coalie," a word meaning black, and a third
source trace the meaning from the name of a breed
of Scottish sheep. But few would disagree that the
Border Collie is the finest sheepherding dog, a
marvelous competition dog, and a suitable if
somewhat hyperactive pet for lively households.
The British Isles are home to about three dozen
breeds of sheep. These animals had to be brought in
from the fields periodically for shearing or driving to
market or moved from one field to another as the
seasons changed. Several breeds -- Smooth and
Rough-coated Collies, Bearded Collies, Old English
Sheepdogs, Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis,
Shetland Sheepdogs -- developed to do these tasks,
but none is as fanatically dedicated as the Border.
Donald McCaig, farmer, Border Collie
owner, and author, describes succinctly
and colorfully the Border Collie style in
Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men:
"A Border Collie moves livestock by controlled
intimidation. He pushes them along with a
threatening glare. This glare is called 'eye' and
is probably related to the wolves' tactic of
selecting a victim in the herd by catching its
eye and asserting dominance before starting
the attack run."
Today the Border Collie is one of the few
breeds that is still used for his traditional
purpose in his homeland and in the US. The US
Border Collie Club is dedicated to maintaining
the breed's skill as a shepherd's dog; many club
members depend on their dogs to tend the
flocks and many train their dogs to compete in
herding tests and trials to prove their prowess.
owner, and author, describes succinctly
and colorfully the Border Collie style in
Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men:
"A Border Collie moves livestock by controlled
intimidation. He pushes them along with a
threatening glare. This glare is called 'eye' and
is probably related to the wolves' tactic of
selecting a victim in the herd by catching its
eye and asserting dominance before starting
the attack run."
Today the Border Collie is one of the few
breeds that is still used for his traditional
purpose in his homeland and in the US. The US
Border Collie Club is dedicated to maintaining
the breed's skill as a shepherd's dog; many club
members depend on their dogs to tend the
flocks and many train their dogs to compete in
herding tests and trials to prove their prowess.
The workaholic dog
with a strong desire
to please his owner.
with a strong desire
to please his owner.
BORDER COLLIES – GOTTA LOVE
‘EM, QUIRKS AND ALL
written by Janet Legg of Border Collie Rescue
in Washington and Oregon
What is a Border Collie, you ask? Well, here are
my personal observations:
BORDER COLLIES are incredibly wonderful
-- The Best dog on the planet. They are very
wise souls who can look at your face and get
into your head. They are extremely
affectionate, and are known to stand up on
hind legs to wrap their front legs around your
neck and lie their head on your shoulders
against your cheek... no question, it’s a hug.
They read your body language and know
way ahead of time if you are "thinking" of
walking to the park or taking a drive, or simply
gonna take a "nap".
‘EM, QUIRKS AND ALL
written by Janet Legg of Border Collie Rescue
in Washington and Oregon
What is a Border Collie, you ask? Well, here are
my personal observations:
BORDER COLLIES are incredibly wonderful
-- The Best dog on the planet. They are very
wise souls who can look at your face and get
into your head. They are extremely
affectionate, and are known to stand up on
hind legs to wrap their front legs around your
neck and lie their head on your shoulders
against your cheek... no question, it’s a hug.
They read your body language and know
way ahead of time if you are "thinking" of
walking to the park or taking a drive, or simply
gonna take a "nap".
They love their toys and will gather them all up
into a pile for play or checking over carefully. I
have heard of Borders who "Clean Up" putting all
their toys back into the toy box in the evening.
They will watch television, especially Animal
Planet when there is whistling and barking going on,
or owners issuing commands to their dogs. All the
Border Collies stop what they are doing and watch
the television when I show the "Breed All About
It - Border Collie" video, obviously recognizing the
command-whistles and the sheep moving across the
fields... as well as the excited dog barking during
Flyball and Agility.
They usually either totally ignore other dogs
or get along famously well, but their main focus
is usually their people... not other dogs. They listen
intently and respond quickly to human demands.
They want a job to do and look back to Dad to tell
them to "go left" "go right" or "go faster... “go
slower". They love taking direction.
T
into a pile for play or checking over carefully. I
have heard of Borders who "Clean Up" putting all
their toys back into the toy box in the evening.
They will watch television, especially Animal
Planet when there is whistling and barking going on,
or owners issuing commands to their dogs. All the
Border Collies stop what they are doing and watch
the television when I show the "Breed All About
It - Border Collie" video, obviously recognizing the
command-whistles and the sheep moving across the
fields... as well as the excited dog barking during
Flyball and Agility.
They usually either totally ignore other dogs
or get along famously well, but their main focus
is usually their people... not other dogs. They listen
intently and respond quickly to human demands.
They want a job to do and look back to Dad to tell
them to "go left" "go right" or "go faster... “go
slower". They love taking direction.
T
They are incredibly versatile, more so than
any other breed I know. They can be
extraordinary sheepherders, or an Agility or
Flyball competitor like no other; and a terrific
Frisbee catcher. They can also be a water
retriever ("get the duck") or a Pointer ("show me,
where is it?"). They can be a boatman, a tracker
(Search and Rescue), a hiking, jogging or camping
companion. I mean VERSATILE. They do not
ever say "NO THANKS" or "I CAN'T" but usually
tell you "Let's do it, show me what you want".
They are forever eager to learn and do new
things.
They are the best athletes available. No other
dog can beat them at sheep herding or at Agility
or Flyball. Coordination? Oh yes, very
coordinated! They can turn on a dime, leap
high in the air then land on their feet like
a cat. They are fast - like lightning.
any other breed I know. They can be
extraordinary sheepherders, or an Agility or
Flyball competitor like no other; and a terrific
Frisbee catcher. They can also be a water
retriever ("get the duck") or a Pointer ("show me,
where is it?"). They can be a boatman, a tracker
(Search and Rescue), a hiking, jogging or camping
companion. I mean VERSATILE. They do not
ever say "NO THANKS" or "I CAN'T" but usually
tell you "Let's do it, show me what you want".
They are forever eager to learn and do new
things.
They are the best athletes available. No other
dog can beat them at sheep herding or at Agility
or Flyball. Coordination? Oh yes, very
coordinated! They can turn on a dime, leap
high in the air then land on their feet like
a cat. They are fast - like lightning.
Although they can and will nag owners to
"throw the ball, Daddy, throw the ball" until
heck freezes over, the dogs can learn a simple
command such as "enough is enough already". "Quit
now". "Lie down" and be peaceful and quiet. And the
good news is you don't have to nag, but simply say it
one time (say what you mean and mean what you say).
The Borders can lie for hours at your feet while you
compute or watch television, but are forever
watching and waiting for you to “go”.
They love to go -- anywhere and everywhere. They
love to be with you, even if it isn't anywhere exciting
or great. They just have to be near you. They will even
lie down in the bathroom while you shower and shave,
wagging their tails whenever you make eye contact.
"throw the ball, Daddy, throw the ball" until
heck freezes over, the dogs can learn a simple
command such as "enough is enough already". "Quit
now". "Lie down" and be peaceful and quiet. And the
good news is you don't have to nag, but simply say it
one time (say what you mean and mean what you say).
The Borders can lie for hours at your feet while you
compute or watch television, but are forever
watching and waiting for you to “go”.
They love to go -- anywhere and everywhere. They
love to be with you, even if it isn't anywhere exciting
or great. They just have to be near you. They will even
lie down in the bathroom while you shower and shave,
wagging their tails whenever you make eye contact.
If a person wants a dog that they can put in
the back yard for TEN hours a day, to leave
alone 24-7 -- or only allowing them indoors at
night, a dog that never gets out of its own
backyard, never played with or talked to, is
never made to think and do, is never trained,
a dog they can pet only occasionally and toss
down food for...
the Border Collie is DEFINITELY NOT THE
DOG FOR THEM. They should get some
other breed rather than a Border Collie. Or
Better Yet? Get a dog statue to put in the
yard to look at occasionally. Or get a
furry-fuzzy stuffed toy. Don't get ANY
LIVING BREATHING dog.
the back yard for TEN hours a day, to leave
alone 24-7 -- or only allowing them indoors at
night, a dog that never gets out of its own
backyard, never played with or talked to, is
never made to think and do, is never trained,
a dog they can pet only occasionally and toss
down food for...
the Border Collie is DEFINITELY NOT THE
DOG FOR THEM. They should get some
other breed rather than a Border Collie. Or
Better Yet? Get a dog statue to put in the
yard to look at occasionally. Or get a
furry-fuzzy stuffed toy. Don't get ANY
LIVING BREATHING dog.
They learn extremely quickly. Just show them
once, they will remember. Sometimes one single mild
correction is enough to never see that behavior ever
occur again. They are sensitive and get their
feelings hurt often when corrected even just
verbally. They may pout, hang their head, and
lie flat on the ground, sad and dejected,
appearing inconsolable. And they remember!
(They do accept apologies eventually.) But don’t give
in to their sad-sack look and allow them to test the
rules.
They stay home. They are not big wanderers, but
prefer to be home bodies (at least if they like their
home and are getting good care and adequate
exercise).
once, they will remember. Sometimes one single mild
correction is enough to never see that behavior ever
occur again. They are sensitive and get their
feelings hurt often when corrected even just
verbally. They may pout, hang their head, and
lie flat on the ground, sad and dejected,
appearing inconsolable. And they remember!
(They do accept apologies eventually.) But don’t give
in to their sad-sack look and allow them to test the
rules.
They stay home. They are not big wanderers, but
prefer to be home bodies (at least if they like their
home and are getting good care and adequate
exercise).
They can be protective of their home and
family--Sometimes good, sometimes not so
good. They can and will bite, and anyone who
states “my dog would never bite" is completely
wrong. ANY dog will bite under the right
circumstances. The Borders tend to give a quick nip
and often not cause a rip-and-tear wound. But biting
should be promptly and always corrected, never
allowed to occur. Never encourage the dog to
protect aggressively, unless trained using Schutzhund
or other valid controlled protective training
program. An announcing bark is adequate for most
family dogs, followed by encouragement to “make
friends”.
Ah ha. Barking. My favorite thing about Border
Collies -- They tend to be silent. Barking is not all
that common in the breed (unless bored, frustrated,
ignored, kenneled, neglected). They were bred to
move sheep through the fields without uttering a
sound - silent at all times. They give "the eye"
instead... which says everything the sheep need to
"hear". "Move you dang woolies! Move to the right!"
family--Sometimes good, sometimes not so
good. They can and will bite, and anyone who
states “my dog would never bite" is completely
wrong. ANY dog will bite under the right
circumstances. The Borders tend to give a quick nip
and often not cause a rip-and-tear wound. But biting
should be promptly and always corrected, never
allowed to occur. Never encourage the dog to
protect aggressively, unless trained using Schutzhund
or other valid controlled protective training
program. An announcing bark is adequate for most
family dogs, followed by encouragement to “make
friends”.
Ah ha. Barking. My favorite thing about Border
Collies -- They tend to be silent. Barking is not all
that common in the breed (unless bored, frustrated,
ignored, kenneled, neglected). They were bred to
move sheep through the fields without uttering a
sound - silent at all times. They give "the eye"
instead... which says everything the sheep need to
"hear". "Move you dang woolies! Move to the right!"
Any dog will mess up your house. The bigger
the dog, the bigger the damage. The only
difference with Border Collies is the speed that
they create the horrible mess (the speed of light).
Ripped up carpeting, linoleum, torn drapes and
blinds, chewed cabinets, chewed door moldings,
drywall destroyed creating a walk thru to other
rooms or the outdoors, even broken windows or
sliding glass doors. Although this is a worst-case
scenario and not every dog will make a mess every
time you leave – but these things do happen.
Better safe than sorry - confine the dog securely
and safely when you leave – followed by reward for
being good when you return
.Border Collies are extremely sight and
sound sensitive. They see things that move even
slightly (you may not see). They hear things barely
audible (you may not hear or notice). Many other
breeds ignore sights and sounds that Border
Collies simply cannot ignore.
the dog, the bigger the damage. The only
difference with Border Collies is the speed that
they create the horrible mess (the speed of light).
Ripped up carpeting, linoleum, torn drapes and
blinds, chewed cabinets, chewed door moldings,
drywall destroyed creating a walk thru to other
rooms or the outdoors, even broken windows or
sliding glass doors. Although this is a worst-case
scenario and not every dog will make a mess every
time you leave – but these things do happen.
Better safe than sorry - confine the dog securely
and safely when you leave – followed by reward for
being good when you return
.Border Collies are extremely sight and
sound sensitive. They see things that move even
slightly (you may not see). They hear things barely
audible (you may not hear or notice). Many other
breeds ignore sights and sounds that Border
Collies simply cannot ignore.
Things that can cause a Border Collie to act
fearful, aggressive or simply obsessive are: shadows
(moving lights), flying or crawling bugs, air movement,
vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, toaster (it dinged and
popped!!!), rustling paper or tin foil, a human cough or
a sneeze, crying or laughing, let alone thunder &
lightning, gunshots and the 4th of July fireworks.
Most Border Collies display SOME but not all
of such quirks in their personality. But Border
Collie owners learn to live with them and even find
them humorous. Owners learn to accept these quirks
as part of the BC charm and personality, even if they
are not preferred. They simply learn to love these dogs
so deeply that “so what if the toaster ding sends the
poor dog running to the back of the house in a panic?”
Commitment: Only very seriously committed
dog owners should consider getting a Border
Collie. Committed to providing adequate daily
exercise, as well as training, fun activities and
regular communication. They love time spent
with their family.
fearful, aggressive or simply obsessive are: shadows
(moving lights), flying or crawling bugs, air movement,
vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, toaster (it dinged and
popped!!!), rustling paper or tin foil, a human cough or
a sneeze, crying or laughing, let alone thunder &
lightning, gunshots and the 4th of July fireworks.
Most Border Collies display SOME but not all
of such quirks in their personality. But Border
Collie owners learn to live with them and even find
them humorous. Owners learn to accept these quirks
as part of the BC charm and personality, even if they
are not preferred. They simply learn to love these dogs
so deeply that “so what if the toaster ding sends the
poor dog running to the back of the house in a panic?”
Commitment: Only very seriously committed
dog owners should consider getting a Border
Collie. Committed to providing adequate daily
exercise, as well as training, fun activities and
regular communication. They love time spent
with their family.
Please take the time to learn
before you plan on a purchase or
adoption. Thanks the Dog....
before you plan on a purchase or
adoption. Thanks the Dog....
[Do I Really Want a Border Collie?]
Before you make the decision to get a Border Collie, you
should consider all of the following points carefully. After
reading through this admonition and educating yourself on
the breed from other sources, if you still feel like you can
handle this breed and enjoy living the "Border Collie"
lifestyle, we encourage you to seek out a rescue dog. The
following are some very important questions that you
should ask yourself before you decide to get a Border
Collie, along with their corresponding answers. Though
these are wonderful dogs, they certainly are not for
everyone.
What is a Border Collie?
Border Collies are the fanatical black and white dogs that
have been bred to herd sheep. They come in an
assortment of sizes and colors, though they generally
range from about 30 to 60 pounds and their "typical"
markings are black with a white collar, chest, head stripe
(blaze), paws, and tail tip.
These markings are only the perceived "typical" markings,
as Border Collies also come in red/white, black/red/white
("tri"s), blue merle, red merle, mostly white, tan and black,
brindle, sable, and mostly black varieties. They are quite
commonly seen in television ads and Hollywood films (the
dogs in the movie "Babe", for example, were Border
Collies). They are known for their incredible herding
instinct and their keen intelligence.
What exactly is "herding instinct"?
The herding instinct in Border Collies is a behavioral trait
that has been bred "into them" over the past two hundred
years or so. What many people fail to realize, even
long-standing Border Collie owners, is that the herding
instinct is simply a modified version of the killing instinct of
wolves. The instinct has been toned down somewhat
through selective breeding. In fact, the instinct has not
been bred "into them" but rather, "out of them". Border
Collies retain the circling and gathering instinct so vital in
hunting wolf packs but refrain from actually going in and
making the final "kill".
Rogue dogs however, are not uncommon, and in many
European countries, Australia and New Zealand, where
the dogs are often allowed to roam free, sheep and
calf-killing Border Collies can pose occassional threats to
livestock. Many people say that once a Border Collie has
tasted blood, they can never be trusted again and
normally, the dogs are summarily exterminated.
The instinct to herd in Border Collies evidences itself
differently than in most other herding dogs. Whereas most
breeds of herding dogs drive the livestock away from the
handler, Border Collies circle the livestock at the far end
and bring them back to the handler (known as "gathering"
or "fetching"). Additionally, Border Collies tend not to use
force (initially) to drive the livestock where they want to but
rather, use what is known as "eye", a sort of threatening
stare-down that intimidates the stock into moving in the
desired direction. If the non-physical means of moving
stock do not work, a Border Collie's natural instinct is to
slowly escalate the encounter into an ever-increasing use
of force. Barking, nipping, and eventually gripping (biting)
are used to get the point across to the more stubborn
sheep.
What are the two most common reasons people get
Border Collies?
1) I heard they were really smart dogs and I wanted a
smart dog so it would be easy to train.
2) I heard they were great with kids and make wonderful
family pets.
Though these thoughts may have some validity to them
under certain circumstances, for most Border Collies and
owners, these ideas are fallacies.
Why do so many Border Collies end up in rescue?
There are generally three reasons that Border Collies end
up in rescue and they are all related to herding instinct. In
order to understand these reasons, you must be familiar
with the instinctive qualities of herding present in these
dogs.
1) Roughly a quarter of Border Collies entering rescue
(though this varies with the region) are those that have not
displayed strong enough herding instincts to make
themselves efficient herding dogs on working farms.
Rather than trying to work against the natural abilities (or
inabilities) of the dog, the working family gives the dog
over to rescue so that it can be placed in a more
appropriate, pet home.
2) A larger proportion of the dogs are given up because
they have bitten someone, almost inevitably a child. The
herding instinct, if strong, is overwhelmingly incompatible
with a household containing children - particularly when
the child and adult owners have not been trained or
educated in how to deal with the peculiarities of the
herding instinct. Border Collies can make good family pets,
but only for those dogs that do not have the intense
herding instincts and for the families prepared to deal with
the ramifications of this behavior.
To a Border Collie, a child is basically a sheep without
much wool - a sheep in wolf's (kids) clothing if you will. A
child running across the backyard or out the front door is,
to the dog, a sheep that has decided to break from the
fold. Seeing the child "making a break for it", the Border
Collie's natural instinct kicks in and it streaks out in front of
the child to cut off its escape. If the child is unprepared for
this, the experience of a dog cutting him off and staring or
barking at him with seemingly evil intentions, is quite a
traumatic event. A normal child's reaction to this is to
become frightened, possibly let out a scream, and run
further and faster to escape the dog.
Since this child (sheep) is being uncooperative, the dog
must escalate his attempts to round up the errant stock by
barking and nipping at the heels of the child. A child's
normal reaction to this is to become even more frightened,
run faster, and scream louder. This cycle escalates until
the dog must resort to its last means of control - gripping
(biting), normally used to grab an excessively
stubborn/brave sheep or cow. The two natural instincts of
the child and the dog are entirely incompatible. The child
is doing what comes natural to him - reacting in fear to a
threat and attempting to flee. And the dog is doing what
comes naturally to him - trying to round up an escaping
animal by ever-increasing uses of force.
3) By far the largest percentage of dogs are turned in
because they are "hyper" and far too difficult to handle.
Most people are either not willing, prepared, or able to put
in the large time commitment it takes to adequately
exercise a Border Collie. Border Collies have been bred to
herd sheep and that requires a lot of physical stamina and
endurance. Herding sheep is an all-day activity and often
entails miles of endless running and sprinting across
uneven patches of farmland. Obviously, not everyone has
the luxury (or burden) of owning sheep, so another outlet
must be found for this energy.
Can't I train the dog not to herd the children?
No. The instinct, if present, is exactly that - an instinct. It is
neither trained nor learned. The behavior can be modified
or channeled into other activities (which is why Border
Collies make such wonderful Frisbee dogs) or can be
redirected somewhat through training, but the instinct will
always be there. No amount of training, no matter how
skilled the trainer is, can get rid of a Border Collie's instinct
to herd. A Border Collie in the herding "mode" is a dog
that misses, forgets, or simply ignores all commands and
no amount of pleading from the owner will work. Countless
Border Collies are killed by cars every year because the
dogs, when the instinct kicks in, are oblivious to almost all
other external stimuli.
Can't I teach my children not to run from the dog?
Older children can be taught to stop dead in their tracks
and avoid this confrontation altogether. Since the dog
does not perceive a continued threat of the animal
escaping, the dog relaxes and shifts into a more "normal"
mode.
Younger children may be taught to handle this experience
with some degree of calm but to expect a child that is
younger than 5 to be able to confront a running, snapping,
growling, or barking dog with its teeth bared, may be
asking too much of even the most mature youngster.
Parents can regulate and supervise encounters with the
family dog but for younger children, this means never
letting your dog alone with the child.
But even more problematic is the fact that children tend to
hang around other children. Unless you are prepared to
teach each and every child in the neighborhood and every
child that enters your home how to cope with the dog's
instinct, the dog must be locked away in the presence of
non-family members. Border Collies tend not to be the
kind of dog that you can let loose to run with your kids
around the neighborhood.
It is often the "perfect" dog that everyone felt they could
trust that ends up biting a child - generally because they
are trusted and thereby exposed to many more of the
potentially dangerous situations.
How much exercise does a Border Collie require?
Actually this is an unanswereable question. It is similar to
posing the question "How much exercise does a hyper
child need?" or "How far does a thoroughbred horse have
to run each day?" Obviously you could keep the child
locked in her room or the horse confined to his stall all
day, but this, for most of us, is an unacceptable response.
To truly exercise a Border Collie, you must be willing to put
in a couple of hours each day, in some form of exercise or
activity. Border Collies can remain confined to the house
all day while you are away at work but do not expect to
come home and relax. You don't have to jog endless miles
with your dog (though you can if you'd like) - mental
exercises are often the most exhausting activities for
Border Collies - but you must do something with them
each day. Otherwise, they will find an outlet for their
excessive energy and countless Border Collie owners can
attest to this fact. I've included some of the Border Collie
"horror stories" from current owners just to show I'm not
making this stuff up.
Border Collies have been described as having the energy
output of a miniature nuclear reactor. And like all nuclear
power, it can be quite dangerous if it is not controlled.
If Border Collies are so smart, then why aren't they easy to
train?
If you are not a precise sort of trainer (most people aren't),
then trying to train an intelligent Border Collie can be a
frustrating task. Yes, they can pick up commands on two
or three tries but they are also very perceptive and are
constantly thinking. If, in teaching your dog to sit, you raise
your right hand and say "Sit", the dog may pick that up the
first time through. However, if the next time you repeat the
command, you raise your arm at a different angle and use
a slightly lower tone of voice or a different pace, a Border
Collie will often pick up the subtle distinction and think that
you are using an entirely new command. Border Collies
have a difficult time learning to generalize, basically
because it takes a dog that is less "critical" to be able to
follow a sloppy command. Training a Border Collie can be
like trying to teach a nerdy child that likes to overanalyze
everything - it can be frustrating and an exhaustive
exercise in patience.
What are the other problems with owning a smart dog?
Intelligence in dogs is a double-edged sword. Yes, Border
Collies can learn lots of tricks and can have quite a large
vocabulary but they also can learn lots of bad things too.
Having a smart dog means waging a continual intellectual
war with your dog, trying to outsmart them as they figure
out each progressive intellectual step you take. Trying to
confine a Border Collie can be an exercise in futility. Just
when you put in a gate, they figure out how to get over
(under) it. When you put in a door, they figure out how to
push it open. You put in a latch and they figure out how to
turn doorknobs. Some owners even swear that their
Border Collies can pick combination locks - though their
paws make it hard to turn the dial. If you do not enjoy
engaging in intellectual warfare, especially with a
non-human, a less "perceptive" and somewhat "denser"
breed may be in order.
Is all this hassle necessary?
Unfortunately, many people spend far more time choosing
their next car then picking the right breed and dog for
them. The decision to get a dog should weigh far more
heavily than the decision as to what make and model car
you should get, even if the expense of a car is far greater.
The main point is that a dog is not just like a car. It is a
living, breathing being with emotional qualities and a
unique personality. A dog will be part of your family from
the moment you get it home. They need to be loved and
cared for with the utmost devotion and attention.
You must always remember that a dog is not like a car
because:
a) It lasts longer. Cars can last several years but we
generally get rid of them as soon as they wear down or we
tire of them. A Border Collie will usually live up to fifteen
years and will need fewer replacement parts, making the
decision (to adopt) a very important one.
b) It can't be traded in for a newer model. A dog will be
part of your intimate family for years to come and should
be with you, barring any unforeseen circumstances, for its
entire life.
c) It comes with a personality. Cars come in different
colors with different options but all are basically identical.
Each Border Collie is unique in and of itself.
Our concern is for the welfare of the dog in particular and
the breed in general. Nothing is worse than a "boomerang"
dog, particularly in rescue.
Poor and hasty choices, along with nondiscriminatory
matching policies are the biggest cause of returned or
abandoned dogs. Though rescuers sometimes continue to
monitor the adopted dog's early progress and hope you
keep in contact long into the future, it is their mission to
ensure that each dog is placed in a loving home and will
not need to be removed for any reason. Like adopted
children, their long-term placement in a caring family is our
highest priority.
And yes, it is easier and faster to buy a puppy from a pet
store. But none of the precautions will be taken to ensure
that both the dog and you will be happy with the match.
The process of picking a dog is a long and detailed one.
You must be absolutely sure of your choice. Having a dog
come into your home, like having children, is not a
decision that you can easily go back on. It will affect your
life for years to come and should not be taken lightly.
Before you make the decision to get a Border Collie, you
should consider all of the following points carefully. After
reading through this admonition and educating yourself on
the breed from other sources, if you still feel like you can
handle this breed and enjoy living the "Border Collie"
lifestyle, we encourage you to seek out a rescue dog. The
following are some very important questions that you
should ask yourself before you decide to get a Border
Collie, along with their corresponding answers. Though
these are wonderful dogs, they certainly are not for
everyone.
What is a Border Collie?
Border Collies are the fanatical black and white dogs that
have been bred to herd sheep. They come in an
assortment of sizes and colors, though they generally
range from about 30 to 60 pounds and their "typical"
markings are black with a white collar, chest, head stripe
(blaze), paws, and tail tip.
These markings are only the perceived "typical" markings,
as Border Collies also come in red/white, black/red/white
("tri"s), blue merle, red merle, mostly white, tan and black,
brindle, sable, and mostly black varieties. They are quite
commonly seen in television ads and Hollywood films (the
dogs in the movie "Babe", for example, were Border
Collies). They are known for their incredible herding
instinct and their keen intelligence.
What exactly is "herding instinct"?
The herding instinct in Border Collies is a behavioral trait
that has been bred "into them" over the past two hundred
years or so. What many people fail to realize, even
long-standing Border Collie owners, is that the herding
instinct is simply a modified version of the killing instinct of
wolves. The instinct has been toned down somewhat
through selective breeding. In fact, the instinct has not
been bred "into them" but rather, "out of them". Border
Collies retain the circling and gathering instinct so vital in
hunting wolf packs but refrain from actually going in and
making the final "kill".
Rogue dogs however, are not uncommon, and in many
European countries, Australia and New Zealand, where
the dogs are often allowed to roam free, sheep and
calf-killing Border Collies can pose occassional threats to
livestock. Many people say that once a Border Collie has
tasted blood, they can never be trusted again and
normally, the dogs are summarily exterminated.
The instinct to herd in Border Collies evidences itself
differently than in most other herding dogs. Whereas most
breeds of herding dogs drive the livestock away from the
handler, Border Collies circle the livestock at the far end
and bring them back to the handler (known as "gathering"
or "fetching"). Additionally, Border Collies tend not to use
force (initially) to drive the livestock where they want to but
rather, use what is known as "eye", a sort of threatening
stare-down that intimidates the stock into moving in the
desired direction. If the non-physical means of moving
stock do not work, a Border Collie's natural instinct is to
slowly escalate the encounter into an ever-increasing use
of force. Barking, nipping, and eventually gripping (biting)
are used to get the point across to the more stubborn
sheep.
What are the two most common reasons people get
Border Collies?
1) I heard they were really smart dogs and I wanted a
smart dog so it would be easy to train.
2) I heard they were great with kids and make wonderful
family pets.
Though these thoughts may have some validity to them
under certain circumstances, for most Border Collies and
owners, these ideas are fallacies.
Why do so many Border Collies end up in rescue?
There are generally three reasons that Border Collies end
up in rescue and they are all related to herding instinct. In
order to understand these reasons, you must be familiar
with the instinctive qualities of herding present in these
dogs.
1) Roughly a quarter of Border Collies entering rescue
(though this varies with the region) are those that have not
displayed strong enough herding instincts to make
themselves efficient herding dogs on working farms.
Rather than trying to work against the natural abilities (or
inabilities) of the dog, the working family gives the dog
over to rescue so that it can be placed in a more
appropriate, pet home.
2) A larger proportion of the dogs are given up because
they have bitten someone, almost inevitably a child. The
herding instinct, if strong, is overwhelmingly incompatible
with a household containing children - particularly when
the child and adult owners have not been trained or
educated in how to deal with the peculiarities of the
herding instinct. Border Collies can make good family pets,
but only for those dogs that do not have the intense
herding instincts and for the families prepared to deal with
the ramifications of this behavior.
To a Border Collie, a child is basically a sheep without
much wool - a sheep in wolf's (kids) clothing if you will. A
child running across the backyard or out the front door is,
to the dog, a sheep that has decided to break from the
fold. Seeing the child "making a break for it", the Border
Collie's natural instinct kicks in and it streaks out in front of
the child to cut off its escape. If the child is unprepared for
this, the experience of a dog cutting him off and staring or
barking at him with seemingly evil intentions, is quite a
traumatic event. A normal child's reaction to this is to
become frightened, possibly let out a scream, and run
further and faster to escape the dog.
Since this child (sheep) is being uncooperative, the dog
must escalate his attempts to round up the errant stock by
barking and nipping at the heels of the child. A child's
normal reaction to this is to become even more frightened,
run faster, and scream louder. This cycle escalates until
the dog must resort to its last means of control - gripping
(biting), normally used to grab an excessively
stubborn/brave sheep or cow. The two natural instincts of
the child and the dog are entirely incompatible. The child
is doing what comes natural to him - reacting in fear to a
threat and attempting to flee. And the dog is doing what
comes naturally to him - trying to round up an escaping
animal by ever-increasing uses of force.
3) By far the largest percentage of dogs are turned in
because they are "hyper" and far too difficult to handle.
Most people are either not willing, prepared, or able to put
in the large time commitment it takes to adequately
exercise a Border Collie. Border Collies have been bred to
herd sheep and that requires a lot of physical stamina and
endurance. Herding sheep is an all-day activity and often
entails miles of endless running and sprinting across
uneven patches of farmland. Obviously, not everyone has
the luxury (or burden) of owning sheep, so another outlet
must be found for this energy.
Can't I train the dog not to herd the children?
No. The instinct, if present, is exactly that - an instinct. It is
neither trained nor learned. The behavior can be modified
or channeled into other activities (which is why Border
Collies make such wonderful Frisbee dogs) or can be
redirected somewhat through training, but the instinct will
always be there. No amount of training, no matter how
skilled the trainer is, can get rid of a Border Collie's instinct
to herd. A Border Collie in the herding "mode" is a dog
that misses, forgets, or simply ignores all commands and
no amount of pleading from the owner will work. Countless
Border Collies are killed by cars every year because the
dogs, when the instinct kicks in, are oblivious to almost all
other external stimuli.
Can't I teach my children not to run from the dog?
Older children can be taught to stop dead in their tracks
and avoid this confrontation altogether. Since the dog
does not perceive a continued threat of the animal
escaping, the dog relaxes and shifts into a more "normal"
mode.
Younger children may be taught to handle this experience
with some degree of calm but to expect a child that is
younger than 5 to be able to confront a running, snapping,
growling, or barking dog with its teeth bared, may be
asking too much of even the most mature youngster.
Parents can regulate and supervise encounters with the
family dog but for younger children, this means never
letting your dog alone with the child.
But even more problematic is the fact that children tend to
hang around other children. Unless you are prepared to
teach each and every child in the neighborhood and every
child that enters your home how to cope with the dog's
instinct, the dog must be locked away in the presence of
non-family members. Border Collies tend not to be the
kind of dog that you can let loose to run with your kids
around the neighborhood.
It is often the "perfect" dog that everyone felt they could
trust that ends up biting a child - generally because they
are trusted and thereby exposed to many more of the
potentially dangerous situations.
How much exercise does a Border Collie require?
Actually this is an unanswereable question. It is similar to
posing the question "How much exercise does a hyper
child need?" or "How far does a thoroughbred horse have
to run each day?" Obviously you could keep the child
locked in her room or the horse confined to his stall all
day, but this, for most of us, is an unacceptable response.
To truly exercise a Border Collie, you must be willing to put
in a couple of hours each day, in some form of exercise or
activity. Border Collies can remain confined to the house
all day while you are away at work but do not expect to
come home and relax. You don't have to jog endless miles
with your dog (though you can if you'd like) - mental
exercises are often the most exhausting activities for
Border Collies - but you must do something with them
each day. Otherwise, they will find an outlet for their
excessive energy and countless Border Collie owners can
attest to this fact. I've included some of the Border Collie
"horror stories" from current owners just to show I'm not
making this stuff up.
Border Collies have been described as having the energy
output of a miniature nuclear reactor. And like all nuclear
power, it can be quite dangerous if it is not controlled.
If Border Collies are so smart, then why aren't they easy to
train?
If you are not a precise sort of trainer (most people aren't),
then trying to train an intelligent Border Collie can be a
frustrating task. Yes, they can pick up commands on two
or three tries but they are also very perceptive and are
constantly thinking. If, in teaching your dog to sit, you raise
your right hand and say "Sit", the dog may pick that up the
first time through. However, if the next time you repeat the
command, you raise your arm at a different angle and use
a slightly lower tone of voice or a different pace, a Border
Collie will often pick up the subtle distinction and think that
you are using an entirely new command. Border Collies
have a difficult time learning to generalize, basically
because it takes a dog that is less "critical" to be able to
follow a sloppy command. Training a Border Collie can be
like trying to teach a nerdy child that likes to overanalyze
everything - it can be frustrating and an exhaustive
exercise in patience.
What are the other problems with owning a smart dog?
Intelligence in dogs is a double-edged sword. Yes, Border
Collies can learn lots of tricks and can have quite a large
vocabulary but they also can learn lots of bad things too.
Having a smart dog means waging a continual intellectual
war with your dog, trying to outsmart them as they figure
out each progressive intellectual step you take. Trying to
confine a Border Collie can be an exercise in futility. Just
when you put in a gate, they figure out how to get over
(under) it. When you put in a door, they figure out how to
push it open. You put in a latch and they figure out how to
turn doorknobs. Some owners even swear that their
Border Collies can pick combination locks - though their
paws make it hard to turn the dial. If you do not enjoy
engaging in intellectual warfare, especially with a
non-human, a less "perceptive" and somewhat "denser"
breed may be in order.
Is all this hassle necessary?
Unfortunately, many people spend far more time choosing
their next car then picking the right breed and dog for
them. The decision to get a dog should weigh far more
heavily than the decision as to what make and model car
you should get, even if the expense of a car is far greater.
The main point is that a dog is not just like a car. It is a
living, breathing being with emotional qualities and a
unique personality. A dog will be part of your family from
the moment you get it home. They need to be loved and
cared for with the utmost devotion and attention.
You must always remember that a dog is not like a car
because:
a) It lasts longer. Cars can last several years but we
generally get rid of them as soon as they wear down or we
tire of them. A Border Collie will usually live up to fifteen
years and will need fewer replacement parts, making the
decision (to adopt) a very important one.
b) It can't be traded in for a newer model. A dog will be
part of your intimate family for years to come and should
be with you, barring any unforeseen circumstances, for its
entire life.
c) It comes with a personality. Cars come in different
colors with different options but all are basically identical.
Each Border Collie is unique in and of itself.
Our concern is for the welfare of the dog in particular and
the breed in general. Nothing is worse than a "boomerang"
dog, particularly in rescue.
Poor and hasty choices, along with nondiscriminatory
matching policies are the biggest cause of returned or
abandoned dogs. Though rescuers sometimes continue to
monitor the adopted dog's early progress and hope you
keep in contact long into the future, it is their mission to
ensure that each dog is placed in a loving home and will
not need to be removed for any reason. Like adopted
children, their long-term placement in a caring family is our
highest priority.
And yes, it is easier and faster to buy a puppy from a pet
store. But none of the precautions will be taken to ensure
that both the dog and you will be happy with the match.
The process of picking a dog is a long and detailed one.
You must be absolutely sure of your choice. Having a dog
come into your home, like having children, is not a
decision that you can easily go back on. It will affect your
life for years to come and should not be taken lightly.
Information Provided By :
AKC
Texas Border Collie Rescue
Border Collie Colors
AKC
Texas Border Collie Rescue
Border Collie Colors
| Make Sure you Scroll down to the bottom there is lots of educational information to read. |