The border collie is one of the breeds best suited to watching over flocks, and has gained great popularity for its versatility in canine sports.
In Italy it became famous through agility competitions and television commercials, but the border collie actually has a past that is anything but playful. The herding dog par excellence, it remains to this day one of the breeds most widely used for guiding and watching over flocks. This agile, lively dog originated in the Scottish Highlands and quickly spread throughout the rest of England.
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Its name comes from its origins in the borderlands — border means boundary — with the addition of collie, a word of uncertain etymology. According to some experts it derives from coleius (faithful, in Welsh), according to others from coley (black); a third hypothesis, perhaps the most likely, traces it to colley, a breed of Scottish sheep. The border collie, however, did not enter the herding dog group of the English Kennel Club until very late — specifically in 1976.
The border collie has a great aptitude for movement and is naturally suited to outdoor sport. "The border is a dog that needs a great deal of activity, above all shared with its human companion and with moments of exchange between the two," explains Bruno Ferrari, canine educator.
"It suits dynamic people who love having a dog with whom to share time outdoors, and who enjoy walking, running and playing. It is a born athlete, both physically and mentally. It lends itself to any sporting activity and achieves excellent results. Having become famous through agility, where in the large category they are practically unbeatable, border collies are also well suited to obedience, but they are not averse to other four-legged sporting disciplines. In short, they are all-round athletes."
The breed is considered extremely intelligent, and is even ranked as the brightest and quickest to learn. The border collie learns very fast, which is why care must be taken not to make mistakes in its training: the dog will quickly learn something incorrect, and correcting the error will not be straightforward. "The problems that can arise are linked to the breed's high predatory instinct and its tendency towards emotional over-excitement, especially if the dog is not accustomed to carrying out structured activities," Ferrari continues.
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"If a border collie does not satisfy its urge to work, cooperate and run, it will direct its predatory instinct towards anything that moves and may easily chase unsuspecting runners or cyclists on city streets or in the countryside, even mistaking cars for little sheep to round up, and putting its own safety at risk in the process. Otherwise, these dogs rarely display social difficulties with other dogs or with other animals."
The border collie is a healthy dog that easily lives to 15 years and beyond. There are, however, some hereditary/genetic conditions to bear in mind if you choose one as a companion. The breed, for example, is often prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. If you decide to get a dog of this type, it is always advisable to ask whether the puppy's parents and grandparents have had X-rays to check for the presence of these conditions.
The border collie is also easily prone to cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, which leads to loss of sight. A preventive eye examination is good practice for individuals of this breed. Equally, preventing osteo-articular disorders such as arthrosis is an added value.
The daily care required by this agile, sporty dog is not extensive: a good brush after close encounters with mud and dirt, and a periodic bath — perhaps during moulting seasons — to remove dead coat and let the skin breathe will be sufficient. The border collie has been and remains a fashionable dog. If you choose to have one as a life companion, it is worth knowing that there is — as with many other breeds — an association that handles adoptions: Border collie rescue Italia. It is an intelligent way to have a dog of this breed by your side while at the same time saving the life of an abandoned dog.