Taking Care Of A Border Collie

Do you want to own a Border Collie, or are you planning to buy one, but you don’t know anything about them, and you’re unsure if you’re going to be a good pet owner or not? Well, don’t worry! This article will provide you with information and proper methods on how to take care of border collies.

Border Collies are known to have originated in Europe, particularly in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Border Collies are a Northumbrian breed, and they are known to have come from the two herding breeds, Roman and Viking Spitz. This dog breed is a medium-sized one and is known to be one of the most intelligent dogs.

A lot of people, especially in Europe, actually love Border Collies because of their intelligence, loyalty, friendliness, activeness, and ability to endure. Since these dogs are known to be a herding breed, they are highly trainable, which is one of the reasons why getting a Border Collie is definitely not a great idea.

Border Collies have a life expectancy of 10–17 years! This lifespan is considered long for a dog, which is why you can spend a lot of time with your pet if this is the breed you choose. Their colors are usually black, white, merle, bi-colors, and brown. The rarest colors of a Border Collie are lilac and slate. Male Border Collies have a usual height of 48–56 cm, while the females are 46–53 cm.

If you want to own a Border Collie, you should also be a good and responsible owner to them by getting them vaccinated and regularly consulting with vets. You can find vets in Buffalo City, whether physical or online, that will give quality services to your pet.

Here are the things you should know when taking care of a Border Collie:

Meal Time

For Border Collie puppies that are under six months old, you should feed them three times a day and provide them with the proper nutrition that they need so they can grow up healthy. For adult Border Collies, feeding them at least twice a day, morning and evening, is sufficient. Avoid overfeeding them, and make sure that they aren’t eating any food that’s forbidden for dogs!

Grooming

Border Collies are not too high-maintenance when it comes to grooming! You don’t need to bathe your dog daily. In fact, you should actually bathe them every 2-3 months unless they’re dirty and stinky from activities. Bathing your Border Collie often is not recommended because this can cause skin irritation. The right way to bathe them is by using a mild shampoo and lukewarm water.

Border Collies only require minimal grooming, and you shouldn’t trim their fur too much because it may not grow back the same as it did before trimming. Most of the year, especially during fall and spring, Border Collies tend to shed a lot. Thus, make an effort to brush them regularly so they may be rid of dead fur and help maintain their neatness. Clipping your dog’s nails at least once a month is also essential.

Training and Exercise

Training these dogs is not difficult because they’re easy to train, active, smart, and they want to please people. The training should be consistent, but don’t over-exhaust them! Exercise them for at least 2 hours daily to keep them healthy and fit. Some of the best exercises for these dogs are swimming, agility exercises, walking, and running.

Health

Border Collies are generally known to be a healthy breed, so the chances of them acquiring dog diseases are not so high as long as they are taken care of properly and are provided with the best health care. However, the common problems of this dog breed might be:

• hip dysplasia
• epilepsy
• hypothyroidism
• deafness
• collie eye anomaly
• neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

But don’t worry! Because these problems can be treated and prevented if they are given regular checkups, and the diagnosis is made earlier.

Behavior and Temperament

Border Collies are excellent dogs when it comes to training, physical activities, and herding. They’re loyal and loving to their owners, and they tend to behave well with well-behaved children and older people. They can be aloof with strangers; thus, it’s important to socialize with them early. They also tend to be sensitive to moving objects that they can’t control. And these dogs bark a lot! But they can still be your best pet, as they are obedient, responsive, and love your attention.