Breed Specific: The Border Collie, a Dog with a HUGE Vocabulary!

Pikes Peak Vet wants you to know about your Border Collie’s lifestyle and other needs!

Border Collie’s are athletic and highly intelligent. In fact, there is one Border who has a 1000-word vocabulary! This article is from a while ago, but still relevant. They are among the most agile, balanced and durable dogs. Because of their ability to think critically and being a herding breed, they are best when they have a job. People who are active and can hike with them or work on agility, obedience or herding training regularly will create optimum conditions for a happy dog. Amiable with family and friends, keep an eye on them in public as they can be reserved and snappish with strangers.

Males              Height: 19-22 inches    Weight: 30-55 pounds

Females          Height: 18-21 inches    Weight: 30-55 pounds

Feeding/Treats/Weight: Discuss an appropriate diet with your veterinarian. Some Borders are prone to weight gain, so watch their calorie consumption and incorporate low-calorie treats if needed, whether for training or in general. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Grooming: There are two types of coats.Rough coats are medium length and feathered, while the smooth coat is shorter and coarser. Grooming for both involves going over them with a pin brush at least once or twice a week, more often if needed, to keep the coat free of mats, tangles, dirt and debris. During shedding season, daily brushing is required. Nails need regular trimming.

Exercise: Highly driven and extremely energetic,Borders need daily exercise more than just a walk around the block or a quick romp in the yard. They thrive with work to be done, so learning to retrieve and catch balls, frisbees and other flying objects is an oft-seen exercise. Herding, obedience, agility, rally and tracking events are also good choices. If they are not working daily, they need vigorous exercise such as regular hiking, so this breed is not for the couch-potato or owner who travels a lot.

Training: Borders’ intelligence makes them easy to train, as they want to learn and perform. Start socializing them early with obedience classes and a variety of people and social settings through age 7 months. Keeping the Border in some sort of training through his lifetime will keep him happy and mentally stable. Due to their tendency to herd animals and people, Borders do best with older, well-behaved children. They love their friends and family, but with strangers, they may not be as friendly.

Thank you to the AKC’s website, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/border-collie/, for much of this information.

BASIC FACTS

Over the Border Collie’s 12-15 expected years, you and your vet will create a health plan to evaluate and catch any conditions that may arise.

HEALTH CONCERNS

• Hip issues
• Progressive vision decline and eye abnormalities
• Deafness
• Epilepsy
• Ear infections
• Dental disease

Pikes Peak Vet has the goal of healthy longevity for your Border.

Wellness Exams and Vaccinations

• Every 6-12 months, as advised by your veterinarian, until age 6, including a full physical exam and routine bloodwork
• Pets age faster than us and tend to hide symptoms. At age 6, we recommend routine exams and bloodwork every 6 months to catch anything unexpected before it gets too firm a hold.

Other Exams and Screenings

• Border Collie Health Panel, UC Davis: https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog.php#BorderCollie
• PennHIP evaluation
• Hip x-rays
• Ear exams
• Eye exams
• Routine dentistry as needed

Reach out for more information by phone or text, 719-475-1747, or through our Pikes Peak Vet app!