Border Collie (aka The Border, Farm Collie, Working Collie)
Country of Origin:
Great Britain
Average Lifespan:
9 - 15 years
Size:
Medium
Breed Classification:
Working
Coat:
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Medium to long
Most often black and white, but can also be brown, blue merle, red and tricolour
Requires grooming about once a week
Characteristics:
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Highly intelligent
Alert and energetic
Instinct to herd and work closely with a handler
Breed Standards:
Border Collies, unlike other breed standards, are more often judged on their ability than their appearance.
Although skill is highly regarded, there are certain guidelines for the appearance of Border Collies and some are shown purely as conformation dogs. They should have a well defined stop, a soft dark eye, a gentle temperament and be slightly longer than they are tall.
History:
The Border Collie’s origins are rooted in the droving and gathering breeds on the border of Scotland and England. The region is home to many breeds of sheep and has thus produced many breeds of sheep-herding dogs, among them the Border Collie.
The "border" portion of the breed’s name is due to the geographic history of the breed. The "collie" portion of the name could have been derived from a number of sources. Some claim that it came from a Gaelic word meaning "useful" while others believe it is a variation of the word "coalie", meaning black. Border Collies are one of the few breeds still used today for their traditional purpose in the British Isles and around the world.
Fun Facts:
Border Collies use a hypnotic technique called "the eye" when herding. By simply staring down the sheep, the dogs are able to assert dominance and control the herd’s movements.
Recommendations:
Border Collies are wonderful dogs – in appearance and attitude. Large, leather collars look fantastic on black and white border collies. Choose a bright, but serious, colour like red that stands out against their coats but keeps a sophisticated style.
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