Considering a Border Collie? | What you need to know!

October 29, 2014

Border collie what to knowConsidering a Border Collie? | What you need to know!

Are you curious about what the smartest dog breed is? Border Collies – by far! That might be one of the many reasons you are considering purchasing or adopting a border collie as a pet or buddy to help out around the farm.   But, because of their level of intelligence and the very specific breeding practices that surround the conception of Border Collie puppies – there are many things you should know before going ahead and bringing a border collie home.

Border Collies are at the top of the doggy totem pole when it comes to intelligence –Border Collies are incredibly bright and perceptive animals and can learn over 1,000 commands!  This is probably the most predominant reason as to why people look into bringing a border collie home – after all who wouldn’t want a super smart furry buddy?? It is also the reason that they make for such great co-workers on farms and are entered in agility contests that they usually win.  They listen well, they’re loyal, and oh my can they help you round up your sheep quickly!!

But, their intelligence can also be their downfall.  For instance border collies don’t make the best family dogs, because they always want to round things up (herd) and a bunch of little children around and not enough time to play around outside could result in a very unhappy puppy.  An unhappy puppy is a misbehaved puppy and we can all do the math on that one!  If they don’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation – and they need A LOT – they can act out by chewing up things around the house or acting out aggressively; these behavior issues can of course happen with any breed, but are at a higher risk in border collies simply because of their higher need for exercise and stimulation. 

Here’s a few important things to look out for when thinking of purchasing or adopting a border collie:

  • First and foremost, make sure you have the resources (time, space, energy et cetera) to give your Border Collie buddy the exercise and attention that he or she needs! This is probably THE most important thing to take into consideration when considering bringing home a border collie.
  • Make sure you have a training plan in store for when that Border Collie puppy comes home, they can learn bad behavior quickly and can get fixated easily, so the earlier you train them the better! 
  • Like most dog breeds Border Collies can be prone to a few health issues, including hip dysplasia, epilepsy, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA).  Make sure you take the precautions early on with diet and overall life style to limit their chances of getting these problems 
  • An incredibly outstanding resource for information on border collies is All About Border Collies - where you can find a ton of detailed web sources for solid information about Border Collies, health, training, living and so much more! 

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Author: Aileen A. Schultz

Photo Credit: Jaimito Cartero via photopin cc