Border Collies are known to be excellent herding dogs and excellent athletes for agility competitions. However, due to their overwhelming energy, they need special care.
Steps
Step 1. You will need to take care of them very carefully
The Border Collie (also known as BC) far surpasses all other dog breeds in intelligence and energy, and is well suited alone to responsible, informed and aware of the great commitment they are making. Never buy a BC just because you find it nice or your friend has a really nice one, and do a thorough research before deciding to buy.
Step 2. Choose who to buy your Border Collie from
Official kennels are the best place for those who want a show or competition dog; however, if you are only interested in having a great pet, consider adopting one from a voluntary association. Otherwise you can evaluate:
- Buying in a pet shop. This solution is highly discouraged, because you will not have any information about the puppy's health, provenance and history, and will most likely feed the puppy treats.
- Purchase from a "private" or improvised breeder. Even more discouraged, due to the lack of information you would have.
- Adoption from a shelter. This is a preferential route for those wishing to help dogs in distress, but it is not recommended due to the lack of information shelters can often have on the particular breed of Border Collie, with the result that the dog has not been well bred. Adoption by an association that specializes in the recovery and rescue of certain breeds will probably be the best solution.
Step 3. Obedience education is essential
Not only will it provide essential stimulation for your BC, but it will make your life with an extremely energetic dog a lot easier. Although you can start teaching the basic concepts of puppy obedience right away (e.g. house training, sleeping in the kennel, not jumping / biting / dominating), for more advanced training levels you will need to wait until he is at least four. months. Another key note is that Border Collies are intelligent dogs and often respond better to training techniques where they have to use reasoning, such as with clickers.
Step 4. Time to go shopping
The basic purchases for a BC are:
- A collar and a leash. They should be of an appropriate length for the breed and comfortable for you and your dog. The collar needs to have an identification tag with your phone number or address.
- Food (see below for more information) and food and water bowls, preferably stainless steel.
- Toys! Buy indestructible games, like Kong; they will last longer (although most will eventually be destroyed) than plush and rubber toys.
- An appropriately sized dog bed.
- Grooming brushes, specific for long-haired dogs.
Step 5. Choose a good veterinarian for your Border Collie
While it will cost you a lot at first, in the long run you will find that it has been a great investment. It is highly recommended that you do the following:
- Sterilization. This is a relatively simple operation that will help prevent unwanted behavior, accidental litters and some health problems.
- Vaccinations. They are absolutely necessary for his health; ask the vet about those requests based on the puppy's age.
- Purchase of a microchip. The microchip is a tiny device used to identify the dog if it goes astray. In fact, thanks to their high agility, BCs tend to run away very often and the microchip is essential to find them.
Step 6. Buy quality food
Avoid buying cheap food - your dog will restore us health and the treatment will not be cheap at all! Opt for high-quality foods, with meat as the main ingredient.
Step 7. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Due to the high energy charge available to them, the Border Collie needs to exercise every day. It will be essential to take him for a daily walk; you can also burn energy in more engaging ways, such as sports, agility or flyball trials, hiking, swimming, etc.
Step 8. Expand your knowledge
Read books on Border Collies, take obedience classes, agility etc, compare yourself with other BC owners, try the latest news, learn new things about dog nutrition - go out of your way to learn how to take care of a BC to the fullest of your possibilities.
Step 9. Have fun with your Border Collie
He may need an hour and a half of daily exercise, destroy your shoes, scare the neighborhood kids, or pose a threat to himself, but one thing is for sure: if you are a responsible owner, he will be your best friend.
Advice
- Treat it with care or you could get hurt.
- Don't train him alone, have someone assist you as a precaution.
Warnings
- Never buy a Border Collie without first doing thorough research on the breed!
- Border Collies should never be chained or left alone for hours and under no circumstances WITHOUT SUPERVISION. Provide a sturdy bed, but one that is not used on a regular basis. Border Collies are farm dogs, used to living outdoors, and if you work in the fields all day he can do his job outdoors. It is dangerous to leave your dog alone and without a job, as it can lead to destructive and self-destructive behaviors. Border Collies need to interact daily with the owner who must always offer him new stimuli. Ideally, the dog needs positive reinforcement during training, a flock to lead, or constant agility, flyball and / or Frisbee training. He is not an apartment dog. The Border Collie needs a present and active owner, and of course enough space to run freely.
