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Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Border Collies  Breed-FAQ
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AUTHOR: April M. Quist, September 24, 1993 ([e-mail])

Many thanks to Nancy Gagliardi Little for all her help and
information. Thanks also to Laura Alfonso, Carolyn Chamblin, Terri
Hardwick, and Janet Lewis for their input.


CHARACTERISTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

The two most outstanding characteristics of Border Collies are their
eyes and their working style. They work with their heads lowered, even
with their back, at times almost in a crouch, and with a stare that is
intent, confident, and almost mesmerizing. They notice every movement
of their livestock, and they react by moving, at times almost
imperceptibly, to take advantage of it or to counter it. Movement of
both dog and stock is usually calm and fluid.

Border Collies are "heading" or "gathering" herders, as opposed to
"heelers." This means that, instead of driving livestock out by
nipping at the heels like, for example, an Australian Cattle Dog
would, the Border Collie's instinct is to run out past a herd or
flock, gather the animals, and take them to the shepherd. Border
Collies can be taught to drive, but do not generally do it by
instinct.

Border Collies are usually very intense "workaholics." They are
happiest when they have a job to do, whether that job be herding,
obedience, agility, or any of the other active occupations and dog
sports they excel at. They are extremely quick, high-energy, "busy"
dogs and they must have plenty of exercise. They are bred for
endurance: a working Border Collie is able to run many miles a day
over sometimes difficult terrain, then go out and do it again the next
day. A one- or two-mile run is barely a warm-up for a Border Collie.
People without the time to give a dog plenty of good, vigorous
exercise every day would be well advised to find a calmer dog. A bored
Border Collie can become neurotic and destructive. Quoting from _Nop's
Trials_, by Donald McCaig, "If this [book] has persuaded you to buy a
Border Collie for a pet, I'd like to offer a caution. Border Collies
are very bright, quick, and more than a little weird. They are not
suitable for most city apartments. Their working instincts are strong
and their self-esteem comes from working well. A bored, mishandled
Border Collie can get into awful trouble."

Border Collies herd everything that moves: livestock, birds, other
dogs, cats, children, and even bugs. Although Border Collies herd by
"eye" rather than by nipping at the heels of livestock, some are still
"nippy" and might nip at you or your children's heels and legs when
you run. They also tend to be car-chasers.

When you have a Border Collie, you have an extra shadow! They will
follow you everywhere they can and will always be underfoot. These
dogs will watch you constantly (as if you are the stock), and will
rush in front of you if they think something is going to happen. They
thrive on attention and are very affectionate and people-oriented.
However, good socialization is important for them - they tend to be
reserved with people they don't know and can be aggressive with other
dogs. Border Collies are highly intelligent and quick learners, but
they are slow to mature: they are "puppies" until around 2 or 2-1/2
years or even older.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How big do Border Collies get?
  Border Collies average between 30 to 50 pounds. However, if size is
  important to you, be aware that some Border Collies are as small as
  25 pounds, and some are as large as 65 pounds. If you need or want a
  dog whose size you can count on, you might want to consider some
  other breed.

Do they shed?
  Moderately; they shed most in early spring and late fall.

How much grooming do they need?
  Border Collies are fairly low-maintenance dogs. They don't need
  frequent baths, because their coats shed dirt rather nicely. A good
  10-minute brushing two or three times per week helps to keep their
  coats clean and in nice condition; more frequent brushing while they
  are shedding helps to control the amount of hair that ends up on your
  carpet. Like all dogs, they also need to have their toenails clipped
  regularly.

Are Border Collies hyper? Do they need a lot of exercise?
  Border Collies are very high-energy, busy dogs, both indoors and out.
  If bored, they will chew anything (books, shoes, table legs, carpet,
  furniture...). They also love to dig holes. Good forms of exercise
  for a Border Collie include playing "Fetch" (they love to chase balls
  and Frisbees), swimming, jogging, running with a bicycle (be careful
  they don't try to herd the bike!), and hiking.

  Border Collies won't usually exercise on their own. Most require
  their human counterparts to participate in their exercise programs.
  Merely putting a Border Collie into a fenced area as a form of
  exercise will NOT be enough for them.

  When exercising a Border Collie, you must watch him very carefully
  for signs of heat exhaustion. Because they are so intense in their
  work and play, they don't stop when they get too tired or too hot.
  They can easily work themselves to death, even on cool days. Another
  problem is that they can physically injure themselves because they
  are so quick and concentrate so completely on their task that they
  don't pay attention to where they are going and can run into
  obstacles if they happen to be in the way.

Are they intelligent?
  Border Collies are very intelligent dogs and learn fast. This can
  actually be a problem at times: many times they will learn things
  that the owner didn't intend for them to learn. Some of these newly
  learned behavior patterns can be difficult to reteach. Their
  intelligence is one of the reasons that they tend to get bored (and
  into trouble) easily. But then, it's also one of the reasons they
  excel in obedience training/competition.

What active sports and activities can I participate in with a Border
Collie?
  Border Collies excel at competitive dog sports such as obedience,
  agility, Flyball, Scent Hurdles, Frisbee, and tracking. They make
  good search and rescue dogs. A well-trained, well-socialized Border
  Collie also makes a very good pet-therapy dog, and some organizations
  train them as signal (hearing) and assistance dogs.

Do they make good guard dogs?
  They are not reliable guard dogs. They can be protective of their
  families and will generally bark if they hear or see something they
  don't like. There are, however, some Border Collies that have been
  trained to advanced Schutzhund degrees.

How are they with children?
  When properly socialized with children, Border Collies are gentle and
  intuitive. They often seem to know how boisterous or how gentle they
  need to be with individual children. But as with all dogs, Border
  Collies and children should be supervised when they play together to
  make sure neither hurts the other inadvertently. Unsocialized Border
  Collies can be fearful and untrusting of children.

Do Border Collies like to swim?
  Border Collies seem to be natural "water dogs" and love to swim, and
  swimming is an excellent way to exercise these high-energy dogs
  during the hot summer months.

Do they play "Fetch"?
  One of a Border Collie's favorite games is "Fetch," and it's another
  great exercise for them. They love chasing balls, Frisbees, and
  anything else that moves, and their gathering instinct makes them
  natural retrievers. But Border Collies can become obsessed with
  retrieving, which might annoy some owners: their dogs are constantly
  dropping a ball in their lap, and then stepping back and staring that
  Border Collie stare until the ball is thrown.

Do they jump fences?  What kind of escape artists are they?
  Border Collies are *extremely* agile dogs and can easily jump/climb a
  6-foot fence if they decide there's something more interesting on the
  other side. They are also good diggers and chewers, so if they can't
  jump a fence, they might try to dig under it or chew through it if
  they want to get out. And don't forget their intelligence: some
  Border Collies can be good at opening doors and latches!

Do they bark a lot?
  Any dog can become a barker if it gets bored, and Border Collies
  become more easily bored than most other dogs. In general, however,
  they tend to be relatively quiet dogs, barking only at intruders.

Will a male or female Border Collie be easier to train?
  *Generally,* male and female Border Collies are fairly different.
  Males seem to learn slightly faster but mature much slower than
  females, and they tend to be slightly more inconsistent, especially
  in competition. Females seem to learn slower, but once they learn an
  exercise they are very consistent workers. Males tend to be more
  flashy and reactive, females more steady and dependable. However,
  females can also be more moody and more likely to fall apart if they
  make a mistake.

Where should I get my dog?
  There are two options here. You can get a puppy or an adult dog. If
  you choose to get an adult dog, you can get one from a shelter, from
  a Border Collie rescue organization, or from a breeder who is looking
  for a home for an adult Border Collie. If you decide to get a puppy,
  you should do some research and find a breeder with a good
  reputation. Do NOT buy a Border Collie puppy from a pet store.
  Although these puppies are adorable, they are generally from puppy
  mills and will be incredibly overpriced. These puppies are prone to
  many health problems, such as epilepsy, hip and joint problems, and
  early blindness. They are usually poorly socialized. Do not even buy
  from pet stores advertising that their animals are not from puppy
  mills, because they usually have no idea, nor do they care, how these
  puppies were produced.

How do I choose a puppy?
  You need to do some homework before you start talking to breeders and
  before you look at any puppies. Decide what sex and color you'd like,
  and especially what you plan to do with the dog. Once you know what
  you're looking for, talk to breeders and discuss your concerns and
  ideas. Since Border collies are prone to eye diseases such as
  Progressive Retinal Atrophy and juvenile cataracts, and hip problems
  such as hip dysplasia, look for a breeder who has all dogs' eyes and
  hips checked and certified: eyes are certified by C.E.R.F., and hips
  are certified by O.F.A. Be sure to ask to see the certificates issued
  by those organizations. When you find a someone that you like and who
  has a good reputation, allow the breeder to help you select your
  puppy. Most breeders have a pretty good idea of what the puppies'
  personalities are like and will guide you to make a good choice.


HISTORY

The Border Collie originated in the border country between Scotland
and England. It is a very old breed, with references in literature
going back to at least 1570 in writings by Dr. Caius. Caius mentions
him as "not huge, vaste and bigge but of indifferent stature and
growth" (from the AKC Miscellaneous Breeds booklet). The breed has
been known as the Working Collie, Old-Fashioned Collie, Farm Collie,
and English Collie. It was in 1915 that James Reid, Secretary of the
International Sheepdog Society in Great Britain, first called the dog
a Border Collie.

The first sheepdog trials were held on October 9, 1873 in Bala, Wales.
In the United States, the trials started in 1880.

FAMOUS BORDER COLLIES

Any history of Border Collies has to include mention of two particular
dogs: Old Hemp and Wiston Cap. There are plenty of brilliant Border
Collies in Great Britain's past, but these are the two that are
mentioned any time great sheepdogs are discussed.

Old Hemp

Old Hemp, a tri-color dog, was born September 1893 and died May 1901.
He was bred by Adam Telfer from Roy, a black and tan dog, and Meg, a
black-coated, strong-eyed dog. Hemp was a quiet, powerful dog that
sheep responded to easily. Many shepherds used him for stud on their
bitches, and Hemp's working style became the Border Collie style. It
is believed that Old Hemp's blood runs in the veins of almost all
modern Border Collies.

Wiston Cap

Wiston Cap is the dog that the International Sheep Dog Society badge
portrays in the characteristic Border Collie herding pose. He was the
most popular and used stud dog in the history of the breed. Bred by W.
S. Hetherington and trained and handled by John Richardson, Cap was a
biddable and good-natured dog. His blood lines all trace back to the
early registered dogs of the stud book, and to J. M. Wilson's Cap, who
occurs sixteen times within seven generations in his pedigree.

Wiston Cap sired three Supreme Champions and is grand-sire of three
others, one of which is E. W. Edwards' Bill, who won the championship
twice.


THE BORDER COLLIE/AKC CONTROVERSY

Many people are aware that there is a controversy revolving around the
Border Collie's status with the AKC. Most Border Collie owners fear
emphasis on looks and beauty could lead to the breed's ruin. Instead
these people encourage a stronger emphasis on working qualities. The
Border Collie has been in the AKC's Miscellaneous Group for over 25
years. In general, the Miscellaneous Group was created as a precursor
to a breed's becoming fully recognized as an AKC breed. Breeds listed
in the Miscellaneous Group are allowed to compete in AKC obedience
trials and tracking tests, but cannot win conformation championships
until they are fully recognized.

In the 1940s, Arthur Allen, a well-known Border Collie trialer and
breeder, demonstrated his Border Collies outside AKC headquarters.
After watching the demonstration, the AKC board promised that they
would never seek to recognize the breed. More recently, AKC president
Bill Stifel observed a Border Collie trial and returned to the AKC
saying "We should never recognize the Border Collie."

In the spring of 1990, some AKC officials began showing up at Border
Collie trials, arguing that the Border Collie should be recognized. In
essence, the AKC felt there was no reason a dog could not be bred for
both show and work. A small battle ensued between the AKC and Border
Collie owners who disagreed with the AKC and wanted to keep the breed
where it was. In the end, the Border Collie owners won this battle
when there was a change in leadership at the AKC. Donald McCaig (a
well-known Border Collie trialer and writer of _Nop's Trials_ and
_Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men_) summarized the battle and discussed the
controversy in his article, _The AKC/Border Collie Fight: A
Debriefing_.  The article appeared in the United States Border Collie
Club newsletter, Winter 93 edition.

In Canada in 1993, the decision was made to remove the Border Collie
from the Canadian Kennel Club's Miscellaneous Class. The CKC gave the
Border Collie people a choice: put the Border Collie into the Herding
group and be fully recognized, or be taken out of the Miscellaneous
Class. The Border Collie people chose the latter - they feel that
strongly about breeding only for working ability.


DESCRIPTION

Emphasis is on intelligence, trainability, and herding instinct rather
than on looks/conformation. When a sheep rancher goes looking for a
Border Collie to help him with the sheep on his ranch, or for a Border
Collie that he can compete with in herding trials, what the dog looks
like is going to be the last thing on his mind. He doesn't care what
color the dog is, or how big he is, or whether his ears stand up or
flop down. The rancher does want the dog to be highly intelligent and
trainable, have good herding instinct, and to be physically capable of
performing the work. The rancher will watch to make sure the dog has
the Border Collie eye, with which he controls the stock. Tail-carriage
is also important: the rancher will take only a dog that, at work,
carries his tail low along his back legs with an upward turn at the
end (but not between his legs in fear, of course), because a dog that
carries his tail above his back (called a "gay tail") is not
concentrating on his work.

The following is a combined and condensed version of the written
standards of the Border Collie Club of America, the United States
Border Collie Club, the British Kennel Club, and the Australian
National Kennel Club.

General Appearance:

As a result of the emphasis on working ability in the Border Collie,
the physical standard varies with the organization. In general, the
Border Collie is a medium-sized dog, with the dogs in Great Britain
tending to be somewhat larger than the dogs in the United States. The
coat can be short, medium, or long, but never as heavy as a regular
rough Collie, whose coat is impractical in the field. The most common
color is black and white, but it can also be a number of other colors
(see below). The ears are set low on the head to protect them from
anything falling into them, such as snow and rain. Temperament should
be neither nervous nor aggressive.

Head: The skull is broad and boxlike with a slight dome on top to give
ample brain room. The muzzle is full and blunt, the jaws powerful. The
stop is distinct but not overly pronounced.

Eyes: The eyes are large, intelligent, and expressive, and set well
apart. The gaze is keen and intense at work, but soft and gentle at
rest. The color should harmonize with the coat color.

Body: The body is very athletic in appearance, well-proportioned,
graceful, agile, rugged, and perfectly balanced. The shoulders are
well angulated, the back is level, and the hind legs are somewhat
longer than the forelegs. The neck is strong and muscular.

Tail: The tail is a very important feature of the Border Collie. It
should be set on and carried low to be used as a rudder. A tail
carried over the back is a serious fault, as it can distract the sheep
and throw the dog off-balance.

Coat: The coat can be rough or smooth. The rough coat is dense and
full, with a soft undercoat. It is of medium texture (similar to that
of a Golden Retriever), straight, wavy, or curly, and water repellant.
The smooth coat is also dense with a soft undercoat, but is short and
flat (similar to that of a German Shepherd).

Color: Allowable colors are black and white; black, white, and tan;
red (which varies from deep red to chocolate) and white; red merle;
tri-red (red, lighter red, and white); blue and white; blue merle;
mottled. A predominantly white coat is not desirable.

Teeth: Strong, well-developed, meeting in a perfect scissors bite.

Size: Height is 17 to 26 inches at the shoulder, with the average
being 18 to 22 inches. Weight is 25 to 65 pounds, with the average
being 30 to 50 pounds.

Movement: A Border Collie's movement should be free, smooth, tireless,
with a minimum of lift of feet, conveying the impression of the
ability to move with great stealth and speed.


TRAINING/BEHAVIOR HINTS

Most Border Collies have a "soft" temperament, that is, they are
sensitive to rough treatment and corrections. You must be firm and
consistent because these dogs will try to get away with as much as
they can, but if you are not fair in your corrections and training,
Border Collies will become stressed. If that happens, they will
probably react in one of the following ways: they will turn completely
off, possibly rolling onto their backs in submission, or acting very
engrossed in something else and paying no attention to you (avoidance
behavior); or they will become more anxious and "hyped up," trying to
do everything in triple time, which will cause them to make even more
mistakes. Motivational-type training works best with sensitive dogs
like Border Collies. It brings out the best in them, helping to turn
them into excellent, happy workers.

Attention-training is important for Border Collies that will be shown
in obedience competition. These dogs are very sight-oriented, and are
easily distracted by anything moving around them. A dog that is gazing
up a his handler cannot pay attention to other things that are
happening around him.

Border Collies make wonderful trick dogs. They love to learn new
things and can be taught many behaviors, such as sitting up, playing
dead, rolling over, etc. This is why these dogs are so popular in
movies and television.

In summary, Border Collies are much more work than most other breeds.
They do not typically make easy family pets. If you have never been
around one, try to spend some time with the breed before you decide to
get one. Many Border Collies end up in shelters when their owners find
that they are just too much trouble to have around because they need
so much exercise, attention, and training/mental stimulation.


RECOGNIZED

American Kennel Club (Miscellaneous group)
Australian National Kennel Council
FCI
Kennel Club of Great Britain
United Kennel Club


SPECIAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS

Like most medium- and large-sized dogs, Border Collies are prone to
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), which can cause mild to severe lameness,
so be sure to look for breeders that certify their dogs through the
OFA.

A disease that can cause lameness in the joints of young dogs (usually
from 6 to 12 months of age) is Osteochondritis Desicans (OCD). This is
a degenerative disease of the joints, and is possibly associated with
over-nutrition and too-fast growth of puppies.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is another problem. It generally
shows up in dogs around two years of age. At first it shows up as
night blindness, and slowly progresses over eight years or so to total
blindness. Dogs that are bred should have their eyes checked and
certified by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is another eye problem that is becoming more
and more common in Border Collies. Like PRA, CEA can also cause
blindness.

Congenital deafness can be a problem in predominantly white Border
Collies. Two predominantly white Border Collies should not be bred
with each other.

Border Collies are also prone to epilepsy, a neurological seizure
disorder.

Because of their low body fat, Border Collies are very susceptible to
barbiturate-based anesthetics. This is something that you should
discuss with your veterinarian before any kind of surgery or procedure
for which your dog will be anesthetized.


REFERENCES

1.  Books

AKC, _Misc Class Breeds_, November 1985

Billingham, Viv, _One Woman and Her Dog_, Hi-Ridge Farm, Ontario,
Canada

Carpenter, E. B., _Blue Ribband of the Heather: The Supreme Champions
1906 - 1988_, Farming Press Books, Ipswich, UK, 1989

Combe, Iris, _Border Collies_, Faber and Faber, London

Jones, H. Glyn, _A Way of Life_, Diamond Farm Enterprises, Alexandria,
NY, 1987

Larson, Janet E., _The Versatile Border Collie_, Alpine Publications,
Inc., Loveland, Colorado, 1987

Longton, Tim, and Hart, Edward, _The Sheepdog: Its Work and Training_,
David and Charles, London, 1976

McCaig, Donald, _Nop's Trials_ (Fiction), Crown Publishers, New York,
NY, 1984

McCaig, Donald, _Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men_, Burlingame Books, New
York, NY, 1991

Wilcox, Bonnie, DVM, and Walkowicz, Chris, _Atlas of Dog Breeds_, TFH
Publications, Inc., 1991

2.  Periodicals

American Border Collie Newsletter
12056 Mt. Vernon Ave. #303
Grand Terrace, CA 92324-5116
[phone] or [phone]

Border Collie News
RFD #3, Pinecrest Lane
Durham, NH  03824  USA

The National Stock Dog Magazine
312 Portland Road
Waterloo, WI  53594

The Shepard's Dogge
Woolgather Farm
Box 843
Ithaca, NY

The Working Border Collie Magazine
14933 Kirkwood Road
Sidney, OH  45365

United States Border Collie Club Newsletter
Route 1, Box 83-D
Julian, PA  16844

3.  Breed Rescue Organizations

Nancy Starkey
The Border Collie Rescue Organization
Mount Airy, Maryland
[phone]

4.  Breeders

Disclaimer: These breeders have been recommended in good faith by
readers of Rec.pets.dogs.  However, you are still responsible for
verifying that a particular breeder meets your needs to your
satisfaction.

Heelalong Kennels
Dick and Kay Guetzloff
145 South Penn
Prescott, AZ  86303

MacLeod Border Collies
Janet Lewis
RD 2, Box 361
Huntingdon, PA 16652

Norwood Border Collies
Joyce Norris
Rt. 1, Box 275A
Waltonville, IL  62894

Tystar Kennels
Mary and Richard Whorton
815 Royal Oaks Drive
Durham, NC  27712

5.  Registries

The American Border Collie Association Inc. (ABCA)
R. 4, Box 255, Perkinston, MS  39573, USA

The American-International Border Collie Registry, Inc. (AIBC)
Runnels, IA  50237, USA

The North American Sheep Dog Society (NASDS)
RR 3, McLeansboro, IL  62859, USA

The Kennel Club
I-4 Clarges St. Piccadilly
London, W1Y8AB, England

The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS)
Chesam House, 47 Bromham Road
Bedford, England MK40 2AA

The Australian National Kennel Council
Royal Show Grounds
Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia

The United Kennel Club (UKC)
100 East Kilgore Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 USA

6.  Breed Clubs

Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with any inquiry.

The Australian Border Collie Society
Pitt Town, NSW 2756, Australia

The Border Collie Club of America
RFD 3, Pinecrest Lane
Durham, NH  03824 USA

The Border Collie Club of Great Britain
Firbeck, Worksop
Nottinghamshire, England

The United States Border Collie Club
Route 1, Box 83-D
Julian, PA  16844 USA