Oops, just found this... ;) I decided to answer even though I don't actually own a BC at the moment (I lost my last boy on NYE ) as they are still a breed that is close to my heart, and one I will always maintain a keen interest in :D
QUESTIONS
1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)
Ex-breeder, exhibitor and owner since 1991
2. Where and why was the breed first developed?
This has been answered very well in the other posts ;)
3. How common is it in Australia?
Very common - unfortunately also popular with less-than-scrupulous BYB's who tend to breed for "rare" colours
4. What is the average lifespan?
I'd say around the 12 - 15yr mark; my oldest made it to 14 & 3/4. My grandmother's BC in the UK lived till nearly 17 though - there are always exceptions
5. What is the general temperament/personality?
A loyal, intelligent, active dog who thrives on routine and/or having a 'job' to do; extremely willing to please their owner; friendly without being ridiculously effusive; great with kids who are great with dogs! ;); they are very much individuals - no two of mine were ever the same and consequently what worked for one training-wise didn't necessarily work for the others; I found bitches to be a little more independant than the dogs - my boys were my cuddlers, the girls had better things to do most of the time!
6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?
Whilst regular physical exercise is of course essential for this active breed (and all breeds for that matter!) I found that the most important thing was mental exercise... you need to spend time every day with a BC making them use their brains for good - idle paws are the devil's playmate in this breed!
They thrive on having a job to do, be it obedience/agility training, or jogging with their owner, or chasing a ball/frisbee, or learning and practicing new tricks... my first BC used to get such a kick out of learning new things! He had a whole repertoire of "party tricks" such as fetching raw eggs without breaking them, rolling over in both directions, playing dead (complete with pointed fingers as the gun - "bang, you're dead!"), keeping a balloon from hitting the floor, spinning in alternate clockwise and anti-clockwise circles with a flick of my finger, talking with the most awesome "moo woo" sound on the command "Say Moo"... he was amazing. He did get his CD title but his handicap (me! ;) ) stopped him from achieving all he should have in the performance rings.
As far as physical exercise goes though, most BC's will take as much as you give them... any time spent with you is good time :D
7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?
Yes, as long as that owner was prepared to put some effort into working with their dog and including it as part of the family - they are NOT a breed to be left in the backyard and given food once a day... the same can of course be said for any breed really but BC's will create their own amusement if their need for mental stimulus is ignored :D
I got my first BC at 15 (the boy I mentioned above) as a reasonably novice owner - we had had family dogs but I was too young to have had any real input into their training etc - and whilst he did test me, especially as he was going through his teenage stage, he was a joy to own. I was committed to making him the best dog he could be though.
8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?
Hmmm.... yes, but to a point - as I said before I found them to be a dog who thrives on mental exercise and routine and as long as they know that they will have "people time" every single day, and will have plenty to occupy their minds whilst alone, they can and do cope reasonably well.
If an owner is prepared to spend time before and after work with their BC, training/playing/just being together etc the dog will quickly realise that this is the routine and will usually cope well.
9. How much grooming is required?
A reasonable amount - I found that if the dogs weren't going through a major seasonal coat drop then once a week was enough... however, coats differ and the thicker, heavier, fluffier coats will require more regular grooming than a good moderate double coat. Puppies, especially male puppies, require more regular grooming as they change from puppy coat to adult.
The usual spots for knots and tangles are behind the ears, under the forelegs, the pants and tail and the leg feathers but if you don't stay on top of the body coat, especially when moulting, you will end up with a thick felted undercoat, especially around the loin area, over the rump and through the ruff.
Train your BC from an early age to accept that grooming is a necessary (and enjoyable!) part of life and you won't have a problem... I used to brush my baby pups every single day, even just for 30 seconds or so, and so I never had to fight with my adults :D
10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?
This is a very subjective question - when I had my first child my last two BC's were 11 and 8 and so were past the bouncy stage but then again, my old girl was never really a bouncy dog even as a puppy. This can vary so much from dog to dog, pedigree to pedigree, and child to child!! ;)
Any dog who is to spend time around children and/or infirm people needs to be taught the correct way to behave, and any child who is to spend time around a dog needs to be taught the correct way to behave also! ;) Some dogs (in any/all breeds) are inherently quieter and less boisterous than others - this is where a good breeder comes in who will assess their puppies and match them to their new owners according to temperament/personality and the family situation it will be living in.
11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?
Yes; as mentioned below, any reputable breeder should be DNA testing (or breeding with certified clear by parentage) their stock for CL, CEA and TNS, as well as x-raying hips and elbows. Dancinbcs puts it very well below:
I'd just like to reiterate that there is no real problem with breeding responsibly from carriers of any of the three main hereditary diseases... we are so much better off now that we can go in with a clear picture as to our dogs' genetic health status - as opposed to flying blind in the past and having to rule out some fantastic dogs from breeding programs due to the unknown. No BC should ever have to be afflicted with these diseases ever again - the development of the DNA tests was the biggest gift ever to be given to Border Collies & the reputable breeders who first and foremost have the breed's welfare at heart
If I was still breeding I would still also be doing regular physical eye exams, even on DNA clear stock, just to ensure that no other eye problems were creeping in... I had bred a few pups with PPMs - that was something I was keeping an eye on (no pun intended! ;)) I can't stress enough though - make sure that any breeder you go to can back up any claims about their dogs' genetic health status with copies of certificates!
12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)
Healthwise - see above; and again - make sure your chosen breeder can back up all claimed health statuses (is that a word? ) with certificates.
I can't really add any more to what's already been listed by Benshiva, Dancinbcs, and pretty much everyone else who has answered so far ;) but I would just say - do your research, find a breeder who you would be happy to deal with for the next 12 - 15 years or so and take your time - your patience will be rewarded tenfold when you take home just the right puppy from just the right breeder :D
