Border Collie

[Mystiqview]

QUESTIONS

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

Breeder, Exhibitor. Competed with my border collies in show, herding and obedience

2. Where and why was the breed first developed?

As per others replies. I think they have answered well.

3. How common is it in Australia?

Very common.

4. What is the average lifespan?

Many BC's live to about 14 years.

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

They are active and loyal. Border Collies are a versatile breed. They make good family pets, but they can also be destructive when left to their own devices. They require a good amount of mental stimulation as much as they need physical activity. They need to be part of the family. Border collies can be very soft natured dogs and do not do well under harsh training and can suffer as young puppies from poor early socialisation.

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

Depending on the individual animal. I have two here who are lounge lizzards, yet siblings require a lot of exercise. Care should be taken to pick the right breeder who breeds temperament suitable to the new family's need.

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

Very subjective question. I know of first time puppy owners who cannot cope with an animal of this breed. Others cannot cope with the amount of hair the animal naturally drops. Care should be taken not to pick your puppy based on markings alone. A border collie does not need to be classically marked to be a good pet. Make sure you talk to your breeder about your requirements in the new addition and choose your puppy based on temperament. There are other first time owners who cope very well with this breed.

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

Again very subjective. There are animals who cope very well solo and others who do not. Again make sure you choose your pet based on temperament and attributes from the parents and the individual puppy.

9. How much grooming is required?

Moderate to high. Bitches will blow their coat when they come into season and males generally yearly. Matts can easily be formed behind the ears, in pantaloons, under the armpits to name a few places. Regular grooming of dead hair is essential to keep your pet happy from the pain these can cause.

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

Can be. Any dog should be supervised with young children. A border collie is no different. They can be a bit jumpy if not taught correct manners. They can also like to mouth.

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

What others have said. CEA, CL and TNS. Hip and elbow scored are tests that a good breeder does regardless. A breeder should be aware of particular issues within their lines. un-descended testicles, Hip Displacia, Elbow Displacia, OCD of the shoulder, bad bites (mouths), poor pigmentation issues and in some cases immune concerns.

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)

What issues does the breeder know within their lines. (some examples are listed above)

DNA status of the parents and possible DNA status of the pups (if a carrier was used)

Temperament of the parents/Grandparents/progeny: Not just "they are great with kids" - A breeder should be able to critique the temperament of the dogs/puppies to attempt to match best temperament with owner/puppy.

Conditions/Contracts etc that maybe applicable

I thought Benshiva you made an excellent response. Very hard to top yours

One final thought: If there is a colour preference, be wary of claims of "Rare" by breeders. Many colours advertised as "rare" are not rare at all and happen naturally within the breed. In Australia, only a few of all the colours possible are eligible for what is called "Main Registration" and therefore breeding. The other colours while occurring naturally within the breed are not recognised in Australia's breed standard.

These other colours are becoming popular in some areas and there is an increase on breeding these non-recognised colours. An increase in price does not necessarily mean in increase in quality. Make sure the breeder is focussed on quality in their breeding program and due care is taken to ensure temperament and health concerns are addressed.

[Sherlot]

QUESTIONS

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

owner, breeder (to be) shower, competitor..

2. Where and why was the breed first developed?

bred on the border of scotland and england to herd sheep.. bred for there agility and movement to work sheep in the hill country side of UK

3. How common is it in Australia?

I would guess one of the most common dogs in australia, mainly due to there intelligence and companionship

4. What is the average lifespan?

13 or so years..

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

the b/c is a very intelligent dog, requires a lot of stimulation - whether exercise or brain training. the b/c has a desire to work work work and when everyone else has stopped.. work.. the b/c is a faithful friendly dog and enjoys being a part of the family..

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

mine all get 30mins a day.. sometimes on wet days this involves obedience training inside..

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

a first time owner needs to be involved in some form of training, whether this is obedience, agility or herding or even puppy schools.. its a dog that is so clever and can work out how to frustrate an owner with little knowledge of dog training

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

a solo border collie that is left for too long will make friends with your laundry, shoes, carpet or pillows.. but treats and toes designed for entertainment will keep this active intelligent dog from destroy all of the above listed items

9. How much grooming is required?

a brush once a week should be sufficient, twice a week will half the vaccuuming if your dog is an indoor dog..

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

a border collie can become boisterous, but some training will ensure a well behaved pet..

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

Hip dysplasia, CEA, CL, TNS are the main ones.. all reputable breeders will have health checks done for same

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)

copies of health checks

ability to at least meet the mum if the dad is an interstate dog..

copies of all papers and buyers booklet

sample of food

contact information for tips with puppy problems

puppy guarentee

registration information

temperament of sire and damn

training information

list could go on forever

[shortstep]

We have a rough outline ready for what we will be doing for the Border Collie breed in our new registry.

If anyone is interested in giving us some feed back on that before we put the final tick on it all your input woud be appreciated.

Breeders and owners of show and or working dogs of this breed are welcome to have a look.

please email [email protected]

Just saw this, have looked around on MDBA web site but cannot find it.

Can you give me the link?

thanks

[Wimbawe]

Am looking at adopting a 4 1/2 year old pure bread border collie. Is there anything i need to look out for or specific questions to ask?

Thanks

[Sherlot]

Am looking at adopting a 4 1/2 year old pure bread border collie. Is there anything i need to look out for or specific questions to ask?

Thanks

i'm sure its abit late,

first question should be..

1. why are you giving it up?

2. what training has it done

3. what do you feed it

4. how often do you excersise

5. any bad habbits

6. any funny querks...

7. list of commands

[laurajaye]

Hi there!

I have recently brought home a gorgeous chocolate border collie pup and he is now 16 weeks old!

He is the most beautiful, smart and loyal dog I ever could have hoped for and already knows sit, lay, stand, shake, come and stay :D

He is booked in to be neutered in 2 weeks but I am concerned that this may be a bit young??

I would like him to be able to reach full maturity (and not stay in the puppy state forever!) as his dad was so handsome and I'd like him to be able to develop fully, but I've been doing a bit of research and some people suggest that neutering them early can cause them to not develop fully in the head and legs... is this true? The vet suggested this is a good age and I understand it can stop them developing some of the less-desirable male urges and can also reduce the risk of different diseases and cancers. I'm also a little bit concerned as his testes haven't dropped yet and are barely showing.

Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice??

Thankyou!!

[BCNut]

Hi :)

I have a 7mth old Border pup and my vet has recommended neutering @ about 12 months of age. I understand this is to allow the hormones to develop the bones, muscles etc for as long as possible.

But I would be interested to see if anyone else has heard different too?

[dragonwoman]

Hi :)

I have a 7mth old Border pup and my vet has recommended neutering @ about 12 months of age. I understand this is to allow the hormones to develop the bones, muscles etc for as long as possible.

But I would be interested to see if anyone else has heard different too?

Personally I would wait until 15 months or longer if you don't have a health or temperament problem What an enlightened vet!!

[BCNut]

Thanks! Here goes!

What would you consider temperament problems? Do you mean aggression, incessant humping, marking etc?

[dragonwoman]

Thanks! Here goes!

What would you consider temperament problems? Do you mean aggression, incessant humping, marking etc?

Dog aggression. Other examples can be managed, teenage dogs can be a pain though, can't blame them for trying anything, they need a leader Simply don't believe desexing is the panacea it's claimed to be behaviour wise

[BCNut]

Yes, from what I understand the procedure does little if anything to solve behavioural problems; these would generally be engrained in the dog's psyche by then.

Thanks for the advice :)

[Decadence]

Yes, from what I understand the procedure does little if anything to solve behavioural problems; these would generally be engrained in the dog's psyche by then.

Thanks for the advice :)

Our vet recommended that our puppies both be desexed at 6 months. When she saw the look on my face she asked if I was going to breed them. I said 'no, but I may want to show the girl'. I really think 6 months is too young for bcs and I really want my boy, Shadow, to mature fully before he gets the snip.

[BC Crazy]

I had both my BC's desexed at 6 months of age. As recommended by both their breeders & my Vet with no problems what so ever. Both recovered well & matured beautifully :)

[Bordercollies7]

Hi all,

In relation to Border Collie pups what can I expect to pay ? And is it right that depending on colour will determine the price ? A beautiful black and white one will be less then a brown / white / blue / white etc.. Any feed back will assist.

I have been quoted several hundred $$$$ more for a chocolate / white pup as opposed to a black / white one.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[BC Crazy]

If a breeder is trying to charge you more for a coloured puppy I would avoid them big time. A decent breeder will have one price across the board regardless of colour. Sometimes they will charge

a little more for a mains register dog as opposed to a limited reg. pup but that is it. I am not a breeder, just going by personal experience. I think you will probably pay around $1,000 for a well breed dog

from a reputable breeder. Hope I was of some help & welcome to the DOl forum :)

[BCNut]

If a breeder is trying to charge you more for a coloured puppy I would avoid them big time. A decent breeder will have one price across the board regardless of colour. Sometimes they will charge

a little more for a mains register dog as opposed to a limited reg. pup but that is it. I am not a breeder, just going by personal experience. I think you will probably pay around $1,000 for a well breed dog

from a reputable breeder. Hope I was of some help & welcome to the DOl forum :)

Totally agree with this...

BC7, apologies, I did mean to point you at the border collie pictures forum - this topic was discussed a bit more about 4 weeks ago, here's a link: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/66907-border-collie-pics/page__st__27390

Hopefully that works from about pg 1827-1832 is all pretty relevant to your decision.

Hope this helps and welcome :)

[Bordercollies7]

If a breeder is trying to charge you more for a coloured puppy I would avoid them big time. A decent breeder will have one price across the board regardless of colour. Sometimes they will charge

a little more for a mains register dog as opposed to a limited reg. pup but that is it. I am not a breeder, just going by personal experience. I think you will probably pay around $1,000 for a well breed dog

from a reputable breeder. Hope I was of some help & welcome to the DOl forum :)

Totally agree with this...

BC7, apologies, I did mean to point you at the border collie pictures forum - this topic was discussed a bit more about 4 weeks ago, here's a link: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/66907-border-collie-pics/page__st__27390

Hopefully that works from about pg 1827-1832 is all pretty relevant to your decision.

Hope this helps and welcome :)

Thank you both for your help.

[Tassie]

If a breeder is trying to charge you more for a coloured puppy I would avoid them big time. A decent breeder will have one price across the board regardless of colour. Sometimes they will charge

a little more for a mains register dog as opposed to a limited reg. pup but that is it. I am not a breeder, just going by personal experience. I think you will probably pay around $1,000 for a well breed dog

from a reputable breeder. Hope I was of some help & welcome to the DOl forum :)

Totally agree with this...

BC7, apologies, I did mean to point you at the border collie pictures forum - this topic was discussed a bit more about 4 weeks ago, here's a link: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/66907-border-collie-pics/page__st__27390

Hopefully that works from about pg 1827-1832 is all pretty relevant to your decision.

Hope this helps and welcome :)

Thank you both for your help.

And another who agrees. And there are several important things to check when considering buying a Border Collie. Personally I want to see at least a 3 generation pedigree - preferably 5. This gives me an idea of whether the breeder is breeding carefully, choosing parents which complement each other (avoiding a person who is just breeding dogs they happen to have in the yard, or have access to. It will also indicate whether the breeder is breeding primarily for performance disciplines and/or herding - or primarily for conformation. Either is fine .. it just really depends what you are after. Because I'm primarily a performance person, I like to see performance titles on relatives of the puppy I'm considering, although conformation titles as well are a real bonus.

Your breeder should be ANKC registered, and hold an ANKC prefix.

You should be informed of the status of at least the parents, in relation to the 3 main testable genetic problems in the breed. At least one parent should be clear (by parentage, or DNA test) for CEA, CL and TNS. Your breeder should be able to provide evidence of this.

You should also be asking for hip and elbow scores of the parents - it's helpful to have this information for other close relatives. You are looking for low scores, and preferably fairly even on both sides. Elbows should really be 0:0. Low scores are not a guarantee that a pup won't develop HD, because there are other factors which can influence this - but it's a good start, and being able to supply the test results shows the breeder is taking care.

Many breeders now are also undertaking mature eye exams - it's not compulsory, but again, shows a breeder who is concerned about the breed.

Personally, I steer clear of breeders who offer a whole litter on Main Register (which enables future showing and breeding). Even the best breeders are highly unlikely to get a litter full of show quality, breed worthy pups - and even then, they need buyers who they can rely on to do the right thing by the breed.

Good structure and good temperament and good genetic inheritance are far more important than colour.

Hope all that helps. Sorry - I get a bit carried away. :)

[ness]

There are also other emerging genetic conditions lurking in the breed so I would be quizzing any breeder about other "health" conditions which may have occurred in their lines and been reported back to them.

Any breeder who isn't open to discussing health issues for which there is a genetic basis which may have cropped up in their lines (in their dogs or ones placed in other homes) would be one I wouldn't be considering.

Unfortunately things happen even with the best will in the world but after having been down the path of lucking out with BC who happens to have BC collapse (among other genetic issues) and tentatively considering breeders for a future pup when I have raised the question I have had a varied response but also found out about other health issues in lines. I wouldn't have known to ask until I have been down the path I have been and its certainly not one I would wish on any prospective BC owner.

Hopefully its one of a few conditions for which there will eventually be a genetic test available and the sooner the better in my book.

Edited July 17, 2013 by ness

[dancinbcs]

Hi all,

In relation to Border Collie pups what can I expect to pay ? And is it right that depending on colour will determine the price ? A beautiful black and white one will be less then a brown / white / blue / white etc.. Any feed back will assist.

I have been quoted several hundred $$$$ more for a chocolate / white pup as opposed to a black / white one.

Thanks in advance for your help.

A sure sign of a shonky breeder is that they charge more for different colours. Reputable breeders charge the same amount for all puppies in the litter, regardless of colour or sex. Average price for a well bred puppy from fully health tested parents is about $1000 to $1200.