Border Collie

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
60+ min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Frequent
Barking preference
Moderate
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mr Michael Rood (Livenlaugh)

livenlaughbc@gmail.com
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Breeder - Mrs Tracie Buckley (BALLYANN)

ballyannbcs@bigpond.com
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History

The Border Collie originated in Scotland and can be traced back for 350 years. The name is derived from the area of its origin – the border of Scotland and England. It was introduced into northern England during the great droving days of the 18th century; it was here that one of the foundation stud dogs, ‘Old Hemp’, was whelped. It was ﬁ rst imported into Australia in 1901 and recognised as an Australian Working Dog breed in 1953. Although it isn’t an Australian Breed, its contribution to the Australian sheep industry and unique Australian heritage has led Borders to receive a form of breed nationalisation. Australia is also regarded as the Country of Development for the Border Collie in the conformation ring.

Temperament

Borders have all the characteristics of a working dog: it is an intelligent, athletic, faithful dog with an inherent desire to please. Borders are agile, active dogs and while it is a breed capable of covering the ground at great speed and executing sudden, sharp turns, it can also display great patience and control, often characterised by the famous Border Collie ‘creep’ and the motionless stance whilst giving stock the ‘eye’.

Photo by Michelle Sherwin. Submitted by Helen Moorehead.Leo and Tinka 2022 bb party

Appearance

Borders are moderately sized with males 48-53cm at the shoulders and females 46-51cm.

Coats colours include the base pigments of black, chocolate (brown), blue (dilute black) or lilac (dilute chocolate), all with matching nose, lips, eye rims and pads. Any shade of red coat, can occur on with any of the 4 base skin pigment colours. Coat patterns of tan point, sable and merle, can also occur on any base pigment colour and in any combination with each other. Red coat will mask coat patterns including merle. All dogs have some white markings to a greater or lesser degree but white must not predominate.

Health Issues

Border Collies have an average life expectancy of 12-15 years.

They are a generally healthy breed although a number of hereditary diseases occur in the breed. Fortunately, for many diseases, DNA tests are available and reputable breeders always test their breeding stock to ensure that no puppies are affected by any of these diseases. Where only a physical test is available, for example Hip Dysplasia (HD), breeders screen their dogs to reduce the likelihood of these conditions occurring in their puppies.

When purchasing a puppy, please ensure that breeders provide evidence of the DNA test results and physical test results (for example Hip/Elbow/Eye results) for the sire and dam.

DNA Tests available for hereditary diseases affecting Border Collies are:

● Collie Eye Anomaly/ Choroidal Hypoplasia (CEA/CH)

● Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)

● Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5)

● Raine Syndrome /Canine Dental Hypomineralisation (RS or DH)

● Imerslund-Grasbeck Syndrome (IGS) [aka Intestinal Cobalamin (Vit B12) Malabsortion (ICM)]

● Sensory Neuropathy (SN)

● Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

● Multi Drug Resistance (MDR1)

● Goniodysgenesis predisposition (Goniodysgenesis/Glaucoma)

● Early Adult Onset Deafness (EAOD)

Physical Tests available for hereditary diseases or disorders affecting Border Collies are:

● Hip and Elbow Dysplasia (HD and ED) – X-rays and Scoring by ANKC approved panel (CHEDS)

● Eye Diseases - Glaucoma, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) - examinations/screening by Canine Opthalmologist (ANKC ACES)

Diseases for which no test is available include Discoid Lupus (Collie Nose), Epilepsy and Border Collie Collapse (BCC). Buyers should ask the breeder whether there is a history of these diseases in the parents. Parents affected by these conditions should not be bred from to reduce the risk of producing an affected puppy.

Before purchasing a Border Collie puppy, please take the time to visit the website of the National Border Collie Council where you will find lots of helpful information regarding Border Collies including full details of the various health testing that is undertaken by responsible breeders. Please visit: https://www.nationalbordercolliecouncilau.org/breed-health.html

Suitability

Most of today’s Border Collies don’t work so their energy and intelligence is channeled into activities including Obedience, Agility, Tracking and showing. Being very intelligent, Border Collies are easily trained; however, this breed also needs a structured and disciplined environment. Catering for mental energy is just as important as physical exercise. Border Collies need an active owner who is willing to involve the dog in all family activities in addition to some socialisation and formal training.

Maintenance and Grooming

Border Collies have a moderately long, medium-textured topcoat and a short dense undercoat, which provides good insulation and weather protection. Generally, the coat is not subject to matting and tangling although this can occur during a coat drop if the dead hair is not removed.

Information from The Border Collie Club of NSW
Image: Border Pix N Art Photography

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Border Collie you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Border Collie and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 19 Jul 2018)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The general appearance shall be that of a well proportioned dog, the smooth outline showing quality, gracefulness and perfect balance, combined with sufficient substance to ensure that it is capable of enduring long periods of active duty in its intended task as a working sheep dog. Any tendency to coarseness or weediness is undesirable.

Characteristics

The Border Collie is highly intelligent, with an instinctive tendency to work and is readily responsive to training. Its keen, alert and eager expression add to its intelligent appearance, whilst its loyal and faithful nature demonstrates that it is at all times kindly disposed towards stock. Any aspect of structure or temperament foreign to a working dog is uncharacteristic.

Temperament

(See under Characteristics)

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	The skull is broad and flat between the ears, slightly narrowing to the eye, with a pronounced stop, cheeks deep but not prominent. The muzzle tapering to the nose, is strong and the same length as the skull. The lips are tight and clean and the nose is large with open nostrils. The nose colour in all dogs will be a solid colour with no pink or light pigment, and shall complement the background colour of the dog.
Eyes	The eyes are set wide apart, oval shaped of moderate size harmonising with the colour of the coat but darker colour preferred, except in the case of chocolate where a lighter colour is permissible and in the case of merles where blue is permissible. The expression is mild but keen, alert and intelligent.
Ears	Medium size and texture, set well apart. Carried erect or semierect and sensitive in use.
Mouth	The teeth should be sound, strong and evenly spaced, the lower incisors just behind but touching the upper, that is a scissor bite.
Neck	The neck is of good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadening to the shoulders, without throatiness or coarseness.
Forequarters	The shoulders are long, and well angulated to the upper arm, neither in nor out at elbow. The forelegs are well boned, straight and parallel when viewed from the front. Pasterns show flexibility with a slight slope when viewed from the side.
Body	The body is moderately long with well sprung ribs tapering to a fairly deep and moderately broad chest. The loins are broad, deep, muscular and only slightly arched, flanks deep and not cut up.
Hindquarters	The hindquarters are broad and muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to the set on of tail. The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular with well turned stifles and strong hocks, well let down, and when viewed from the rear are straight and parallel.
Feet	Oval in shape, pads deep, strong and sound, toes moderately arched and close together. Nails short and strong.
Tail	The tail is moderately long, set on low, well furnished and with an upward swirl towards the end, completing the graceful contour and balance of the dog. The tail may be raised in excitement, but not carried over the back.
Gait/Movement	The movement is free, smooth and tireless, with a minimum lift of the feet, conveying the impression of the ability to move with great stealth. The action, viewed from the front, should be straight forward and true, without weakness at shoulders, elbows or pasterns. Viewed from behind the quarters thrust with strength and flexibility, with hocks not close nor too far apart. When trotting, the dog's feet tend to come closer together as speed increases, but when the dog comes to rest he should stand four square. Any tendency to stiltiness or to cowhocks or bowhocks is a serious fault.
Coat	HAIR: Two varieties: Moderately long or Smooth. In both, topcoat dense and medium textured, undercoat soft and dense giving good weather resistance. In the moderately long-coated variety, abundant coat forms mane, breeching and brush. On face, ears, forelegs (except for feather), hindlegs from hock to ground, hair should be short and smooth.
Colour	Variety of colours permissible. White should never predominate.
Size	Height:Dogs 48-53 cm (approx. 19-21 ins) at withersBitches 46-51 cm (approx. 18-20 ins) at withers

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.