Border Collie, also known as Border Collie Shepherd, is one of the Collie Shepherd breeds. Their intelligence is equivalent to that of a 6-8-year-old child, making them the smartest breed in the world.
They have a long history as herding dogs, with a strong instinct for herding. They can drive the flock to move or rotate with a gaze. Even now, when many working dogs and herding dogs have entered human households and gradually faded their innate mission, Border Collies still remain active in the wild, pastures, and stick to their posts.
They are naturally intelligent, gentle, agile, not aggressive or shy. They are energetic, have strong learning abilities, high comprehension, good at observing words and colors, and can accurately understand the owner's instructions. Their loyalty can be described as being as close as shadows.
With their mild and loyal temperament, as well as not barking excessively, they have become the most popular pets among urban populations. Border Collies are also the most competitive breed in the Frisbee dog sport and have been the protagonists of the annual Frisbee Dog World Cup.
Geronimo, the Border Collie from Frederick County, Maryland, USA, set the Guinness World Record for the most number of jumps in one minute by a dog with a record of 91 jumps.
Border Collie, originating in the 17th century, is native to the Scottish border and is mainly distributed in four countries - the UK, the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the earliest period, grazed sheep in Scotland and dogs used to watch over them were discovered on the Scottish Isles. Those dogs were brought by priests who moved from Ireland to Scotland and arrived before the early Vikings invaded Scotland. However, in such rugged geographical environments, people had to rely on dogs to gather, drive, and watch over livestock. According to the origin of modern herding dogs, they have the ability of 'eye control', which was developed and trained by shepherds in the border areas of England and Scotland. Therefore, these dogs are called "Border Collies".
The Border Collie, with its innate intelligence and ability to read people's expressions, is highly loyal and can accurately understand its owner's instructions. It does not bark randomly and is not only the best pet dog in daily life, but also an excellent watchdog in the family.
This breed requires a large amount of exercise and is suitable for living in areas with spacious grounds.
Due to the need for careful grooming of its fur, it is not suitable for busy working professionals to raise.
Pododermatitis
Symptoms: The dog frequently licks its toes, the interdigital spaces become red and moist, and severe cases may result in lameness.
Preparation: Iodine, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar.
Instructions: Wear the Elizabethan collar, remove the hair from the feet, wash with soapy water or wipe with iodine. After the affected area is dry, apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day, repeating for a week.
Ear mites
Symptoms: The dog scratches and shakes its ears. The dog's ears have a strong sour smell, accompanied by increased tear stains, hair loss in the ears, and dark brown secretions and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleanser, ear wash.
Instructions: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear cleanser or vet ear wash into the ear canal, gently massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds, let the dog shake out the ear cleanser, use a cotton ball to wipe away the discharged secretions, and gently clean the earlobe and ear canal.
Skin disease
Symptoms: The dog feels itchy, its skin becomes red and itchy, the dog scratches randomly, the fur becomes dull and rough, there are more dandruff, and even large patches of hair loss.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or spray, vitamin B.
Instructions: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking. Trim the dog's problem skin and surrounding hair. Rinse with saline solution to kill bacteria, then apply ointment or use spray, and use antibiotics and vitamin B for treatment.
The feeding of Border Collies is not much different from other dogs. After weaning, puppies can start eating puppy food. Because puppies have limited digestibility, they can be fed 3-4 times a day. Dogs over 8 months old and adult dogs can be fed once a day. However, it should be moderate, eating until about 80% full is enough. It is best to feed them about 40 minutes after a walk.
Border Collies should be well-groomed at least three times a week. This is quite important: firstly, it is a good opportunity to get close to your beloved dog, and secondly, you can check if there are any fleas, ticks, lumps, ear infections, or damage to the paw pads.
Border Collies are not very resistant to bacteria, so vaccination is necessary. Canine five-in-one vaccine is a must, and vaccination against encephalitis and rabies is also recommended. Vaccines are all weak viruses that will not harm the dog's health. However, remember to measure the body temperature before vaccination and do not vaccinate the dog when it is weak, otherwise it may be dangerous.
There is no need to worry about the toenail problem of Border Collies, as long as they have enough exercise, their toenails will naturally be worn down.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Giving dogs a bath should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog one or two more times, and in winter, you can reduce the frequency by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when seasonal shedding is more severe. Brushing regularly is an important step for good fur growth. Pet owners can use special pet brushes to help dogs remove naturally shed fur and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of the dog's fur and can make the fur more shiny. In addition to that, sunbathing for dogs can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let dogs exercise a bit, which can improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites consume a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of nutrition. Therefore, regular deworming is necessary. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Deworming medications can cause significant damage to the dog's digestive system, so it is advisable to feed them with probiotics on a regular basis to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
If you want your dog to have a beautiful coat, you must lay a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On one hand, feed your dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for your dog and provides sufficient nutrition to meet their needs. On the other hand, you can also give your dog a proper amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
Pet Encyclopedia
