Border Collie Australia

The Border Collie is a working dog used for herding in the border country between England and Scotland. This is how it came by its name. They are still used for herding today around the world on farms and ranches in various locations.

Appearance
Because they have been bred to work and not to put on display, most Border Collies vary in appearance greatly. They are generally medium sized dogs without extreme physical characteristics. They have a moderate amount of fur. The double coat found on this collie can be slick or lush. It can also come in many different colours. Black and white is the most common colour, while black tan and white tricolour is also seen regularly. Red and white is also common, while blue and white, red merle, blue merle, and sable are seen less frequently. The eyes of these animals also vary greatly, with colours such as amber to dark brown to blue possible. It is even possible to have a collie with two eyes that are different colours. The ears are also highly variable, with drooped ears, erect ears, and semi erect ears possible.

While the traditional Border Collie ranges quite a bit in appearance, the appearance of those collies bred as show dogs are much more uniform in appearance. Kennel club standards dictate specific colours, ear structure, eye colour, and other physical features. They also dictate that the dog much have a keen and intelligent expression.

Temperament
Border Collies tend to be reserved with strangers, but they can be very protective of their owners. In addition, they can be very affectionate to the people they are familiar with. As a working dog the Border Collie has a lot of energy and therefore requires a lot of attention. They will herd anything, including people and other pets. This dog loves to play to the point of exhaustion or dehydration. They really have more energy and vitality than any living being should possess.

There are not a lot of special care requirements for the Border Collie. It is important, however, that you spend a lot of time with your dog. You should have plenty of structured activities for it to participate in to keep it from going haywire and being destructive. You have to make sure that the animal gets a ton of exercise. In addition, these dogs will play until they can play no more, and keep going. It is your responsibility as a dog owner to make sure that the dog stops playing before they become dehydrated or so tired that they can injure themselves.

Hip dysplasia is common among these dogs, so you will want to visit the vet regularly to catch health problems early. They may also have hearing or sight problems.

Breed Standards
Breed standards vary depending on if the competition is concerned with the dog being able to perform its work duties or appearance. These dogs are capable of amazing feats of athleticism, endurance, and focus. They are also highly trainable, which means that they can easily be coerced into running through the obstacles necessary to win competitions where ability is key.

This breed is also often entered into bench or ring shows, and for these there is a different set of standards of how the dog should look and behave. In New Zealand and Australia, where the breed has been shown the longest, standards dictate that the dog has a long double coat, soft dark eyes, a body slightly longer than being square, and a gentle and friendly expression.

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