The Border Collie is native to the border between England and Scotland. It has the pedigree of the Collie working dog in the area. It was officially named in 1915. The AKC classification belongs to the animal husbandry group. Because of its sensitive response and good endurance, the dog has been gradually used as a shepherd dog since 1873, and it has also been exported to many countries around the world. Because the dog is extremely smart, it is recognized as the world’s first in IQ, equivalent to a 6-8 year old child, and is currently used as a family play dog.
Border collie morphological characteristics
The border collie is the dog breed that ranks the first in dog IQ. It was first grown in the Scottish border and is also known as the Border Collie. This dog was regarded as a collie many years ago. It was not officially named after the “border collie” until 1915. . He belongs to the “workaholic type” and is full of energy. He does more than half of the sheep herding work in the world.
Morphological characteristics
body type
The male’s shoulder height ranges from 19 to 22 inches; the female’s shoulder height ranges from 18 to 21 inches. The body length (the distance from the end of the shoulder blades to the hips) is slightly greater than the height at the shoulders. The bones are strong, but not exaggerated, commensurate with the overall size. The overall balance of height, length, weight, and bone mass is very important, much more important than a single feature. Excess body weight should not be mistaken for muscle or bone mass. Any single feature that affects the overall balance will be considered a defect.
head
Expression: Smart, alert, enthusiastic and full of curiosity. Eyes: well divided, medium in size, oval. Eye circle pigment and eye color are brown; if the main body color is not black, the eye color will be significantly lighter. Lack of pigment under the eyes is a fault. Except for merle, blue eyes in dogs of other colors are to be faulted. Mountain bird-colored dogs are blue in one eye or blue in both eyes; part blue in one eye or blue in both eyes is allowed. Ears: Medium in size, well separated, with ears erect or half erect (keep 1/4 to 3/4 of the ears erect). The tip of the ear points to the front or to the sides. The ears are sensitive and flexible. Head: broad, with no prominent posterior occiput. The length of the head is equal to the length of the front face. The stop is moderate but clear. Muzzle: Slightly short, strong, and blunt, with a slightly thinner nose. The jaw is strong and well developed. The color of the nose is commensurate with the main body color, and the nostrils are well developed. The truncated muzzle is a fault. Bite: The teeth and jaws are strong, with a scissors bite.
the back of the neck
Neck: proper length, strong and muscular, slightly arched, gradually widening towards the shoulders. Topline: Flat, slightly arched at the back of the waist. Body: Robust appearance. The chest is deep and moderately wide, showing a huge chest volume. The chest reaches the elbow. The ribs are well expanded. The waist is moderately deep, muscular, slightly arched, and no lift. Gradually tilt the hips back. Tail: Low position, medium length, with coccyx extending to the hock. There is an upward vortex at the end. The tail hangs down to maintain balance when concentrating on completing the task. When excited, the tail may be raised to the height of the back. A slutty tail is a fault.
Forequarters
Viewed from the front, the forelimbs have well-developed bones and are parallel to each other. Viewed from the side, the ankle is slightly tilted. The angle between the shoulder blades and the upper arm is appropriate. The elbows are neither bent in nor out. Dewclaws can be removed. The feet are compact, ovoid, with deep and strong pads, and moderately arched, compact toes.
hindquarters
is broad and muscular, with a gentle outline leaning toward the tail. The thighs are long, wide, deep, and muscular. The angle of the knee joint is appropriate, the hock joint is strong, and the position is low. Viewed from behind, the hind limbs are well boned, straight, parallel to each other, and have very slight cow limbs. Dewclaws can be removed. The feet are compact, ovoid, with deep and strong pads, and moderately arched, compact toes. The toenails are short and strong.
coat
allows two types: coarse hair and short hair. Both types have a soft, dense, double coat that can withstand harsh weather. Puppies’ hair is short, soft, thick and waterproof. It transforms into undercoat in adulthood. Coarse hair type: Medium-length hair, flat texture, slightly wavy, short and smooth facial hair. The forelimbs are feathery. The hair on the back ankle can be cut short. As the age increases, the hair will gradually become very wavy, which is not a fault. Short-haired type: The hair on the whole body is very short, the forelimbs may be decorated with fur, and the chest is full of hair. [5]
colour
The Border Collie has many colors, various patterns and markings. The most common colors are black with (or without) white ribs, white collars, white socks, white tail tips, and with (or without) brown markings. Various colors of the body are allowed, with the exception of all white. Monochrome, two-color, three-color and traditional colors should be treated the same in the competition. Color and markings are secondary indicators in the game, body structure and gait are the main indicators.
Gait
The Border Collie is an agile dog that can suddenly change speed and direction without losing balance and grace. Endurance is the hallmark of this breed. Its trotting gait is stretched, smooth and effortless. The feet are the shortest distance from the ground. When it slides easily, there is no change in the top line (the top line is stable). Viewed from the side, it has a very large stride, while the stride frequency is very low, and its movements are fast and accurate. There is no slack in the shoulders, elbows and ankles. Viewed from the back, the drive of the limbs is strong and flexible. The hock is very close, but there is no crossing. Deviating from the above-mentioned correct gait is a fault. In the final review, gait is the most important feature, and based on this, judge whether the body structure is reasonable and correct.
temperament
The Border Collie is a smart, vigilant and sensitive breed. It is very friendly to friends and has obvious reservations to strangers, so it is a very good watchdog. It is also an excellent shepherd dog, he is willing to learn and is satisfied with it. And thrive in human friendship. Obviously aggressive or very shy are serious faults.
defect
Since the border collie entered China, the relevant criteria for determination began to change, and soon there was the saying that Qibai was in place, the neck was passed, and the legs were passed. This kind of misleading has persisted until now, and it has become more and more intense, and even more. The argument that the suit is defective is a defect that is considered to be a bad suit. If we want to talk about the flaws in design and color, there is only one: white cannot be the main color of Bian Mu.
disqualification condition
Any deviation from this standard is regarded as a defect, and its severity depends on the degree of deviation from this standard. If the deviation is too large, it should be regarded as a disqualification.
Border collie character characteristics
Research by canine behaviorists has shown that the border collie is the dog with the highest IQ in the world. It is born to shepherd. It does not take more than 5 times to teach him a new knowledge and he can complete it. The most powerful thing is that it obeys the first password. The probability is as high as 95%. A smart border collie can learn a lot even without professional training under the guidance of its owner, but it will fight with you as much as possible. Let you understand its purpose. It is full of vitality up and down, but usually they don’t move their muscles and bones by themselves, they just spend boring time by digging holes or biting things. They like sports: catching the ball or frisbee, swimming, jogging, and cycling. Running and climbing etc. The Border Collie is tenacious and docile, with a keen, alert, agile, and neither ferocious nor shy temperament. They are smart, easy to train, gentle, loyal, and obedient. The Collie Shepherd has a strong shepherd instinct, is intelligent by nature, can observe words and colors, and can truly understand the instructions of the owner. It has been regarded as a shepherd dog for many years, and it can drive the movement of the sheep through the gaze of the eyes.
Border Collie is energetic, alert and enthusiastic. IQ is comparable to that of a 6-8 year old kid, and being smart is one of his characteristics. Very kind to friends but obviously reserved towards strangers, being kind to children. He is also an excellent shepherd dog, he is willing to learn and is satisfied with it. And thrive in human friendship. It is suitable for living outdoors and requires a lot of exercise. The Border Collie is not only the best pet dog and companion dog in life, but also a good housekeeping dog in the family. He can watch TV, talk and play at home with his host. You will feel very proud to have him in your life.
Border collie maintenance knowledge
The border collie is a large dog with a moderately long double coat of fur. The young fur will become the bottom coat of an adult dog, and the outer coat will grow out as the dog ages. Every spring, when they change their winter undercoat, the border collie will have a big hair removal behavior. Female dogs that are not ovariectomized will also shed hair when they are in heat and when they are weaning their puppies.
The Border Collie should be well groomed, at least three times a week. This is very important for the following reasons: First of all, it is a good opportunity to get close to your dog and be able to check them for lice, fleas, lumps, ear infections, damage to the pads, etc. Things to pay attention to. You should have the following inspection or care equipment: puppy hair brushes, regular hair brushes, brushes with needles and bristles, combs for combing long hair, cutters or knives for knotted hair (please use caution), high quality Nail clippers, styptic powder or gel, high-quality dog bath or shampoo, hair conditioner, etc. (do not use human products), dog toothbrushes and toothpaste (also do not use human products).
Starting from a puppy, you can only use a soft brush and brush gently until its hair grows out, otherwise you will hurt the puppy’s skin and make them very uncomfortable, which will also cause many problems in the future. When you are grooming your puppy, you have to give him a lot of compliments or praise, and you have to make him feel that it is a very enjoyable thing. Brush all parts of the puppy thoroughly, paying special attention to the hair behind the ears, the hair under the front legs, and the tail hair. These areas are easy to get knots. Cut your puppy’s toes (the pink part that grows out) once a week. It can help your dog’s paws grow compact and dense. If you keep the toenails long, the dog’s paws will separate. After the puppy is one year old, depending on the length of its toenails, it may be cut once every two weeks. Both puppies and big dogs should not take more than two baths in a month, even when they are very dirty, should not exceed this number. If you bathe too much, their fur will be very dry.
For adult dogs, first use the puppy’s brush to brush the hair behind the ears, the hair under the front legs, and the inner hair. These are all very tender parts, so the puppy’s brush is softer and gentler.
Next, use a regular brush to brush the entire dog from the head over and over again. This will help remove broken hairs (these broken hairs can cause knots). It is best to use a plastic bag to collect these broken hairs. Make sure you brush the hind legs (which are particularly prone to knots) and the tail (some dogs have a particularly fluffy and frizzy tail), and then gently comb it again with a comb.
If you find a place that is not smooth, grab the hair in this part with one hand and straighten it with the comb in the other. It is best to scratch a little less hair at a time and comb it several times. If there is a large area of knotting, you can use a cutter or knife for knotting hair, aim at the knotted part with the sharp side, and cut it off. Please be especially careful when doing these things, because you can easily hurt your dog and yourself.
If the knot is very severe, it is best to take him to see a professional nursing staff. Finally, use a brush with needles and bristles to groom the dog. Use the bristle side to comb the dog’s face and body, and then use the bristle side to comb the tail and buttocks. Next, you should cut your dog’s nails, brush your teeth, and check your ears for any signs of inflammation or unpleasant odors. These are all signs that you should go to the veterinarian.
Remember to groom the dog thoroughly before bathing. Once its knot gets wet, it will get tighter and tighter until it is almost impossible to open it, so you have to cut it off. Knotting in hair is very painful for dogs, especially when it becomes tight. Bathe the dog in a bathtub or shower (I personally prefer to use a shower. Dogs don’t like standing in dirty water and dogs like to have a water massage).
Dogs do not like to bathe in cold water like humans. In addition, the dog will be washed more clean with warm water. Of course, the water temperature should be about the same as room temperature or only slightly warmer. If the dog trembles while washing, then the water temperature is too cold, if it pants, it means the water temperature is too hot (remember, the dog is easy to get fever, so watch this carefully).
With special shampoo, you can first add water to the basin to dilute and then bathe the dog with a towel or sponge. Remember to protect your dog’s ears when you flush them. Also, wash the dog’s face (around the eyes, nose and mouth) with a towel dipped in clean water. I always soap the dog twice and flush it twice (you will be surprised to find that there are so many dirty things washed off during the second wash).
Next, use conditioner (if needed) and rinse thoroughly. Otherwise, there will be a layer of mucous membrane on the dog’s fur that will easily stick to dirt. You can use a towel to dry the dog, or use a low-temperature air blower to dry it. Don’t let the dog go outside until it is completely dry (there is nothing more prone to dusting than wet fur).
When the dog is dry, I have to do it again. Remember that before bathing the dog, it is best to let it clean out its stomach and intestines outside. Of course, the bath should be done before feeding the dog.
I use a lot of rewards when I take a bath. Remember that the health of your dog’s fur comes from the inside (that is, proper nutrition), this is to ensure that his fur is shiny and gorgeous from the inside out.
If he has malnutrition or health problems, don’t bathe the dog too much. This will make his fur look brighter.
If the dog’s nutrition is appropriate, but the hair looks a bit dark or dry, you should suspect that there is a bug in the hair or a thyroid problem, and you should take him to see a doctor.
If the dog likes to rub his butt, most of it is the problem of Su Mu’s anal glands. Su Mu, who eats meat, often does not squeeze the anus, it will be more likely to cause inflammation of the anal glands. The anal glands should be cleaned regularly.
Border collie feeding points
The Border Collie ranks first in the canine IQ and has been praised by many pet lovers. Therefore, the price on the market is relatively high. But there are still many people who buy him for breeding. We need to know that no matter how smart a dog is, it needs a healthy diet and acquired training. So how should the most reasonable diet for the Border Collie be arranged?
1. Number and time of feeding
The number of feedings per day is roughly as follows: After weaning to three months old: three to four times three to six months old: two to three times six months to one year old: two times over one year old: the time of one or two feedings can be matched Your work and rest time, but it’s not just feeding, but also consider adding the time for walking the border collie, urinating, cleaning the potty, and washing the dishes after the meal. Wash the bowls immediately after a meal to prevent the residue from attracting rats, cockroaches, and ants, or the leftover food will be corrupted by sunlight and rain. Remove the bowl at the same time, so as not to play with the bowl or even bite it when it is bored. As for how much to feed, it is usually given according to the instructions, and then adjusted according to whether there is any remaining food from the last meal.
2 Considerations for buying imported food
When buying imported food, try to find those with Chinese instructions and the importer’s phone number. Because the canned dry food from across the ocean may exceed the expiration date, if it smells or becomes moldy. If it is wet and long, please ask the boss to return it immediately. You are welcome. After opening, it must be properly stored, the cans must be placed in the refrigerator, and the dry food must be sealed. When you buy it for the first time, don’t buy too much, but buy two or three in small quantities to see how the little border collie responds after eating it; including palatability. The degree of digestion and absorption, and the shape of excrement. Each variety says its product is the best, cheap and big, so you might as well consult a doctor and an experienced person.
3. How much is appropriate to eat
It’s good to give a border collie a seven-point full to eat. Don’t overdo it. Let it lick the bowl and lick it proudly. It’s easy to spit out intact if you eat most of it and run and jump after a meal. The border shepherd who is kept in the cage all the year round, eating is their rare entertainment, so they will be greedy like a starving ghost, don’t be fooled by them, thinking they are really hungry. But if you don’t eat enough, you don’t have a lot of activity, and your excretion is not good, the border collie may be really sick. It is best to take it to see a doctor. When changing the food for the dog, don’t change it all at once. Every time you mix half of the new food, try for two or three days, gradually increase the new portion, and then use the new one after a week. Only in this way can the digestive system of the Border Collie adapt to it, otherwise it will be prone to diarrhea. Many people think that a border collie is just about gnawing bones. In fact, gnawing bones can easily block the border collie’s intestines, causing it to be constipated, causing vomiting and poor appetite. Especially chicken bones must not be, because they are small and brittle, they can easily block the esophagus and pierce the gastrointestinal tract. When feeding, be sure to give plenty of water at the same time. There is no need to use distilled water or boiled water. Their intestines and stomach do not care about these. In short, the small border collie is happy and the whole family is happy with regular, quantitative, and fixed-point feeding.
For people who have never been in contact with a border collie, the first question is what to feed a border collie? How to feed it? In the past, border collie food was not on the market, so the owners mostly used leftovers, or chicken, chicken necks, etc. Come to feed the border collies, save money but trouble. Nowadays, there are various kinds of food for border collies, whether domestic or imported, and the prices are popular and very convenient.
4. Types of food for border collies
Border collie food mainly includes dry food and canned food. The other is snack biscuits, deodorant biscuits, beef jerky and so on. The main nutrients of various brands are similar. The high-priced ones have special food formulas. There are different considerations for various ages and varieties. You can compare them in advance. According to the growing age, let the dog eat border collie food suitable for it. Young and large eat puppies, adult dogs eat adult dogs, old border collies eat old border collies, and fat border collies eat fat border collies. Don’t be confused, lest you get too fat or thin. The nutritional content of dry food is relatively stable and average. The border collie can clean up dental calculus and relieve itching from chewing. But if you have problems with urinary stones, try to avoid eating dry food, unless it is a prescription feed for stones. According to the price, the nutritional content of canned food is also different. High-priced cans use better materials; low-priced canned foods are mostly unsmashed viscera. The advantage is that vitamins are less likely to be lost and the palatability is better. The disadvantage is that there are more meats and defecation. The smell is strong, and it is easy to get dental calculus after eating for a long time. Dry food is not as tasty as canned food, but it is easy to digest and absorb, and bowel movements are not so smelly.
Snacks can be used for life training and basic training, when the Border Collie does the right prize. Don’t give the border collie pictures to people’s snacks as it will spoil its appetite. Chewing gum, ice cream, cakes, these desserts are better to be less touched, on the one hand, it is easy to cavities. Intestines and stomach, on the one hand, it is also easy to gain weight. After eating too much sweetness, the biggest problem is that the border collie has no appetite for dinner.
5. Different types of border collies have different weights
The border collie is born with mother’s milk; when the teeth are weaned, you can start feeding it liquid food, the canned meat is heated with boiling water to make a paste, or the young dry food is heated to soften the water. At two months of age, you can start eating juvenile border collie food.
The large border collie is big and grows fast. You can add some nutrients such as calcium powder to the meal, but it must be taken in accordance with the doctor’s instructions and instructions. Some people raise large fighting border collies, and they like to feed them with raw meat to make them accustomed to blood. This is very dangerous; because undercooked meat is unhealthy. Secondly, after eating raw meat, when the owner forgets to feed or abandon it, it may endanger people. Many incidents of border collies attacking people are due to this.
Keeping a Border Collie can’t be vague, or you can’t like it so much. When it’s time to feed, you’re afraid of trouble and save trouble, and you can feed some leftovers of soup or canned food at a low price. You know that if you feed it for a long time, the border collie’s stomach will not be able to stand it. Moreover, there are too many livers in inexpensive canned foods, which can cause dental calculus after eating for a long time. In short, when you feed the border collie, you must use your heart and a balanced diet to allow the border collie to grow up healthily.
