Border Collie owner’s dog breed guide

Border Collie owner’s guide

Border Collies are highly intelligent and easy to train, making them an incredibly popular dog breed. Whether you already have a Border Collie, or are thinking about bringing one into your home, this handy guide will teach you everything that you need to know about this energetic breed of dog.

By the time you have finished reading, you should have a good understanding of the breed, as this guide explains what to expect from a Border Collie, answers common questions about the breed and looks at the best ways to overcome common Border Collie health problems.

History of Border Collies

The Border Collie was traditionally a breed used for herding sheep and other livestock, due to their agility and stamina. This breed has since become known for their dedication and ability to learn, making them a fantastic addition to families.

Border collie lifespan

One of the most commonly asked questions about this breed is “How long do Border Collies live?” The average Border Collie lifespan is between 10 to 17 years. They are considered to be puppies up until they reach maturity around the age of 2 and become a senior dog around the age of 8.

Border Collie Behaviour

Border Collies are known for being clever and highly trainable additions to any home. Typically eager to please and incredibly obedient, these courageous dogs require plenty of physical and mental stimulation to keep them occupied.

Their natural love of herding can mean that they are best suited to families with older, well-behaved children, as they may be keen to round up any running toddlers unless taught otherwise.

The perfect addition to an active family, these dedicated dogs can be trained relatively easily, enjoying working hard, however if they are not given adequate exercise, they can become unhappy and destructive.

Throughout their lives, the Border Collie may display different types of behaviour, but the right socialisation and active training will encourage this hyperactive breed to stay out of trouble.

As puppies, Border Collies have bundles of energy and are incredibly playful. They naturally mouth things while they explore, as well as using this as a way to relieve teething discomfort. Being calm and patient with training is key to allowing Border Collie puppies to express themselves without causing damage to the home. Healthy dog treats can be a wonderful addition to any training routine.

While they are still lively, some calm down a little as they make their way through adulthood, with those from the age of six usually displaying slightly less excitement. Remember that a suitable exercise routine and adequate mental challenges are great ways to make sure Border Collies lead fulfilled lives.

From around the age of 8, a Border Collie may begin to show slight behavioural changes, including having less energy or pace. As they get older, they are likely to become less playful and you may notice changes in the amount of attention that they want to be given. It’s important to take note of senior Border Collies’ changing preferences, as well as tailoring the amount of exercise to their abilities. Mixing up walking and running with scent work and other games can be a great way to reduce the strain on Border Collies’ bodies while making sure they have a great mental and physical workout.

Border collie size

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs. Their height and weight can vary based on a number of factors.

Border collie height

A fully grown Border Collie is around 18 to 22 inches tall, with males being slightly taller than females in this breed. They typically reach their adult height at the age of around 12 months, continuing to fill out their chest up to around 18 months of age.

Border collie weight guide

A typical healthy Border Collie weight for adults is between 13kg and 24kg, however this can vary depending on individual factors, including age, size and activity levels.

Click here to find out whether your Border Collie is of a healthy weight.

It is important to keep Border Collies within a healthy weight range, as excess weight puts additional strain on the joints, worsening symptoms of hip dysplasia and arthritis. By feeding an appropriate, nutritious diet in the right quantities, Border Collies can remain at a healthy weight throughout their life.

To find out how much you should be feeding your Border Collie, click here and enter your dog’s weight.

Average Border Collie weight ranges

Border Collie Exercise

So how much exercise do Border Collies need? As highly active dogs, a healthy adult Border Collie should have at least 2 hours of high-quality exercise per day. The amount of exercise should be tailored to fit their health, for example, a more energetic dog should have more exercise and an older, less mobile one will need to have less.

Splitting this exercise between at least 2 different walks is a great way to make sure Border Collies are able to lead active lifestyles that support their health. Remember to keep dogs’ brains active as well as their bodies, encouraging scent work and introducing challenges during times where they are active, as well as typical walking or running exercises.

For Border Collie puppies, as a rule of thumb, you should take them out for five minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day until they are fully grown. It is important not to over-exercise puppies, as this can lead to joint and mobility problems in later life. As they grow older, their stamina will increase.

Border Collie Grooming

The Border Collie’s coat can vary from dog to dog, between short and long hair, and rough or smooth coats. Due to their love of running around and exploring, they often pick up debris in their coats, meaning regular maintenance is essential to keep knots and tangles away. Grooming should be used as a time to bond and check overall health, as well as keeping that coat looking fantastic. While Border Collies blow their coat when the seasons change, they do shed all year, meaning a regular grooming routine will also help to keep your home looking fantastic… win win!

With two layers to their coat, the Border Collie should be brushed around three times per week, removing any loose hair. Top tips include buying a good quality dog brush, getting puppies used to grooming from a young age and brushing them outside to reduce mess.

Within every dog’s grooming routine, you should also check their ears are clean and have their nails trimmed around once per month to keep them at a suitable length.

Border Collie Diet

To ensure your Border Collie remains active, happy, and healthy throughout their life, it is important to understand how nutrition plays a part in this. Please read our guidance and insights below.

Healthy Diet for Border Collies

To help Border Collies thrive, their diet should be balanced, nutritious and species-specific. It is best that the diet is tailored to suit their individual needs at each stage of their life.

A healthy, natural diet is best as this will help them to remain a healthy and suitable weight. Ensuring that excess weight is not an issue will help reduce the chances that Border Collies develop common conditions made worse by obesity. This includes conditions such as hip dysplasia or arthritis.

Raw Feeding Border Collies

Border Collies could really benefit from a natural, raw diet. Not only will this help prevent the onset of common health problems like hip dysplasia, as research done by the University of Helsinki shows, but it will also help them thrive and balance their boundless energy levels.

As raw food avoids unnecessary fillers and sugars, a raw diet can help to provide balanced energy levels throughout the day, helping to keep their bundles of energy somewhat under control!

Best Food for Border Collies

Fillers are best avoided as these are often grains, gluten or other additives. These additives have very little nutritional value and are best avoided. The ideal meals for Border Collies are the ones with contain beneficial ingredients so that your dog’s digestive system can absorb all the right nutrients to support their health and growth.

It is also best to adapt their meals to their life stage. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Ensure to feed your puppy food that will support their growth in the early stages of their life, such as Bella & Duke’s puppy food.

As Border Collies reach adulthood, ensure that their meals are tailored to maintain their health. Bella & Duke’s range for adult dogs has a host of different options, depending on your dog’s needs. This includes different meats, single protein meals as well as meals specifically targeted at working dogs.

Bella & Duke also have specially formulated senior dog food that has been enriched to support an active and fit lifestyle for as long as possible to ensure your Border Collie’s health in their old age.