Border Collie
Group: Herding
Lifespan: 12-15 Years
Pups per Litter: 4-8
Average Weight: 27-45 lbs.
Average Height: 18-22 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: Very High
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals 
History
The Border Collie originated on the English border of Scotland in a town called Northumberland. This breed was created by breeding Spaniel with British droving dogs. This dog is the epitome of working dogs. They live to herd sheep or cattle and do this work tirelessly. The border collie is of the utmost intelligent dog breeds in the world. They are used all over in many different types of jobs, such as search and rescue, tracking, bomb detection, fly ball, agility, police dog work, and obedience trials.
Traits
The Border Collie is an energetic, alert and intelligent breed. They are agile and a breed that needs to work. They absolutely need large amounts of exercise and attention, and if not given that, will become destructive and mischievous. If left alone for long periods of time they will become neurotic, so having an owner that has a lot of time to spend on the dog for training, exercise and attentiveness is what this dog needs. They are great family dogs but can be a bit snippy with children, but this is due to its herding instinct. Some Border Collies have a dominancy issue with their masters and can challenge the owner to feel out where they stand.
Appearance
Weighing in at 27-45 lbs (12-20 kgs) and averaging between 18-22 inches high, the Border Collie is a dog built more for work then looks. They have a muscular, athletic body and strong legs that give them their high running speeds. Their coat comes in two styles, one that is thick, long, and straight, and the other style is shorter fur that is smooth and straight. The coat is to only come in black and white, all black, black and gray, red and white, and tri colour. The dog should not have the majority of the body white, as that is a disqualification for show purposes. They have perked up ears, and very round, intelligent eyes. The tail is straight and comes to a point, where the fur is long and straight.
Health
The Border Collie is a healthy breed. They are prone to mostly eye ailments, some of which are Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Collie Eye Anomaly. They are also genetically susceptible to Hip Dysplasia, and deafness.
Training
The Border Collie is an easily trainable dog. They are bright, quick and responsive to their owners and need consistency when being trained. The love agility, obedience and any sort of tracking event as this is where they get to use their talents and skills. As puppies, they must be socialized very well with people and other dogs but if not done, they could become aggressive or shy. They should be introduced and socialized to smaller pets at a young age, so aggressive or bad behaviour does not occur.
Care
The Border Collie is a low maintenance dog. They shed an average amount and really only need to be brushed once or twice a week to keep their coat shiny and tangle free. Owners can bathe them at their own discretion.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Herding Group. They would not do well in an apartment as they would be better in a house with a big back yard or acreage. The Border Collie will need extensive exercise numerous times a day. They enjoy any outdoor activity as long as they can run and be with their owner. The lifespan of the Border collie is anywhere between 12-15 years. They have on average 4-8 pups per litter. When obtaining a baby Border Collie, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bordercollie.htm Border Collie Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Collie Border Collie Information
http://www.bcrescue.org Border Collie Rescue
http://www.akc.org/breeds/border_collie/index.cfm Border Collie AKC Standards
http://www.bordercollie.org/club.html Border Collie Club
