CATXDOG

Appearance: This graceful breed is usually recognized by its distinctive black and white coloration although Border Collies have historically been selected for working ability, and not looks, and because of that they vary widely in appearance, especially in colors as they come in a variety of colors including red, blue, merle, black, white, and brown . In general, they are medium-sized dogs without extreme physical characteristics and a moderate amount of coat. Their double coats can be anywhere from slick to lush, and can come in many colors, although black and white is by far the most often seen at conformation shows and herding trials and therefore the most common in public perception; tricolor (black/tan/white) and red and white also occurs regularly, with other colors such as, blue and white, red merle, blue merle, or sable seen less frequently. Eye color varies from deep brown to amber or blue with occasionally one eye of each color. The ears of the Border Collie are also highly variable -- some have fully erect ears, some fully dropped and other are semi-erect (similar to that of the Rough Collie). Although working Border Collie handlers sometimes have superstitions about the appearance of their dogs (many handlers do not prefer red dogs, or mostly white dogs), in general a dog's appearance is considered to be irrelevant. It is much more useful to identify a working Border Collie by its attitude and ability, not its looks.

History: Little is known with certainty of the origin of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward appearance would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. It is theorized that Border Collie is descended from British droving breeds originating on the Scottish and English border. Mention of the 'Collie' or 'Colley' type first appeared toward the end of the nineteenth century with the current Border Collie type emerging with dogs such as Old Hemp in 1893. Ever since then this dog had long been valued by farmers in the border region between Scotland and England as an excellent sheep herder. A standard for Collies was not approved by the Kennel Club of Britain by 1976.

Temperament: Few dogs possess the fertile, resourceful brain of the Collie . He can be trained to perform the duties of other breeds. He makes an excellent sporting dog, and can be taught to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter , as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever . He is clever at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most faithful watch, guard, and companion.They are also extremely energetic and require a lot of attention, but are very responsive to training. They are better off in a household that can provide them with plenty of exercise and a job to do. Like most herding breeds, they will attempt to herd family members, cats, squirrels, bicycles, cars, or anything else that moves in the absence of other charges. This might even include birds in mid-air. Border Collies make bad pets for people who cannot provide a considerable amount of daily exercise, both physical and mental. Many Border Collies end up in shelters because families, attracted by their appearance, discover that they cannot provide the attention and effort required for this driven, active, easily bored breed. This can be done by taking them to training classes and for long, brisk walks. Participating in dog sports such as dog agility, flyball, sheepdog trials, tracking, dog dancing, disc dog, dog sledding races and obedience are also popular with Border Collie owners for this reason. It may also help to have more than one dog. Although, in some cases having two dogs may increase your workload, as they may lay around waiting for you to be the one to direct them. They need a personal trainer. Among some breeders of the breed in Britain , there is a common saying: "no sheep, no collie", referring to the dog's usual unsuitability to people who just want a "smart dog". Border Collies love to play and do not always know when to stop on their own; owners must ensure that they do not overexert themselves, especially in hot weather, which can be dangerous.

Health issues: Hip dysplasia is widespread among purebred Border Collies. Elbow dysplasia or Osteochondritis also occurs, along with epilepsy and hypothyroidism . Dogs homozygous for the merle gene are likely to have eye and/or hearing problems. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a type of lysosomal storage disorder that results in accumulation of lysosomal storage bodies in the cells of many tissues of the affected animal. This leads to progressive neurodegeneration (degeneration of brain and eye cells) and results in severe neurological impairment and early death. The mutation causing the form of the disease found in Border Collies was identified in the laboratory of Dr Alan Wilton of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia . Affected dogs appear normal at birth, but begin to exhibit symptoms early in life – around 1- 2 years of age. The age of onset and severity of the disease can vary greatly among individuals. The symptoms include progressive motor decline with seizures and loss of coordinated muscle movements, cognitive decline and abnormal behavior. Visual impairment may occur. Due to the severity of the disease, affected Border Collies rarely survive beyond 26-28 months. There is no treatment or cure at this time. Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is a congenital, inherited eye disease affecting Border Collies and other breeds involving the retina, choroid, and sclera. It can be a mild disease or cause blindness. Both Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) and Collie eye anomaly (CEA) are caused by a simple autosomal recessive gene defect. The mutations, or changes to the structure of the genes, probably occurred spontaneously in a single dog but once in the population has been inherited from generation to generation like any other gene. The disorders show an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance: two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) have to be present for a dog to be affected by the disease. Individuals with one copy of the defective gene and one copy of the normal gene - called carriers - show no symptoms but can pass the defective gene on to their offspring. When two apparently healthy carriers are crossed, 25% (on average) of the offspring will be affected by the disease, 25% will be clear and the remaining 50% will themselves be carriers.