How to Buy a Border Collie by John Davis Border Collies are different from nearly all other dogs

because they are bred to work livestock. That is what defines them - not just in the ast! but still today. "t makes them the best herding dog there is! and because livestock work re#uires such a high degree of intelligence! hysical ability and character! it makes them better at most things $including being a good com anion% than breeds which are bred for how they look or for &versatility.& "t follows that if you want an authentic Border Collie! you must get one that was bred for livestock work. "f you want a com anion dog who will re#uire a greater than normal investment of time and interest from you! and will give you a greater than normal return on that investment! a Border Collie may be the dog for you. "f you want a dog to work livestock! a Border Collie is the obvious choice. "f you want a dog just to &be there& and not need much attention! save yourself some grief and ick a different breed or a mi'ed breed. (nce you)ve read our overall introduction to the breed! and decided that a Border Collie is the right dog for you! here are some further concrete ti s for getting a genuine! healthy Border Collie. D(*)T B+, -.(/ 01T 2T(.12 (. TH.(+3H "*T1.*1T 41B 2"T12 *o re utable breeder would sell u ies to a et store! and therefore the only u s for sale in et stores are those from u y mills or from others who breed for rofit rather than #uality. 5ikewise! you can)t judge a u y seller based on his web site. There are lenty of dishonest and disre utable breeders and brokers who can make themselves look retty wonderful on their own web sites. "t)s certainly true that there are many good breeders who have web sites! and you may initially learn about one of them via the web! but if all you know about a seller comes from his or her web site you could be buying from a u y mill that you would flee from if you saw it in real life. "n buying this way! you not only risk getting a dog with health or tem erament roblems! but you could be contributing to overbreeding and inhumane treatment. Don)t su ort cash cro breeders and u y mills. B+,"*3 -.(/ 6 3((D B.11D1. 6 very good way to get a com anion Border Collie -- and the best way to get a Border Collie for livestock work -- is to buy from a good breeder. "t is ultimately the buyer)s res onsibility to make informed decisions in buying a u ! both for your own benefit and because your buying decisions influence the future of the breed just as much as the breeders do. To hel in your decision! however! we suggest you consider the following .ed -lags in evaluating any breeder you may consider buying from. .ed -lags are just that - they do not necessarily dis#ualify a breeder from consideration! but they highlight facts and circumstances that may $or do% indicate roblems and should make you look hard and ask serious #uestions. 1ven good breeders can have one or more minor .ed -lags! but they should have few! and should have offsetting ositive #ualities. The breeder is not breeding for working ability 2ometimes breeders will acknowledge u front that they are not breeding for working $i.e.! herding%

ability. They may say they are breeding for conformation! or for tem erament! or for the & erfect et.& 2ince the whole oint of the Border Collie breed is that they are dogs bred for working ability! these breeders should be avoided even by those who never intend to use their dog to herd livestock. (ften! however! breeders will claim they are breeding for working ability even though they)re not! because they know eo le e' ect that in a Border Collie. How can you tell if the claim is true7 Breeders who don)t know enough or care enough to breed for herding e'cellence may oint to titles $letters before or after the dog)s name% ac#uired in dumbed-down 68C or other multi-breed herding trials. These trials are designed as ways to have fun with your dog rather than as true tests of working ability! and because they have to rovide fun for many breeds which have little or no herding ability! they are no measure at all of the #uality of a real working breed like the Border Collie. 4here a Border Collie sire or dam is advertised as having title initials before or after its name! you can be retty sure that neither the dog nor the breeder is accom lished enough to com ete in &real& ( en level shee dog trials. "ronically! therefore! these titles rove the e'act o osite of what they are intended to rove. The same is true of &herding instinct certificates!& an easy! meaningless credential that no serious breeder of working dogs would bother to get. 2ome breeders may oint to noted herding dogs several generations back in the u s) edigree. This too is meaningless in itself - there)s scarcely a Border Collie alive who doesn)t have great herding dogs several generations back in his edigree. ,ou should not have to look any further back than the u )s sire and dam to find demonstrated working ability. -inally! be wary of breeders who claim to be breeding for everything - for &versatility!& for &the dog that can do it all.& This usually means they are breeding for nothing in articular! but want to cast their net for the widest ossible range of customers. 9ersatility and tem erament are the natural accom animents of working ability! not ends in themselves. Breeders who are truly breeding for working ability will usually be very s ecific about their dogs) accom lishments. "f they lace regularly in ( en class shee dog and:or cattledog trials sanctioned by the +nited 2tates Border Collie Handlers 6ssociation $+2BCH6%! it)s almost certain that they have the knowledge and the motivation to breed for good working ability. "f they don)t trial their dogs at this level! they should be serious livestock roducers who test their dogs through demanding work. 2uch folks will be more than ha y to describe their livestock o eration! the nature and fre#uency of the work their dogs do! and details of the strengths and weaknesses of the sire and dam of any litters they)ve bred. The breeder registers with the 68C .egistering Border Collies with the 68C is a very serious .ed -lag! even if the dogs are registered with a working registry as well. 4hy7 Because the 68C defines dogs by how they look! advocates breeding dogs to conform to an a earance standard! and rewards such &breeding for looks& by s onsoring shows where the dogs who most closely meet its a earance standard can be honored as &cham ions.& This hiloso hy is directly o osed to the breeding for working ability which created the Border Collie! and which is necessary to reserve the Border Collie. 6 breeder who su orts the 68C by registering there either is ignorant of the harm the 68C)s hiloso hy can do to the Border Collie breed in the long run! or uts his own financial benefit in a ealing to the 68C market ahead of the welfare of the breed. 6 breeder who shows Border Collies in conformation dog shows is doing even more direct harm to the breed. "t is ludicrous to claim that a Border Collie)s #uality is related to its success in dog shows! and entering Border Collies in this ty e of com etition is a ti -off that the erson doing it does not understand the breed.

The breeder does not register with the traditional working Border Collie registries The 6BC6 $6merican Border Collie 6ssociation% is the rinci al Border Collie registry in the +nited 2tates. The CBC6 $Canadian Border Collie 6ssociation% is its e#uivalent in Canada! and the "2D2 $"nternational 2hee Dog 2ociety% is its e#uivalent in the +nited 8ingdom. (ther traditional Border Collie registries in the +2 are *62D2 $*orth 6merican 2tock Dog 2ociety% and 6"BC $6merican"nternational Border Collie registry%. "t is a serious .ed -lag if the breeder registers with any other registry! es ecially the "nternational Border Collie 6ssociation $started in ;<<= by a high-volume breeder sus ended from the 6BC6% or one of the all-breed registries generally associated with u y mills! such as the Continental 8ennel Club $C8C%! -ederation of "nternational Canines $-"C%! 6merica)s 0et .egistry $60.%! etc.! which basically e'ist only so that a breeder can claim his u s are &have a ers.& The breeder em hasi>es the color of the dogs 3ood Border Collies can come in many different colors! but ur osely breeding for unusual colors does not roduce good Border Collies. "t is a articularly destructive form of breeding for looks. "t)s almost a defining characteristic of bad breeders! because it is easy to do $breeding unusual colors is sim le com ared to breeding working ability%! and because the unso histicated buyer can be told that the dogs are worth more because they)re &rare.& "n fact! these dogs are never considered more desirable by knowledgeable Border Collie breeders $that)s one of the reasons they)re rare?%! and some of them come with increased risk of health roblems. Therefore! breeders who roduce dis ro ortionate numbers of merle or candy-colored dogs! or who advertise &carries blue!& &carries the dilution gene!& &can roduce both red and blue merle!& and the like should be avoided. The breeder is reluctant to disclose her name and:or address! and unwilling to have you visit her kennel The breeder has been disci lined by a registry The 6BC6 ublishes a list of breeders who have been sus ended or e' elled from membershi ! and the reason for the disci linary action! at www.abcbordercollies.com. The breeder roduces numerous litters and always has u ies available

3ood breeders do not tend to roduce a lot of litters! because their dogs are more than breeding machines! and because it takes a lot of time and attention to raise u s ro erly during their first few weeks of life. Bad breeders! on the other hand! like to kee a full inventory. The breeder routinely brokers u s for others! or advertises litters from arents other than listed sires and dams The breeder advertises &acce ts 0ay0al!& &shi s anywhere!& &Christmas s ecials!& &veterans) discounts!& or otherwise has the earmarks of a commercial o eration The u s are being sold to strangers at horse shows! fairs! or similar ublic events The breeder asks if you)d like to sell u ies for him

.un! don)t walk! the other way. The breeder does not eye test his breeding stock or u s (ne of the genetic diseases that can occur in Border Collies is Collie 1ye 6nomaly $C16%. "t)s a disorder of the retina! which can range in severity from no discernible visual deficit to total blindness. "t is evident in the dog at an early age! and a u who is e'amined by a veterinary o hthalmologist before the age of @; weeks and is found free of C16 will never develo it. 6 dog found free of the disease could still be a carrier of the C16 gene! however! and if bred to another carrier will likely roduce some u s who have the disease. -ortunately! a D*6 blood test for C16! which can not only tell if a dog has the disease but also if he is a carrier of the gene! has been available since January ;<<A. 3ood breeders will be aware of C16! and should be willing to discuss with you their a roach for dealing with it in their breeding rogram. They should either $a% show u y buyers D*6 test results establishing that at least one arent of the litter in #uestion is free of the C16 geneB or $b% have had the litter e'amined for C16 by a canine o hthalmologist before the u s are sent to their new homes! and share the results of that e'am with u y buyersB or $c% agree in writing that the buyer may have the u rom tly e'amined for C16 and that the u may be returned for a full refund if C16 is found. The first a roach is the most satisfactory! and the last a roach is the least satisfactory! but the most im ortant thing is that the breeder is o en and knowledgeable in discussing this issue with you. Just saying &")ve never had any eye roblems& is a .ed -lag. The breeder does not hi test his breeding stock Hi dys lasia $HD% occurs in Border Collies! and is in some degree hereditable! so a good breeder should be concerned about it. But HD is not nearly as straightforward as sim le recessive diseases like C16. -irst of all! it is almost certainly olygenic--caused by several genes acting in combination--and none of those genes has so far been identified. 2econd! environmental factors--such as overfeeding leading to too-ra id growth in u yhood--can influence whether it develo s or not and how severe it becomes. 6nd finally! the means available to kee from roducing u s which will become dys lastic are limited in their effectiveness. The best method available is to '-ray the hi s of sires and dams $and other relatives where ossible%! submit the '-rays for evaluation by (-6! 0ennH"0 or Cornell +niversity! and not breed those who are found to be dys lastic. +nfortunately! the correlation between HD in arents and HD in their offs ring is far from erfect. Two arents whose hi s are rated &3ood& or &1'cellent& based on their '-rays can still roduce a u who is dys lastic! so '-raying sires and dams can only reduce the chances of their u s having HD! not eliminate those chances. /oreover! there is also an im erfect correlation between '-rays and sym toms - dogs who are evaluated as dys lastic on '-ray may never show any sym toms of lameness. "n view of all this! conscientious breeders can differ about whether dogs who are evaluated as dys lastic on '-ray but have no sym toms of HD should be removed from breeding! or whether that should just be one factor to be taken into account in making a breeding decision. However! if you want to minimi>e as much as ossible the risk that your u might develo hi dys lasia! you should ask the breeder for evidence that both arents were '-rayed and found free of HD! as well as asking whether they have ever roduced dys lastic u s. -or more e'tensive information about hi dys lasia in Border Collies! go to htt C::stilho e.com:writings:hi s.html. ,ou can learn more about the hereditary diseases found in Border Collies by reading the 6BC6)s article on Health and 3enetics of Border Collies. The breeder does not offer to take the u back should you be unha y with it

The breeder shows no interest in your suitability as an owner 6D(0T"*3 -.(/ 6 .12C+1 (.36*"D6T"(* There are a number of rescue organi>ations which evaluate! re-train and re-home abandoned or unwanted Border Collies. 4onderful dogs or u s are often available through these organi>ations. 0articularly if you are looking for a com anion dog! rescue may have the dog for you. "f you go this route! you will have a network of eo le with border collie e' erience and e' ertise to call on for advice! and you will be hel ing out a dog who really needs a home. To find rescue dogs and u s! go to www. etfinder.com. D(*)T 6CT (* "/0+521 3etting a dog is an im ortant decision - take time to do it right. /aybe the best thing you could do is to go to a shee dog trial. 5ook at the list of +2BCH6 sanctioned trials and see if there is one near you. "f you)ve never seen a trial! you will be entertained and ama>ed! and will learn a lot about what these dogs are all about. 6t a trial! you can generally talk to the handlers $as long as you don)t a roach them right before they)re scheduled to run% and ask #uestions about where to get a good u . "n this way you can learn which breeders are res ected by knowledgeable Border Collie eo le! and erha s get to know a breeder from whom you can not only get a good dog! but also learn a lot about this uni#ue and wonderful breed. Border Collie Characteristics "ntroducing the 2he herd)s Dog The "ndustrial .evolution created urban markets for lamb! mutton! and woolB but how could the vast hills of unfenced land in the Borders of 2cotland and northern 1ngland be ut to raising shee 7 Hardworking shee dogs were the key! hel ing she herds turn this inhos itable land into shee -raising country. (ur modern shee -herding collie was im roved in the nineteenth century! and the genetic refinement of its working skills occu ies thoughtful livestock roducers on several continents to this day. Breeders try to balance a do>en heritable working traits to roduce the best dog for their ur oses! factoring in climate! terrain! livestock ty e! and the kind of dog they get along with. 3uided by a skilled trainer! a talented dog develo s remarkable mastery over livestock. The true Border Collie is known by how it works shee and cattle! and by no other standard. Herding Characteristics Because their early work was to gather shee from the hills! Border Collies are! by nature! gatherers rather than drovers or tenders. They can! nevertheless! be taught to drive stock away from the she herd and even to kee their charges within certain boundaries. They are also sensitive to commands from their handlers and can distinguish slight variations in the many whistles they understand! res onding a ro riately to each tone. 2he herds look for e'ce tional athletic ability! a biddable nature! and su erior livestock sense. "n general! a dog that is light on its feet! flowing in its movement! #uick to cover its stock! and has great

endurance is the most valued. The dog)s tem erament must be sensitive enough to bend its will when asked! tough enough to stand u to the ressures of training! eager to learn! with enough confidence and determination to carry on with its work without constant guidance. 2ome Border Collies are reserved rather than outgoing! but they must love to work with and for the master. 4hile innate livestock sense is bred into all good working collies! their working style can vary. /ost eo le admire a dog that works with its head low to the ground! with its hind#uarters high and its tail tucked between its hind legs. They can run as fast as the wind! yet sto in an instant or switch directions without sto ing. They don)t take their eyes off their shee . Their intense ga>e is focused on the stock! willing them to obey! to go where the dog directs them! to sto if the dog blocks their ath. The stock aren)t rushed or afraid! but they certainly res ect the dog. 6 good Border Collie)s obsession is its livestock! and this is as it should be. 2hee dog trials have a very ractical ur ose of roving the worth of the most desirable Border Collie studs and dams. 1ach year! there is one! and only one! Border Collie cham ionC the dog or bitch that wins the *ational Handlers -inals shee dog trial s onsored jointly by the +nited 2tates Border Collie Handlers 6ssociation and the 6merican Border Collie 6ssociation registry. The Breeding Behind a 3ood Border Collie How did Border Collies get to be such smart and useful livestock dogs7 During the nineteenth century! forward-looking she herds felt that the faithful farm collie could be made more useful with the addition of traits from other ty es of dogC the &eye& of a staunch setter! the s eed and silent nature of a racing hound. *o dog has all the herding traits in erfect ro ortion! and the intricate assemblage is easy to lose. Breeding a good Border Collie is not easy. "t takes great e' erience with dogs and herding re#uirements! and a bit of luck in addition. 2oundness "n the days when dogs that were unfit to work could not be ke t! most dogs with hysical roblems were ut down. 6s Border Collies became more o ular with farmers around the world! hobby trials com etitors! and et and dog-s ort owners! some latent roblems began to surface. The "nternational 2hee Dog 2ociety and the 6merican Border Collie 6ssociation have rograms that are reducing the incidence of inherited eye diseases. 6ll dogs should be tested by a canine o hthalmologist! referably between = and @; weeks of age. Dogs having or roducing u s which have genetic eye abnormalities should not be bred. There is some hi dys lasia! and conscientious breeders have radiologists certify that breeding dogs are clear of hi dys lasia. The 6merican Border Collie 6ssociation will record this information! as well as eye certification! on edigrees. (steochondritis dissecans $(CD% occasionally causes shoulder lameness! and some researchers feel there is a genetic com onent. 1 ile sy! which can have a genetic basis! occurs occasionally. (bviously! affected dogs should not be bred. 6 earance 4hile a grou of one hundred Border Collies will robably look as if they belong to the same breed! they will not have a uniform a earance. 2ince a &good& dog can be judged only by its herding erformance! there is no &breed standard& of a earance to which Border Collies should conform. "n general! they are of medium si>e $;A-AA ounds%! with coats that may be smooth! medium! or rough. Colors are black! black with tan! and! less common! reddish-brown! all usually with white markings. 0redominantly white Border Collies and merles! though unusual! also occasionally a ear.

Border Collie .egistries The original registry for working shee dogs is the "nternational 2hee Dog 2ociety in 3reat Britain. "n @EF= two words! &Border Collie!& were added to the edigree to ensure that the dogs were not confused with the British 8ennel Club)s Collie. "n *orth 6merica! the rinci al registry for working dogs is the 6merican Border Collie 6ssociation! "nc! G; .ogers .oad! 0erkinston! /2 HEAIH. The only registry of Canadian Border Collies is the Canadian Border Collie 6ssociation! 8elly 8nowlton! 2ecretary! @=GI Gth Concession .d! 4! Cambridge! (*! *@. A2;! Canada. The +nited 2tates Border Collie Club! "nc.! su orts these registries for their efforts to reserve and romote the working Border Collie. Des ite strong o osition from all eo le who value the genetic heritage of the breed! both the 8ennel Club in 3reat Britain and the 6merican 8ennel Club have taken u the registration of Border Collies. They have im osed written hysical standards as breeding guidelines and award titles for conformation in dog shows. "n 6ustralia! *ew Dealand! and Britain! where a strain of Border Collies has been bred for dog shows for twenty years or more! those dogs have a redictable hysical ty e! but their ability to herd livestock has been severely com romised. The +nited 2tates Border Collie Club! "nc.! o oses registering Border Collies with organi>ations! such as the 6merican 8ennel Club! which offer conformation classes for Border Collies. 2ince its formation in @EIA! a rimary ur ose of the +2BCC has been to rotect working Border Collies from misguided efforts to create a breed based on hysical characteristics instead of on skill in herding livestock. Border Collies for 2 orts and as 0ets Because they are highly motivated to work in artnershi with their owners! Border Collies are well suited to most canine s orts. To com ete in their erformance events such as (bedience and Tracking tests without registering with the 68C! a Border Collie owner must neuter the dog and a ly for an "ndefinite 5isting 0rivilege. /any Border Collies and their owners enjoy the fast-growing s ort of 6gility! as it enhances the relationshi between dog and handler and develo s a confident! bold! and motivated dog. The best 6gility is found in meets sanctioned by the +nited 2tates Dog 6gility 6ssociation! "nc.! 0. (. Bo' GA<EAA! .ichardson! TJ IA<GA-<EAA. 2ome Border Collies e'cel in -ly Ball and -risbee com etitions. "n northern climates! Border Collie sled-dog teams are com etitive in middle-distance races. 6s ets! Border Collies have a mi'ed record. 4hile some eo le have no difficulty controlling the dogs) herding instinct! high energy and #uick minds! less-skilled owners may be frustrated by these traits. The calm! well-behaved dogs seen at shee dog trials are the result of careful attention to the dogs) mental and hysical needs. Border Collies that herd are fulfilled. "n et environments! with e' erienced dog eo le who give them the structure! love! and fellowshi they crave! they can be su erb ets. 4ith less-skilled owners! unfortunately! they can become a neurotic nuisance. 6n honest a raisal of your lifestyle! skills and needs before getting a Border Collie can save you from heartache. "t is very hard to find a farm home or a new et home for a Border Collie which has develo ed bad habits! and every year many Border Collies are destroyed because they roved to be too much dog for their owners. Care ,es! Border Collies shed. .ough-coated dogs develo thick undercoats in winter which must be

combed out at the onset of summer)s heat. Teeth must be cleaned and toenails cli ed. 6 veterinarian will recommend a rogram of vaccinations and medications. Be aware that heat e'haustion is a killer. Border Collies often lie in shade or cool water after a hot run or hard work. 1ven so! their obsessive natures do lead to unnecessary deaths from hy erthermia. Be warned! also! that allowing them to roam free inevitably leads to trouble! as the herding instinct can be activated by anything that moves. Border Collies) attraction to motion should be confined to safe outlets! as most chronic car-chasing is eventually fatal. "na ro riate herding should be sto ed immediately by saying no and meaning it. The +2BCC recommends s aying or neutering et dogs for the owners) comfort and for the sake of the breed)s working instincts. Dogs are a commitment. Before you ac#uire a Border Collie u y! be sure you want to s end two years training and thirteen more enjoying a highly energetic dog that antici ates your every move! shares your every joy! comforts all your sorrows! and beats you in every race. 0u ies

"f you need a livestock dog! it is im erative to find a u y whose arents work to a high standard. They should have a livestock dog tem erament suited to your handling skills. "f your interest in a Border Collie et has survived our warnings! be re ared to answer #uestions about your dog-owning e' erience and your lans for raising a Border Collie u y. .es onsible breeders will be very careful about where their u ies go. 9isit the breeder and s end time with the adult dogs. Tem eraments vary from shy to bold! calm to e'citable! although all will turn serious when they work livestock. -or whichever ur ose you ac#uire a u y! take care to establish your authority and control as a kind! benevolent master. 6 Border Collie)s ersonality can be ruined by harsh treatment! neglect! or letting it assume a dominant role in the household. 0eo le who own Border Collies like their intelligence! high energy! and their desire to artici ate in every hase of human activity. However! they do take time! atience! and dog-handling skills to develo into either a working dog or a fine com anion dog. 6 welltrained Border Collie is a leasure to live with and will be reliably well behaved anywhere. .escue 6 number of individuals and organi>ations around the country are dedicated to rescuing Border Collies who are abandoned or unwanted! furnishing them with basic training and health care! and finding new homes for them. "f you have decided to get a Border Collie! why not consider giving a new home to one of these dogs7 /ost Border Collie rescue organi>ations list their dogs on www. etfinder.com. The +nited 2tates Border Collie Club! "nc. The +2BCC is the oldest Border Collie breed club in *orth 6merica. -ounded to rotect the Border Collie)s uni#ue genetic heritage! rotecting the Border Collie remains the club)s task today. "t took five hundred years of single-minded breeding to roduce the Border Collie. "n the latter art of the twentieth century it took only a cou le of decades for dog-show fanciers in several shee -raising countries to reduce their selected strain to just another retty et. The +2BCC neither registers dogs nor runs shee dog trials. (ur membershi consists of working farmers! et owners! and shee dog! agility! and obedience trial com etitors who share information and e' eriences through a #uarterly newsletter. The +2BCC resents the traditional working Border Collie to the dog world! the media! and anyone who might affect its future.

5iving 4ith Border Collies

K +2BCC! "nc. This am hlet may be co ied and distributed only in its entirety! for ersonal! noncommercial use. -or e'cer t ermission contact the +2BCC at infoLbordercollie.org "n loving memory of 9al /aurerMs /oss N (ne in a 5ifetime -or centuries! the Border Collie has toiled tirelessly in his service to us. 6s the remier herding dog in the world! he has gathered large flocks from great distances and found lost stock in the worst of weather. But more than a herding dog! he has been a war dog! a sled dog! a thera y and assistance dog! a com etitive s orts dog! a search and rescue dog! a hunting dog and! always! a com anion dog. 4hatever we have asked the Border Collie to do! he has done. He has never wavered! never faltered! never #uit! and never said no to his human artner. "t is only fair that we return the favor. 5iving with Border Collies was develo ed in an effort to ensure that eo le who decide to live with these wonderful dogs understand them and their uni#ue #ualities! so that all Border Collies will have homes where they are loved and a reciated. 9al /aurer! founder and director of BC.( $Border Collie .escue (rgani>ation%! researched! wrote and re-wrote this am hlet over many years! drawing on her own e' erience and that of rescuers with whom she worked. The +nited 2tates Border Collie Club is grateful for the o ortunity to distribute this am hlet. 4e do so in large art through funds raised by 9al and donated by her many friends and colleagues as a memorial to her good dog /oss. The +nited 2tates Border Collie Club! "nc. $+2BCC% is dedicated to reserving the Border Collie as a working stock dogB o osing the showing! judging! and breeding of Border Collies based u on their a earanceB romoting only careful breeding for the reservation of working ability and the avoidance of genetic defectsB and hel ing Border Collie owners and the ublic generally to better understand and a reciate the traditional Border Collie! bred for work. Descri tion of the Border Collie Border Collies should be selectively bred for intelligence and working ability. To herd shee on the mountains and moorlands of the British "sles! a Border Collie needs to meet certain criteria. He has to be inde endent enough to make his own decisions when he is at a distance from the she herd. He must control his redatory instincts so he rotects the shee instead of killing them for food---as a wolf must do for survival. He also needs to ni or gri ! at times! to control and move his shee . He needs the stamina to work in heat or cold! to dart u and down stee hills! and to ignore minor injuries in the course of a workday. He also must be bred with a desire to work with! and subordinate to! his human com anion! regardless of whether he is at a great distance or striving to save a newborn lamb. 6 Border Collie can be anywhere from ;A ounds to =A ounds. The coat can be rough $long coat%! semi-rough! or smooth $short-haired%. The coat colors vary. The ty ical colors are black O white! but Border Collies are also red O white! tri-colored $brown! black O white%! liver! blue merle! red merle! yellow! or white with small amounts of brown! black! or red. -reckling on the mu>>le and legs is common. The eye colors range from amber to dark brown and sometimes blue. The ear carriage can be ricked! semi-erect! dro ed! or a combination. The bone structure ranges from lightweight and graceful to heavy-boned and majestic. "n herding! Border Collies circle and stalk the object of interest.

The herding ose is head and forelegs lowered! eyes intense! tail down with bottom third of tail u turned. They can become focused on any moving object! even tiny insects. "t is the attitude toward life and work! not looks! that distinguishes a dog as being a Border Collie. 4ork is an attitude! not necessarily a s ecific task. (bedience com etitions! agility contests! -risbee events! flyball! visits to nursing homes! throwing a tennis ball in the backyard all can be considered work by your Border Collie. (bserve the dogB if his body osition is in a working ose! then he considers that articular task to be work. 6dd 2its! Downs! 4aits! and That)ll do)s into the routine as added mental stimulation. +nlike some breeds! Border Collies love to learn new things throughout their lives. 4hen it comes to Border Collies! you can teach an old dog new tricks? However! there is a downside to this attitude. *ever teach a Border Collie something you don)t want to live with for the rest of his life. That &cute& u y trick can be e'tremely irritating or even dangerous when your darling little u y becomes a workaholic A< ound adult. .ead 6ll 6bout "t 81, D(32 (- TH1 B(.D1. C(55"1 -6/"5, by 2heila 3rew TH1 91.26T"51 B(.D1. C(55"1 by Janet 1. 5arson TH1 4(.8"*3 B(.D1. C(55"1 by /arjorie Puarton O Carole 0resberg 2electing 6 Border Collie "f youMve never lived with a Border Collie! consider fostering a dog for a local rescuer. ,ou can save a Border CollieMs life while deciding if the breedMs mental and hysical re#uirements fit into your familyMs lifestyle. (lder u s and adult dogs will bond with a new family. Dogs know when theyMve been saved and most develo a dee desire to work with the new eo le in their lives. 6round seven weeks old! u ies need to make a general attachment to humans as a s ecies! not a s ecific attachment to a articular human. 6 young u raised around small children is not a guarantee the u will grow u being good around children. *ature is as im ortant as nurture in determining if an individual Border Collie adores children! is intimidated by children! or tries to control children. 2ome Border Collies will use submissive behavior to mani ulate and control us. (thers will bark and carry on like they)re having a tem er tantrum. 2till others will use every e' ression and gesture you have ever found cute to get their own way. 5iving with a young Border Collie is like living with an intelligent toddler. "t re#uires dedicated time and effort to survive the e' erience? 6 u y goes through many stages until the adult age of ; to H years. 6t age A to = months! the u gets his adult teeth. This is a major chewing and destructive eriod. This is the time when the u also e' eriments with guarding and confrontational behaviors. "t is similar to a child)s &terrible twos.& .ead 6ll 6bout "t TH1 D(3)2 /"*D by Bruce -ogle Health 0roblems Border Collies are basically a hardy breedB however! they can be subject to some inherited diseases such as collie eye anomaly $C16%! canine hi dys lasia! and deafness. 2ome could have e ile sy and endocrine diseases! with unknown inheritance factor. (steochondritis dissecans $(CD% can cause lameness in joints! articularly the shoulders! that can develo between the ages of F to @; months. 6llergies and skin conditions also occur.

8ee handy a first-aid kit and your vet)s hone number. Because Border Collies are very hysically active! they are rone to athletic injuries! such as ulled muscles! cruciate ligament ru tures! cuts and unctures! ri ed toenails and foot ads. The dog also re#uires vaccinations! heartworm test and reventative! license! s ay:neuter! and remium dog food $a combination of high #uality dry and moist foods is best%. .ead 6ll 6bout "t D(3 (4*1.)2 H(/1 91T1."*6., H6*DB((8 by Carlson and 3iffin TH1 H165"*3 T(+CH by /ichael -o' 0u y Checklist Do you have the time for a long! sometimes hectic! u y stage7 "f not! consider ado ting an adult Border Collie. Can you understand the u )s edigree and its significance7 "f not! find a local erson who knows Border Collie breeding to advise you. Can the breeder show you certification that the arents are free of hi dys lasia and that the u is free of Collie 1ye 6nomaly7 Did you ask why these arents were selected for breeding7 Did the breeder ask about your reason for wanting a Border Collie7 Does the breeder seem to care! or are the u s strictly a business7 6re the u s at least = to G weeks old7 Have they been de-wormed7 "s their QdenR clean7 6re the arents well-behaved and reasonably friendly toward your family7 Have the u s been raised in an e' anding environment! with both indoor and outdoor living and sociali>ing with eo le and other animals7 0u s are generally riced from SF<<-SG<<. 3ood u ies are e' ensive to breed and raise and should be riced accordingly. However! high rice is not a guarantee of a good dog! and health roblems can occur in any breeding rogram! no matter how careful and knowledgeable the breeder is. ,our urchase decides which breeders and rescuers ros er. ,our urchase can hel or hinder cash cro breeders and u y mills. ,our urchase decision is vital for the future of this breed. Choose your breeder with care! and never buy from et sho s. Border Collies and Children Herding the neighborhood kids and giving an occasional light ni to a rear end or ankle might seem like a funny game in the beginning. But what ha ens when the children want to go one way and you)ve inadvertently trained your Border Collie to treat them as livestock7 The game is now serious business! with scared children and a dog euthani>ed for aggressive behavior. DonMt let this ha en? 1very time the u or dog thinks about herding kids! have the kids sto laying with the dog for a few minutes! then go back to the same game in the same area of the yard! with a few new rules. Dogs and kids can have a terrific relationshi Twhen an adult or the kids control the games. Border collies are great at -risbee and ball s orts! and kids enjoy having their dog join in the fun. But first! to teach the Border Collie who)s in charge! have the children hel with obedience lessons or taking the dog for a controlled! heeling-ty e walk. (nce the Border Collie learns to heel! even small children can take the dog for a walk if the child uses an @G& leash while an adult cha erones the lesson with a =) leash cli ed to the dog)s collar. Train a Border Collie to listen to children by raising him when he res onds and assisting the children when he doesn)t. Teach children to treat dogs with res ect. 8ids can use a stuffed dog for ractice sessions. Crate-Training

Crating a u y or a recently ado ted adult when he)s unsu ervised is a safety issue. Confining a Border Collie u y to a bathroom or kitchen is both undesirable and dangerous. These u s can tear u linoleum floors! chew and dig through walls! o en drawers and cabinets. Crates can be bad if they are too small or if the u is confined too long. Crating a u for nine hours during the day is abuse. "f someone cannot let the u y out every ; to H hours for e'ercise and interaction! ado t an older u or adult dog. 6 crate is a haven when life gets to be too much. 6 crate is a haven for the dog when children get too rough with him. 6 crate is also a haven for us when we need time away from a dogMs antics? The advantages of crate-training includeC 4hen traveling with your dogC motels that allow dogs have crate re#uirements. Dog events! es ecially training clinics! are tiring---he)ll need some rest. "ntroducing a dog to a crate for the first time while he is ill or recu erating from surgery adds undue stress. Crate the dog when other eo le will be in his home for re air work or cleaning. 4ith a u ! a small lastic crate can easily be moved around the house. Toss treats and toys into the crate and! at first! shut the door for only a few minutes. +se it to teach the u a daily routine. The crate can be moved from beside a chair to beside a bed! to the kitchen! or to the dining room. The u will be in and out of the crate in these different laces! learning his daily routine. CautionC if the crate is used only when you leave! the u may develo a dislike for the crate and develo a se aration an'iety. Don)t make a fuss about leaving or returning. 6 radio or T9 can be left on to hel him co e with being alone. .ead 6ll 6bout "t CH"5D-0.((-"*3 ,(+. D(3 by Brian 8ilcommons D(3 T.6"*"*3 -(. CH"5D.1* by "an Dunbar 191., 0"CT+.1 T1552 6 2T(., by "an Dunbar .ecommendations for House Training 6fter the u y has been confined in a crate ; to H hours $F to = hours for adults%C

"n a #uiet! u -beat manner! take him on leash to the bathrooming area. Choose a bathrooming hrase you are comfortable with! such as Q3o otty or QHurry u !R and say the hrase a few times. 8ee this as low-key as ossible. "f the dog canMt run around to investigate interesting smells! heMll go to the bathroom out of sheer boredom. "f the dog does his QbusinessR within a ma'imum of A minutes! say! Q3ood $bathrooming hrase%!R then lay fetch! give him a treat! or let him rom around in his yard. "f he doesnMt Qgo!R take him back to the crate for another half hour $young u % or an hour $older u or adult dog%! then try again. Take a few days to concentrate on housetraining. 5earn the dog)s bathrooming habits. 2ome dogs are more comfortable with shrubs or fencing to rotect their rivacy. (ther dogs need to urinate twice each time they bathroom. 6 few dogs teach their owners to take long! fre#uent strolls around the yard or neighborhoodB use the A minute system to revent this.

,our Border Collie will #uickly learn that the fun art of his day doesn)t begin until after he)s been a &good& dog outside. .ubbing a Border Collie)s nose in an &accident!& smacking him on the rear end! or yelling at him increases housetraining roblems. -emales sometimes won)t relieve themselves in new territory for about ;F hoursB a bathroom command can come in handy here. "ntact males mark everywhere! including inside buildings! for the first hour in new territory. 4alking a Border Collie /any Border Collies want to forge $ ull the handler forward% while on-leash. To eliminate this roblem! start by holding a treat or toy in front of the dog)s nose $dog is on a buckle collar and =) leash! in )heel) osition% while taking a #uick walk in the home. 0raise and intermittent rewards will teach the dog to stay in heel osition. (utdoors! to kee the dog)s attention on staying in heel osition use a combination of luring with treats or toys lus changing directions without saying anything to warn of the changes. 1very time a Border Collie forges! change direction or ace. The sur rise element kee s a Border Collie)s attention on the handler. 0romise collars are beneficial as a tem orary training tool for dealing with s ecific roblems! such as a Border Collie so distracted by the world that he forgets his handler. +se of this collar as a basic training collar for all lessons may cause an'iety and de endency issues for Border Collies! however.

/ost Border Collies learn easily and ha ily. 2ome may re#uire the tem orary training use of a light $not medium or heavy% inch collar. Children and disabled adults are safer when a Border Collie wears a inch collar---less chance of the dog ulling them off-balance. Do not use a inch collar on Border Collies younger than G months without a behaviorist)s su ervision. The training a lication is similar to the way an adult dog will use his teeth on a u yMs neck to guide and instruct the u y. Beginners should seek the advice of a trainer to learn the correct techni#ues in fitting and using inch collars. .ead 6ll 6bout "t D(3 5(3"C! C(/06*"(* (B1D"1*C1 by Joel /c/ains Training Ti s Tone of voice is e'tremely im ortant. To s eed u a Border Collie! itch the voice high and #uick. 5ower the itch and drag out the words to slow him down. -or corrections! lower the voice even more and say the words in a growly tone. /ost of the time! talk to a Border Collie in a conversational tone. 4his er to a Border Collie to im rove his attention. To bring a Border Collie toward you! move away from him. To ush him away! move toward him. Take two ste s backwards and hunker down to ull a Border Collie all the way to you. 5et your emotions show through your eyes to your Border Collie)s eyes. To show disa ointment! look at your Border Collie and then deliberately look away. "f the Border Collie isn)t aying attention! throw u your hands and walk away. He)ll usually come u to you and ask for another chance. 3ive him that chance by calmly taking him through the same situation! this time using a leash and treats as guidance. 2et him u to succeed.

Border Collies like a chance to think about new things in relative #uiet. +se an hour of &0eace O Puiet& after lessons for any Border Collie! either rescued or raised in one home from a u . This results in #uicker and steadier learning. Tie your dog)s =) leash to your belt while teaching him his daily chore routines. 4hether his chores include icking u laundry scattered around the house or kee ing you com any while you)re caring for the livestock! learning the routine while &attached& to you is the easiest way to teach him the attern of your lifestyle. Training stickC +se A) length! H:F& diameter 09C i e! ca ed on one end. 0our in @:G cu of BBs and ca the other end. This stick is effective for herding! breaking u dog fights! eliminating foodguarding. 6 shar ta on the ground in front of the dog)s legs startles him without scaring him. 6 ta on the ground near his shoulder will move him away if he)s herding too close to livestock or other dogs. To refocus the dog on listening and working with you! lay the stick on the ground ne't to you and give him a #uiet word of encouragement. He should res ect the correction and startlement effect of the training stick! not fear it. Hunker down---bend at the knees! kee the torso straight. +se a hunker down when a u or dog is in a new environment or around dogs enduring stress. (nly bend or crouch $torso towards the dog% around rela'ed and sociali>ed dogs. Basic Border Collie /anners *ame recognitionC 2ay the dog)s name! then give him a treat. 8ee re eating as often as it takes for the dog to start turning his head whenever he hears his name. .ecallC +se the leash in the house! a longline outside. 2ay the dog)s name to get his attention! then an u beat &Here?& "f he doesn)t turn around immediately! give a light tug on the line. 4hen the dog comes! give raise! a treat! and a hug. /ake recalls the best thing in your dog)s life. "f the dog is hesitant! take a few ste s backward after calling him and hunker down. 0raiseC 6sk the dog to do something! like a 2it. 4hen he)s sat! tell him &3ood 2it.& The use of raise with the re#uest gives the dog a chance to learn faster. 3ive him raise for figuring out on his own what he should do. "f we remember to raise him for thinking! we hel him to be a mannerly dog on his own and not just a robot. Puietly raise during the correct action. CorrectionC To sto an action! give a &*o?& or an &6h-6h?& noise in a growly tone. This corrective growl is useless if it isn)t immediately followed by a lesson and raise for the ro er action. Jum ingC Teach the dog to sit for attention. "f the dog already has a habit of jum ing on eo le! say &(ff?& and #uickly turn away from the dog. Do not ush the dog away with your handsB touching rewards him for jum ing. 4ithdraw your attention from the dog until he 2its. To reinforce the 2it! hunker down to the dog)s levelB he)ll be calmer when he)s close to your face. 6 &Hug?& can later be added! if the dog is to be allowed to jum in certain circumstances. BarkingC .es ect your dog by investigating why he is barking. "f itMs something he shouldnMt be barking at! just walk away from him in a disa ointed manner! muttering about how stu id he is $Border Collies hate being called stu id%. "f he barks a ro riately! raise him. 6llow your dog to bark ; or H times before saying Q1nough?R and give him a treat. "tMs hard to bark and swallow at the same

time. The result is a trustworthy watchdog. *a timeC 3ive yourself and your Border Collie a break now and then. 2ay Q3o to bedR and throw a treat into the crate $kennel% or dog- roofed room. Teach him with short sessions at first until the dog learns he isnMt being ermanently abandoned. 2it! Down O 2tayC .aise a treat slowly over the dog)s nose and say &2it.& The rum should go down as the nose comes u . 6fter the dog knows 2it! slowly ta a treat along the floor in front of the dog)s nose as you)re dragging out the word &Down.& 6fter the dog knows Down! ut a treat a few inches in front of his nose! say &2tay& and hold him in lace by his collar. 4hen he rela'es into the 2tay reward him by bringing the treat to him. .eleaseC 4hatever the dog has! you have something better. "f he has a toy in his mouth! take a treat over to him! hold it in front of his nose! and say &.elease?& as you offer him the treat. That)ll do?C 1very time a job is finished! say &That)ll do.& This will teach the Border Collie to #uit and come to you. To revent him from ignoring a &That)ll do!& use intermittent reinforcement techni#ues $see age @F%. -or e'am leC he)s been catching -risbees. 4ithdraw the -risbee! give a &That)ll do!& walk a short distance with your dog and wait until he is calm and attentive. Tell him &Ball?& and toss a tennis ball for him a few times. The sur rise of one job ending with the ossibility of another job beginning makes a reliable &That)ll do.& +se a &That)ll do& with all his activities! be it obedience! herding or tennis balls. He will res ond better to &That)ll do& than a .ecall or a Down when he is overly e'cited about something! if you)ve been consistent. .ead 6ll 6bout "t B13"**"*3 -6/"5, D(3 T.6"*"*3 by 0atricia /cConnell 2ociali>ation 2ociali>ing your new Border Collie is very im ortant. Teach your dog how you want him to greet eo le. 6 sim le Q2it-2tayR until guests are ready to lay with your dog will im ress your friends and family with your dogMs manners and your training ability. Take him out and about in the world. 5et him lay with healthy! vaccinated dogs. 6fter heMs learned his basic manners in a #uiet environment! slowly increase his manners ractice sessions in more demanding environments. Border Collie 0ersonalities 6 bold ersonality will need a reason for doing anything. He will always be testing the boundaries youMve set. He will be the #uickest to rotest if you withhold work for some reason. He can also be the dog you de end on most! if youMve earned his res ect and trust. 6 timid ersonality will need lots of encouragement. 3ive a timid dog at least three days to adjust to new situations and training. DonMt give u on sociali>ing this ty e of dog! but always start new training in a #uiet environment. 3radually work u to loud! stressful situations. This Border Collie will be your emotional su ort when youMve had a bad day. 6 melancholy ersonality can be either frustrating or amusing. This dog will #uit and lie down in a

corner if things donMt go his way. Just ignore him for awhileTeven these outers are workers and will come around. Combine training with rewards of his favorite activities. 6n u beat ersonality takes life as it comes and makes the best of it. He watches everything. ,ou wonMt reali>e the dog is learning until he ama>es you with his new skills. HeMs a stable! versatile dog. HeMll do everything asked of himB be careful not to overwhelm him. .ead 6ll 6bout "t 1/(T"(*65 "*T155"31*C1 by Daniel 3oleman D(3 5(3"C! C(/06*"(* (B1D"1*C1 by Joel /c/ains C6+T"(+2 C6*"*1 by 0atricia /cConnell 056,T.6"*"*3 ,(+. D(3 by 0atricia 3ail Burnham H(4 T( T16CH 6 *14 D(3 (5D T."C82 by "an Dunbar Border Collie Traits "f your Border Collie is already ni ing at eo leMs heels or hands! say Q(uch?R in a growling tone of voice and totally withdraw your attention from the dog for A minutes. Then go back to laying the same game with the dog. 8ee doing this until the dog understands itMs the hard biting that sto s laytime. Teach him how to have a soft mouth. Border Collies have lay growls and real growls. 0lay growls normally occur while the dog is shaking a flo y toy or laying tug-of-war. "t)s im ossible to reliably revent small children from initiating tug games with dogs. "t is safer to teach dogs the conce t of tug-of- eace. "t involves a &.elease!& a &3et it!& and withdrawal of attention if the dog gets grabby or e'cited. 6lso! let the dog win a game of tug when he)s had a confidence-shattering day. "t)s easy to unintentionally teach a Border Collie to be ossessive of food or toys. The u y gives a bark or growl! so you back off in sur rise. This reaction rewards the u . To revent this! lay a game centered around whatever he has! you have something better. 4hen your u has a toy! show him you have a fantastic treat! ask him to &Dro it.& 4hen he does! give him the treat. "f he guards his food bowl! blithely walk by his bowl and dro in some terrific treats. He)ll want eo le to walk around his bowl and take his toys or bones. .ead 6ll 6bout "t D(3 0.(B51/2 by Carol 5ea Benjamin D(32 5(91 T( 051621 . . .41 T16CH TH1/ H(4? by 2e tember /orn B1H69"(. 0.(B51/2 "* D(32 by 4illiam Cam bell D(32 6.1 -.(/ *10T+*1 by Jean Donaldson (* T658"*3 T1./2 4"TH D(32C C65/"*3 2"3*652 by Turid .ugaas

.ehomed and .escued Border Collies

0eace O PuietC The first ste s to a new life for an older u or adult Border Collie is H to I days of & eace O #uiet& and a name change! unless your rescuer has already taken the dog through this hase. The rescued dog robably endured all kinds of stress before he was saved---let him get some rest before e' osing him to this big! noisy world of ours. The new Border Collie stays in a crate away from other dogs and the noise of household activity. (nly one erson works with the dog during this stage. 5et the Border Collie out! on leash! F to A times a day! for fifteen to thirty minutes each time. This techni#ue is hard on eo le! but it works like a re-birth into a new and better life for the dog. He)ll learn to trust the erson who is the source of all encouragement! water! food! directions! and hugs. "solation gives the Border Collie a chance to learn his new environment in a rela'ed! safe atmos here. His brain has a chance to stay calm and rece tive to new lessons. He has a chance to grieve or recover from his revious life e' eriences. Teach the dog as if he)s an G week old u B use clear instructions and encouragement. This is also a good time to teach or reinforce housetraining and basic manners. The most im ortant thing to remember is to set the dog u for success every time he)s with eo le. The amount of & eace O #uiet& is determined by the dog)s reaction. The dog should be ha y! but not hysterically so. He should have a calmness in his eyes and show enthusiasm for being with someone. 6 desire to learn will a ear in the dog)s osture and res onse time. 4hen this ha ens! the dog is ready to learn more of his new world. .ead 6ll 6bout "t TH1 6D(0T"(* (0T"(* by 1. .ubenstein O 2. 8alina

The 3ri>>ly Bear)s 3onna 3et /e? Border Collies live by the rinci le that just because you donMt see a gri>>ly bear! doesnMt mean it isnMt there? /ales! running to mark over u iesM bathrooming s ots! are hiding the scent of the u ies from the gri>>ly. 2ome females hide u ies this way. /ales mark over some femalesM bathrooming s ots and not others. This may be a mating ritual or choosing some as ack members and letting others fend for themselves. /ales sniff and mark new territory. They need @A minutes in new territory before we can e' ect them to ay attention to what we want. That fifteen minutes is s ent e' loring the territory and marking it to scare away any gri>>lies that might be lurking around. -emales do not want to leave their scent on new territory because their scent could attract a gri>>ly. "t doesn)t matter if the females are s ayed and never had u iesB they still rotect against the ossibility of their u ies getting killed by the gri>>ly. 4hen a Border Collie is focused on something in front of him! anyone touching him from behind could be a gri>>ly. He)ll whi his head around so fast that he can accidentally cut a erson with his teeth. "t)s very im ortant to teach children not to come u behind a Border Collie and touch him on the hi s or shoulders. 4hen a Border Collie barks at a stranger! es ecially one wearing a funky hat or clothing! it could be a

gri>>ly bear in disguise? 4hen a Border Collie barks frantically every time the doorbell rings! he)s scaring the gri>>ly bear away from his family. 0revent this by teaching him how to confidently greet strangers. 4hen a Border Collie is startled out of a dee slee ! he might sna or growl. 4hen someone comes into his home une' ectedly! he)ll go into fren>ied barking! mainly from embarrassment at being caught slee ing on the job. 4hen he)s with his family but visiting in someone else)s home! he)ll go overboard with barking at anyone coming into his family)s room or walking in the hallway at night. These are all easily controlled gri>>ly bear situationsB the sound of a cordial voice re ares him to encounter a friend. "f your Border Collie has encountered a &gri>>ly bear!& he)ll need hel from you in similar situations so he can think about what is really ha ening and how to deal with it in a civili>ed way. (ccasionally! a Border Collie needs medication to ease his fears. Tran#uili>ers and anti-an'iety medications by themselves are not enough. /edications combined with effective training techni#ues can make a tremendous difference. .ead 6ll 6bout "t D"6., (- 6 )D(TT, D(3) D(CT(. by John -isher 02,CH(0H6./6C(5(3, (- 6*"/65 B1H69"(. D"2(.D1.2 by Dodman and 2huster Herding 4ith Border Collies 6n ine' erienced handler working with an ine' erienced Border Collie and ine' erienced livestock can end in injury to at least one of the three s ecies. Be re ared to invest time and money in learning before you take a new dog into the field.

Hel in training is available in a variety of ways. 0urchasing a started dog or sending your dog to a rofessional trainer will cost more money than time. $6 started dog generally means that the dog is learning to balance! is going around! and can stay on the o osite side of shee . 2ometimes this definition is stretched a little to include beginning a short outrun and learning flank commands! but never more than that. 1' ect only the beginning of balancing and no outrun to s eak of.% ,ou still need to invest the time to learn what your dog already knows. Herding clinics! herding books! and videos take more time than money. 6t first! the e' ense of a started dog! herding clinics! books! videos! or lessons with an e' erienced handler doesn)t seem worth the bother! but the investment will eventually ay off in time saved and chiro ractor bills avoided? Carefully choose the right dis osition of the Border Collie for your livestock. 6 calmer! level-headed dog is just right for a small dairy herd $as long as he has the s unk or training to ni wayward cows%. 6 dog with great stamina and dive-in style is good for discouraging geese $as long as the dog is trained not to hurt the geese%. "t)s also im ortant to understand what ty e of dog you enjoy working with. 6n easy! eo le- leasing tem erament is the right ty e of Border Collie to work with young F-H students. 0eo le who can)t hel but yell and stom around a bit when they are frustrated would be better off with a dog with a more

dominant ersonality that won)t take the yelling ersonally. "f! after you)ve done all the right research and tried various training methods! you still end u with the wrong Border Collie for you or your livestock! contact the breeder or your local rescuer to find an a ro riate new home for your dog $if you have no time for the activities this dog enjoys%. Chalk it u to lack of e' erience and kee looking. .ead 6ll 6bout "t 6 46, (- 5"-1 by H. 3lyn Jones H1.D"*3 D(32C 0.(3.122"91 T.6"*"*3 by 9ergil Holland 5122(*2 -.(/ 6 2T(C8D(3 by Bruce -ogt T658"*3 2H110D(32 by Derek 2crimgeour Thunderstorms and 5oud *oises Border Collies have a high startle refle'! which can sometimes endanger their lives. The suddenness of a cla of thunder! a gunshot! fireworks! or even just a book dro ing on the floor can startle Border Collies into an over-reaction. These over-reactions can include ni ing at the closest objects! dogs or eo leB lea ing onto the la of the erson they feel will rotect themB fren>ied barking at the noise to scare it awayB and! the most dangerous reaction of all! fleeing from the noise. 3ive your Border Collie a routine to follow for sudden loud noises. 0ractice this routine $use a leash or a long-line during ractice sessions% by using small sudden noises first and rogressing towards louder noises until the dog tolerates the really big scary noises safely. -ind a routine that can be ada ted to use while you are outside doing activities with your dog! in the home while rela'ing! and that the dog can use when alone. (ne routine is to attach an activity the dog loves to the noise the dog fears. "f the dog loves to lay with s#ueaky toys! lay with the dog and then make a small noise. 4hen the dog flees! coa' the dog back by enticing with the toy while gently ulling the dog towards you with the leash. The dogMs reward for coming to you $no matter how long it takes the first few times% is another lay session. ,our dog will learn to enjoy what used to be scary. 6nother routine is to teach the dog to flee towards a safe goal! such as a crate laced in a #uiet area of your home. .ead 6ll 6bout "t B1H69"(. 0.(B51/2 "* D(32 by 4illiam Cam bell TH1 D(3 4H( 5(91D T(( /+CH by *icholas Dodman This and That The following aragra hs are #uick suggestions and o inions. /ulti le Dog Households 2lowly introduce the new dog to other dogs in the household. "t is a stress to the new dog and the established ack to form new relationshi s. The new dog will be gaining confidence over the ne't = monthsB new roblems and challenges can occur during this stage. 2u ervise or se arate the dogs during all transition and develo ment stages for their safety. 3enerally! two Border Collies are easier to live with than one. 6 one year minimum difference in age! one of each se'! and:or diverse ersonalities is the calmest way to live with two Border Collies. 5et the dogs establish their own hierarchy of res onsibilities to a certain degree. .emember that humans run

the household and make the final rules. 4e donMt recommend letting dogs Qfight it out. .ead 6ll 6bout "t D(3 B1H69"(. by "an Dunbar "ntermittent .einforcement "ntermittent reinforcement is like laying the lottery. 6 erson does a consistent action $ aying for a lottery ticket% and receives an inconsistent reaction $no cash! some cash! huge amount of cash%. "ntermittent reinforcement is a good reward system for a Border Collie after heMs learned the basics using the lure:reward system .ead 6ll 6bout "t 2/6.T T.6"*1.2C B."55"6*T D(32 by Janet 5ewis "ntermittent Corrections "ntermittent corrections create the same effect of encouraging a behavior as do intermittent reinforcements. 6 Border Collie who is yelled at some of the time for jum ing on eo le! etted some of the time for jum ing! and ignored some of the time has actually been taught to always jum on eo le. 6 Border Collie who can ignore a .ecall is actually being taught to not come when he)s called. "f he)s dragging a longline or leash when he)s .ecalled! he can)t ignore the command. +se tabs! leashes and longlines throughout the lure:reward and intermittent reinforcement stages of training to hel him learn manners and safety. Border Collie 4ork 1thic "f you don)t find jobs for your dog! he)ll find his own. /ost of the time! you won)t like the jobs your Border Collie finds? /ore annoying jobs can be things like herding s#uirrels! digging giant craters in the backyard! constantly whining and ushing at eo le! or cornering cats and holding them there for hours. Border Collies) more dangerous jobs can be herding cars! swoo ing out at eo le and ferociously barking which can be misinter reted as viciousness! or herding owners which could lead to a nasty fall. "f he)s already chasing cats! the easiest way to control the behavior is to turn herding cats into a job he does with you in control. "f he)s digging craters in the backyard! create a digging hole for him out of harm)s way. "f he)s constantly whining! give him the security of a consistent daily schedule of lay! work! su ertime! and bedtime. "f he)s already chasing cars! get some hel before he)s seriously injured or dead. 6ggression 3et hel ! but be careful. Border Collies are often misdiagnosed by veterinarians and behaviorists with little or no e' erience with this breed. There are many com licated factors in dealing with aggression roblems. 0eo le have language to communicate angers! fears! and ains. 4e can call for hel or remove ourselves from tense or dangerous situations. 4e can use our teeth! fists! clubs! knives! guns! and nuclear wea ons. "f one erson kills another! our system might throw him in rison for awhile. But our dogs have few o tions for communicating their angers! fears! and ains to us. 4arning growls! li curls! and biting are art of a dog)s language. 4hen a dog is hurt! confused! or scared and rotects

himself by dis laying what we call aggression! our system condemns him to death. Doesn)t seem #uite fair.