Border Collie Rescue
BUYERS GUIDE
Before
you consider bringing a Border Collie into your home, you should read this
brochure and, if at all possible, meet and talk with people who currently own
Border Collies and are familiar with their uniqueness. You should be as well
informed about the breed as possible. If you decide to get a puppy, you will
need to find a reputable breeder. While it is important that the dog is
purebred, you should remember that there are no guarantees just because a dog
is registered with any particular organization or association. Registries
only provide documentation based on what the breeder tells them. As the
consumer, you must be careful. Read the do's and don'ts below and take
time to find a breeder who you feel answers all you questions honestly. Border
Collies are unquestionably highly intelligent and active dogs. While the
level of intensity varies, those unaccustomed to the breed may consider them
too energetic for their lifestyle.
Border
Collies are the result of hundreds of years of breeding dogs that herd sheep.
They love to work and become very bored with inactivity. They will
focus on motion and try to stop moving objects (including people and animals)
by getting in front of them. They will frequently invent their own games,
some of which may be highly annoying for families that are not accustomed to
Border Collies. Those wonderful dogs you may have seen working sheep or
performing in the movies are the result of many years of training and you
should expect and untrained puppy to be just that - untrained!
IS
A BORDER COLLIE FOR YOU? If you
live in an apartment, town house, have very small children, have a busy life,
have an unfenced yard, are impatient with compulsive behaviours, or want a
Border Collie only because you saw one in the movies, or want an attack dog,
then please consider another breed.
Many
unhappy situations have resulted when unaware owners purchased a Border Collie
and left it to its own devices while at work. Human companionship is very
important to the Border Collie. They are extremely sound and body
sensitive, and need to be treated gently to build up trust and confidence.
Border
Collies need a job. The type of
job can be as simple as chasing a tennis ball or as sophisticated as herding,
agility or obedience training. You should be able to spend some time each
day working your dog. Training a Border Collie to be a good citizen in
your home is a must. Your kindness will be rewarded with undying loyalty.
Border
Collies are an intensely active breed especially when young. They need space to run and explore. Their
strong herding instinct leads them to chase cars, bicycles, and children.
It is not unusual for them to inadvertently knock young children over or cause
a child riding a bicycle to crash. Out of frustration, Border Collies may
even nip running children. While you might not mind, you are liable if
your neighbour does. As you might imagine, a fenced yard is necessity to
prevent dogs from getting into other mischief or from running into roadways and
possibly being killed. Border Collies won't usually exercise on their
own. Most require their human counterparts to participate in their
exercise programs. Merely putting a Border Collie into a fence area as a form
of exercise will NOT be enough for them. These dogs need to be physically
and mentally challenged and if you cannot provide that for them, they will do
it themselves - at the expense of your lawn, furniture, wall or whatever looks
tempting to dig or chew on! They are extremely quick, highly energetic,
busy dogs and they must have plenty of exercise. Border Collies may not be
particularly good around other dogs. Their wish to herd other dogs may
not be appreciated.
What
kind of escape artists are they?
Border Collies are extremely agile dogs and can easily jump or climb a 6 - Foot
fence it they decide there is something more interesting on the other
side. They are also good diggers and chewers, so if they can't jump a
fence they might try to dig under it or chew through it if they want to get
out. And don't forget their intelligence, some Border Collies are good at
opening doors and latches.
IF
YOU STILL WANT A BORDER COLLIE, PLEASE CONSIDER A RESCUE DOG: More often than ever before, Border Collies are simply
abandoned, taken to local shelters or put up for adoption. Some may have
behavioural problems that can be overcome, but most are perfectly wonderful
dogs. Often adopting an older dog is preferable since you have a better
idea of what the mature dog will look like and have a clearer idea of what it's
temperament might be. Past experience has shown that rescued Border Collies
bond closely with their adoptive families. These dogs seem to understand
when they have been placed into a permanent new home.
LOOKING
FOR A PUPPY: If you decide that
you really would prefer a puppy, you will need some information to help you
make a wise decision.
1.
Is the puppy from healthy sound parents?
Border Collies are not immune to genetic problems that plague all dogs.
Hip Dysplacia (HD) and genetic eye diseases are more common than you might
imagine. At present, it is recommended that breeding stock be evaluated
for these problems prior to their being bred. Hips should be examined
radiographically and the radiographs evaluated by a reputable veterinarian
or by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria. Hips are
graded on a scale of zero to four, four being the worst and a score of zero
being clear. Insist on seeing the certificates. Dogs do not have to
be obviously lame to have this condition and pass it on to their
offspring. Certificates are only issued for dogs after the age of 2 years so
younger dogs will not have a certificate.
Border
Collies can suffer from progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and collie eye
anomaly (CEA) in addition to other eye diseases. All can appear at any
time. Since CEA may appear initially in young puppies, it is a good idea
to have the entire litter examined between the age of 6-10 weeks, as that is
the only time they can be certified free. Dogs that are used for breeding
should be examined yearly by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist. There is a
growing problem with epilepsy and other seizure disorders in Border
Collies. Unfortunately, origins of the diseases are not always clear and
you will have to rely on the honesty of the breeder as to whether an
inheritable problem exists in their line. Ask about allergies, problems
with shoulders or elbows, heart problems, digestive problems, and
osteochondritis desicans (OCD), a disease that causes lameness in the joints of
young dogs. You would also be wise to ask about sibling of the sire and dam and
about any puppies they might have produced. The more dogs in a pedigree that
are known to be free of problems increases the chances that your puppy will be
healthy. By all means you should make an attempt to see the sire and
dam. If you have questions contact your local veterinarian for more
information.
2.
Have the puppies been dewormed and vaccinated? Puppies, which have
distended round bellies, may have internal parasites. Breeders should check
their puppies and treat them if necessary. Most veterinarians recommend that
puppies be vaccinated to prevent distemper and parvo. Insist on a
vaccination certificate.
3.
Does the puppy appear healthy? You
should look for an active puppy. Sometimes after they have just eaten
they may be sleepy, but try to arrange a time to visit when they will be awake
and playful. At 6-8 weeks, the puppy should move easily on strong
legs. Avoid puppies that have debris in their eyes or have eyes with any
discharge. You should also avoid puppies that have dirty ears(Inside) or
ears that smell badly. Check the insides of their lips expecting to see a
bright pink colour. Paleness may indicate parasites. Evidence of
diarrhoea in the kennel area may indicate unhealthy puppies While each of
these may be symptoms of treatable illnesses, they are also symptoms of a
breeder who is not responsible.
4.
Does the puppy have a sound temperament?
You should look for puppies that are well adjusted and outgoing. Look for
wagging tails and a playful attitude. Stay away from puppies that are shy
towards humans, fearful of reasonable noises, or aggressively growl and snarl
at humans. The parents' temperament is usually a good indicator of what
the puppy's temperament will be.
5.
Ownership: Remember that the money
you invest in a healthy puppy is an investment in 12 -15 or more years of a
wonderful relationship with your canine companion. You are paying for the
thought, time, expenses, and expertise of a reputable breeder. Puppies
are usually ready to leave the breeder at about 7-8 weeks. They should have
been completely weaned by then and eating solid food. You should have
chosen a place in your home to keep the puppy and made plans to acclimatise the
new puppy to his strange new surroundings. Ask the breeder for
recommendations on feeding. Although opinions vary, a veterinarian
recommended, well-balanced puppy food is adequate. Too much calcium
causes too much bone building and disrupts cartilage maturation, and possibly
contributes to development of structural problems. The breeder should provide you
with a vaccination history. Contact your veterinarian, and make an
appointment to have the new puppy examined and arrange a continuation of his
vaccination schedule. Some breeders will also provide you with written
guarantees promising to either take the puppy back or refund part or all of the
purchase price should the puppy develop specified health problems (HD for
example).
Now
that you have this "action bundle" where do you go for help and
training? You can obtain information from Border Collie Rescue regarding
obedience training schools, herding clubs, and sheepdog trials, In
addition your veterinarian may have names of folks who offer help with
training.
DO’S: 1. Learn all that you can about Border Collies before
you make a decision that should be for the dog's lifetime. 2. Consider adopting
a homeless Border Collie. 3. Carefully investigate the breeder. Ask for
references. A responsible breeder will make you prove you are qualified
to own one of their puppies. 4. Talk to other Border Collie owners and
meet their dogs.
DON’TS: 1. Never buy a puppy on a whim or buy a puppy as a
surprise gift for someone else. 2. Never buy a puppy form a pet store.
Reputable breeders would never sell their puppies to a pet store. More than
likely puppies in the pet store window are from puppy mill operators and are
likely to be poorly bred and unhealthy. 3. Never take a puppy because
it is available. You may find that you will have to wait 6 months or more
until the right puppy is born. 4. Never take a puppy unless you are committed
to spending time training it.
SUMMARY: The people who make the most satisfied border Collie
owners are people who enjoy spending a lot of time with their dogs and are
willing and able to make the commitment to exercise and train in some way every
day: who are very active, who like to hike, jog, and or take long walks with
their dogs; who don't mind living with a dog that never really settles down,
even in the house, even after a lot of exercise, even when it's owner is tired
from a long day at work; and most importantly, who have a real job for the dogs
to do, whether it's one of the dog sports that these dogs excel at, or of
course, herding a flock of sheep.
RESCUE
DOGS: IF YOU THINK YOU COULD GIVE A BORDER COLLIE THE HOME IT DESERVES, PLEASE
THINK OF OUR RESCUE DOGS LOOKING FOR PERMANENT, APPROVED HOMES. WE ARE HAPPY TO
GIVE ADVICE ON ANY ASPECT OF THE BREED.
Please contact: Julie Morris on mwmoz@mweb.co.za and (011) 395 2259.