Archive-name: dogs-faq/breeds/bordercollies Posting-frequency: 30 days Last-modified: 05 Mar 1995 This is a regularly posted faq and appears every thirty days in rec.pets.dogs and news.answers. The latest version of this file is a hypertext document available via the Web at
http://www.io.com/user/tittle/dogs-faq/breeds/homepage.html The most recently posted ASCII version of this file is available via anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/breeds It is also available via email: check the weekly posting Cindy Tittle Moore (
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) puts out en_title_d Complete List of rec.pets.dogs FAQs for details. BORDER COLLIES Author * April M. Quist, revised January 25, 1995 (
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) Many thanks to Laura Alfonso, Carolyn Chamblin, Robin French, Terri Hardwick, Kathy Kemper, Janet Lewis, Nancy Gagliardi Little, Rita Susanto, Richard Whorton, and M. Christine Zink, DVM, for their input. Most of all, thanks to my first Border Collie, Summerwind Shiloh, UD (9/83 - 5/94), who taught me more about Border Collies than all the books in the world could have. _________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents * Characteristics and Temperament * Frequently asked Questions * History * De_script_ion * Training/Behavior Hints * Is a Border Collie For You? * Recognized * Special Medical Problems * References + Books + Periodicals + Email List about Border Collies + Breed Rescue Organizations + Breeders + Registries + Breed Clubs _________________________________________________________________ Characteristics and Temperament The two most outstanding characteristics of Border Collies are their eyes and their working _style_. They work with their heads lowered, at times almost in a crouch, and with a stare that is intent, confident, and almost mesmerizing. They notice every movement of their livestock, and they react by moving, at times almost imperceptibly, to take advantage of it or to counter it. Movement of both dog and stock is usually calm and fluid. These dogs are the world's premier sheep working breed. In addition, the breed is known for its athleticism, intelligence, and strong work ethic. Border Collies are heading or gathering herders, as opposed to heelers. This means that, instead of driving livestock out by nip- ping at the heels like, for example, an Australian Cattle Dog would, the Border Collie's instinct is to run out past a herd or flock, gather the animals, and take them to the shepherd. Border Collies can be taught to drive, but do not generally do it by instinct. Border Collies are usually very intense workaholics. They are happiest when they have a job to do, whether that job be herding, obedience, agility, or any of the other active occupations and dog sports they excel at. They are extremely quick, high-energy, busy dogs and they must have plenty of exercise. They are bred for endurance: a working Border Collie is able to run many miles a day over sometimes difficult terrain, then go out and do it again the next day. A one- or two-mile run is barely a warm-up for a Border Collie. People without the time to give a dog plenty of good, vigorous exercise every day would be well advised to find a calmer dog. A bored Border Collie can become neurotic and destructive. Quoting from Nop's Trials, by Donald McCaig, If this [book] has persuaded you to buy a Border Collie for a pet, I'd like to offer a caution. Border Collies are very bright, quick, and more than a little weird. They are not suitable for most city apartments. Their working instincts are strong and their self-esteem comes from working well. A bored, mishandled Border Collie can get into awful trouble. Border Collies herd everything that moves: livestock, birds, other dogs, cats, children, and even bugs. Although Border Collies herd by eye rather than by nipping at the heels of livestock, some are still nippy and might nip at you or your children's heels and legs when you run. They also tend to be car-chasers. When you have a Border Collie, you have an extra shadow! They will follow you everywhere they can and will always be underfoot. These dogs will watch you constantly (as if you are the stock), and will rush in front of you if they think something is going to happen. They thrive on attention and are very affectionate and people-oriented. However, good socialization is important for them - they tend to be reserved with people they don't know and can be aggressive with other dogs. Border Collies are highly intelligent and quick learners, but they are slow to mature: they are puppies until around 2 or 2-1/2 years or even older. _________________________________________________________________ Frequently Asked Questions How big do Border Collies get? Border Collies average between 30 to 50 pounds. However, if size is important to you, be aware that some Border Collies are as small as 25 pounds, and some are as large as 65 pounds. If you need or want a dog whose size you can count on, you might want to consider some other breed. Do they shed? Moderately; they shed most in early spring and late fall. How much grooming do they need? Border Collies are fairly low-maintenance dogs. They don't need frequent baths, because their coats shed dirt rather nicely. A good 10-minute brushing two or three times per week helps to keep their coats clean and in nice condition; more frequent brushing while they are shedding helps to control the amount of hair that ends up on your carpet. Like all dogs, they also need to have their toenails clipped regularly. Are Border Collies hyper? Do they need a lot of exercise? Border Collies are very high-energy, busy dogs, both indoors and out. If bored, they will chew anything (books, shoes, table legs, carpet, furniture...). They also love to dig holes. Good forms of exercise for a Border Collie include playing fetch (they love to chase balls and Frisbees), swimming, jogging, running with a bicycle (be careful they don't try to herd the bike!), and hiking. 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 fenced area as a form of exercise will NOT be enough for them. When exercising a Border Collie, you must watch him very carefully for signs of heat exhaustion. Because they are so intense in their work and play, they don't stop when they get too tired or too hot. They can easily work themselves to death, even on cool days. Another problem is that they can physically injure themselves because they are so quick and concentrate so completely on their task that they don't pay attention to where they are going and can run into obstacles if they happen to be in the way. Are they intelligent? Border Collies are very intelligent dogs and learn fast. This can actually be a problem at times: many times they will learn things that the owner didn't intend for them to learn. Some of these newly learned behavior patterns can be difficult to reteach. Their intelligence is one of the reasons that they tend to get bored (and into trouble) easily. But then, it's also one of the reasons they excel in obedience training/competition. However, Border Collies are not self-training dogs. All dogs need to be trained by their humans if they are to become good companions, and the Border Collie is no exception. What active sports and activities can I participate in with a Border Collie? Border Collies excel at competitive dog sports such as obedience, agility, Flyball, Scent Hurdles, Frisbee, and tracking. They make good search and rescue dogs. A well-trained, well-socialized Border Collie also makes a very good pet-therapy dog, and some organizations train them as signal (hearing) and assistance dogs. And, of course, Border Collies are the best herding dogs in the world. Do they make good guard dogs? They are not reliable guard dogs. They can be protective of their families and will generally bark if they hear or see something they don't like. There are, however, some Border Collies that have been trained to advanced Schutzhund degrees. How are they with children? When properly socialized with children, Border Collies are gentle and intuitive. They often seem to know how boisterous or how gentle they need to be with individual children. But as with all dogs, Border collies and children should be supervised when they play together to make sure neither hurts the other inadvertently. Unsocialized Border collies can be fearful and untrusting of children. Do Border Collies like to swim? Border Collies seem to be natural water dogs and love to swim if encouraged to do so when they are young. Swimming is an excellent way to exercise these high-energy dogs during the hot summer months. Do they play Fetch ? One of a Border Collie's favorite games is Fetch, and it's another great exercise for them. They love chasing balls, Frisbees, and any- thing else that moves, and their gathering instinct makes them natural retrievers. But Border Collies can become obsessed with retrieving, which might annoy some owners: their dogs are constantly dropping a ball in their lap, and then stepping back and staring that Border collie stare until the ball is thrown. A word of warning about playing Frisbee with a Border Collie (or any other dog): according to M. Christine Zink, DVM, Ph.D., author of the book Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Frisbees can be very dangerous for dogs, particularly when they are thrown so that the dog must catch them with all four feet off the ground. The problem lies not in the dog jumping and catching the Frisbee, but in the fact that the trajectory of a Frisbee can change unpredictably, causing the dog to twist to catch it and then land in whatever position it can. The most common injuries as a consequence of Frisbee-catching are herniation of the disks of the spinal cord and tearing or rupture of the anterior cruciate ligaments. Both of these injuries can be severe enough to end a dog's performance career. Do they jump fences? What kind of escape artists are they? Border Collies are extremely agile dogs and can easily jump/climb a 6-foot fence if they decide there's 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 can be good at opening doors and latches! Do they bark a lot? Any dog can become a barker if it gets bored, and Border Collies become more easily bored than most other dogs. In general, however, they tend to be relatively quiet dogs, barking only at intruders. Where should I get my dog? There are several options, some good, others not so good. If you choose to get an adult dog, you can get one from a shelter, from a Border Collie rescue organization, or from a breeder who is looking for a home for an adult Border Collie. If you decide to get a puppy, you should do some research and find a breeder with a good reputation. Do NOT buy a Border Collie puppy from a pet store. Although these puppies are adorable, they are generally from puppy mills and will be incredibly overpriced. These puppies are prone to many health problems, such as epilepsy, hip and joint problems, and early blindness. They are usually poorly socialized. Do not even buy from pet stores advertising that their animals are not from puppy mills, because they usually have no idea, nor do they care, how these puppies were produced. No reputable breeder would ever sell puppies to a pet store. You will often encounter the same problems with health and socialization with puppies sold through ads in the newspaper. The best way to find a good breeder is by asking people who already own healthy Border Collies with good temperaments. How do I choose a puppy? You need to do some homework before you start talking to breeders and before you look at any puppies. Decide what sex and color you'd like, and especially what you plan to do with the dog. Once you know what you're looking for, talk to breeders and discuss your concerns and ideas. Since Border Collies are prone to eye diseases such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy and juvenile cataracts, and hip problems such as hip dysplasia, look for a breeder who has all dogs' eyes and hips checked and certified: eyes are certified by C.E.R.F., and hips are certified by O.F.A. Be sure to ask to see the certificates issued by those organizations. Make sure the puppies are well-socialized. When you find a someone that you like and who has a good reputation, allow the breeder to help you select your puppy. Most breeders have a pretty good idea of what the puppies' personalities are like and will guide you to make a good choice. _________________________________________________________________ History The Border Collie originated in the border country between Scotland and England. It is a very old breed, with references in literature going back to at least 1570 in writings by Dr. Caius. Caius mentions him as not huge, vaste and bigge but of indifferent stature and growth (from the AKC Miscellaneous Breeds booklet). The breed has been known as the Working Collie, Old-Fashioned Collie, Farm Collie, and English Collie. It was in 1915 that James Reid, Secretary of the International Sheepdog Society in Great Britain, first called the dog a Border Collie. The first sheepdog trials were held on October 9, 1873 in Bala, Wales. In the United States, the trials started in 1880. FAMOUS BORDER COLLIES Any history of Border Collies has to include mention of two particular dogs: Old Hemp and Wiston Cap. There are plenty of brilliant Border collies in Great Britain's past, but these are the two that are mentioned any time great sheepdogs are discussed. Old Hemp Old Hemp, a tri-color dog, was born September 1893 and died May 1901. He was bred by Adam Telfer from Roy, a black and tan dog, and Meg, a black-coated, strong-eyed dog. Hemp was a quiet, powerful dog that sheep responded to easily. Many shepherds used him for stud on their bitches, and Hemp's working _style_ became the Border Collie _style_. It is believed that Old Hemp's blood runs in the veins of almost all modern Border Collies. Wiston Cap Wiston Cap is the dog that the International Sheep Dog Society badge portrays in the characteristic Border Collie herding pose. He was the most popular and used stud dog in the history of the breed, and appears in a huge percentage of pedigrees today. Bred by W. S. Hetherington and trained and handled by John Richardson, Cap was a biddable and good-natured dog. His blood lines all trace back to the early registered dogs of the stud book, and to J. M. Wilson's Cap, who occurs sixteen times within seven generations in his pedigree. Wiston Cap sired three Supreme Champions and is grand-sire of three others, one of which is E. W. Edwards' Bill, who won the championship twice. THE BORDER COLLIE CONTROVERSY Many people, particularly Border Collie owners from the herding community, feel that American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition in the United States, and Canadian Kennel Club recognition (CKC) in Canada, will irreparably harm the Border Collie. These people believe that breeding the dogs to a conformation standard (that is, for beauty or a certain look) will, at best, create a set of Border Collies that are pretty but can't work. They take the dogs' herding instinct very seriously, and believe it would be a serious injustice to the breed if this were to happen. Many other people, especially those involved in showing their dogs in AKC obedience trials, believe that a strong AKC parent club will be able to mitigate this effect. These people will continue to lobby the AKC for a herding criteria to be added to the Border Collie standard. If this were to happen, any Border Collies showing in conformation would have to complete some herding prerequisites before being awarded a championship. There is also a group of Border Collie owners who are primarily interested in showing in conformation and who oppose the addition of herding requirements to the standard. Many of these people have imported conformation Border Collies from the UK, where the breed has been recognized by the Kennel Club for a number of years. In 1994, breed clubs for all breeds that have been in the Miscellaneous group for many years without seeking full recognition (including the Australian Kelpie, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog) were notified by the AKC that they had to either seek recognition or be dropped from the AKC entirely. The AKC had made the decision that the Miscellaneous group should be used as it was intended: as a temporary holding place for breeds actively seeking recognition. In December 1994, the AKC voted to officially recognize the Border Collie after many years of its being in the Miscellaneous group (no one seems to be sure exactly how long it's been, but it seems to be at least since 1955). Registration began in February, 1995. As a Miscellaneous breed, the Border collie has been allowed to show only in AKC obedience and tracking trials; on February 1, 1995, the breed also became eligible to show in herding and agility trials. And beginning in October 1995, Border Collies will be seen for the first time in AKC conformation as part of the herding group. The Canadian Kennel Club, due to its inability to recognize the breed at this time, removed the Border Collie from its Miscellaneous group. (The process of breed recognition is regulated by the Canadian government through the Animal Pedigree Act.) As a result, any Border Collies not CKC miscellaneous certified by the end of 1993 are not allowed to participate in CKC-sanctioned events. The Border Collie Club of Canada (BCCC) is continuing to work with the CKC to regain their showing privileges. _________________________________________________________________ De_script_ion Emphasis is traditionally on intelligence, trainability, and herding instinct rather than on looks/conformation. When a sheep rancher goes looking for a Border Collie to help him with the sheep on his ranch, or for a Border Collie that he can compete with in herding trials, what the dog looks like is going to be the last thing on his mind. He doesn't care what color the dog is, or how big he is, or whether his ears stand up or flop down. The rancher does want the dog to be highly intelligent and trainable, have good herding instinct, and to be physically capable of performing the work. The rancher will watch to make sure the dog has the Border Collie eye, with which he controls the stock. Tail-carriage is also important: the rancher will take only a dog that, at work, carries his tail low along his back legs with an upward turn at the end (but not between his legs in fear, of course), because a dog that carries his tail above his back (called a gay tail ) is not concentrating on his work. The following is the new AKC standard for the Border Collie. Be aware that many excellent breeders do not breed to this standard. They believe that working ability alone is the only way to define a Border Collie. If a breeder is breeding toward the AKC standard, s/he should also be breeding for herding ability. GENERAL APPEARANCE The Border Collie is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance, displaying grace and agility in equal measure with substance and stamina. His hard, muscular body has a smooth outline which conveys the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance - characteristics which have made him the world's premier sheep herding dog. He is energetic, alert and eager. Intelligence is his hallmark. SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE The height at the withers varies from 19 to 22 for males, 18 to 21 for females. The body, from point of shoulder to buttocks, is slightly longer than the height at the shoulders. Bone must be strong, not excessive, always in proportion to size. Overall balance between height, length, weight and bone is crucial and is more important than any absolute measurement. Excess body weight is not to be mistaken for muscle or substance. Any single feature of size appearing out of proportion should be considered a fault. HEAD _expression_ is intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest. Eyes are set well apart, of moderate size, oval in shape. The color encompasses the full range of brown eyes, dogs having primary body colors other than black may have noticeably lighter eye color. Blue eyes are a fault except in merles, where one or both, or part of one or both eyes may be blue. Ears are of medium size, set well apart, carried erect and/or semi-erect (varying from 1/4 to 3/4 of the ear erect). The tips may fall forward or outward to the side. Ears are sensitive and mobile. Skull is broad with occiput not pronounced. Skull and foreface approximately equal in length. Stop moderate, but distinct. Muzzle moderately short, strong and blunt, tapering to nose. The underjaw is strong and well-developed. Nose color generally matches the primary body color. Nostrils are well developed. A snipy muzzle is a fault. Bite: Teeth and jaws are strong, meeting in a scissor bite. NECK, TOPLINE, AND BODY Neck is of good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadening to shoulders. Topline is level, with slight arch over the loins. Body is athletic in appearance. Chest is deep, moderately broad, showing great lung capacity. Brisket reaching to the point of the elbow. Rib cage well sprung. Loins moderately deep, muscular, slightly arched with no tuck-up. Croup gradually sloped downward. Tail is set low. It is moderately long, bone reaching at least to the hock. It may have an upward swirl to the tip. While concentrating at a given task, the tail is carried low and used for balance. In excitement it may rise level with the back. A gay tail is a fault. FOREQUARTERS Forelegs well-boned and parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly sloping when viewed from side. The shoulders are long and well-angulated to the upper arm. The elbows are neither in nor out. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet are compact, oval in shape, pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together. HINDQUARTERS Broad and muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to set of tail. The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular, with well-turned stifles and strong hocks well let down. When viewed from the rear, hind legs are well-boned, straight and parallel or are very slightly cowhocked. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet are compact, oval in shape, pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together. Nails are short and strong. COAT Two varieties are permissible, both having soft, dense, weather resistant double coat. In puppies, the coat is short, soft, dense and water resistant, becoming the undercoat in adult dogs. The rough coat medium to long, texture from flat to slightly wavy. Short and smooth coat on face. Forelegs feathered. Rear pasterns may have coat trimmed short. With advancing age, coats may become very wavy and are not faulted. The smooth coat is short over entire body. May have feathering on forelegs and fuller coat on chest. COLOR The Border Collie appears in many colors, with various combinations of patterns and markings. The most common color is black with or without the traditional white blaze, collar, stockings and tail tip, with or without tan points. However, a variety of primary body colors is permissible. The sole exception being all white. Solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle and sable dogs are judged equally with dogs having traditional markings. Color and marking are always secondary to physical evaluation and gait. GAIT The Border Collie is an agile dog, able to suddenly change speed and direction without loss of balance and grace. Endurance is his trademark. His trotting gait is free, smooth and tireless, with minimum lift of feet. The topline does not shift as he conveys an effortless glide. He moves with great stealth, strength and stamina. When viewed from the side, the stride should cover maximum ground, with minimum speed. Viewed from the front, the action is forward and true, without weakness in shoulders, elbows or pasterns. Viewed from behind, the quarters thrust with drive and flexibility, with hocks moving close together but never touching. Any deviation from a sound-moving dog is a fault. In final assessment, gait is an essential factor, confirming physical evaluation. TEMPERAMENT The Border Collie is intelligent, alert and responsive. Affectionate towards friends, he may be sensibly reserved towards strangers and therefore makes an excellent watchdog. An intensive worker while herding, he is eager to learn and to please, and thrives on human companionship. Any tendencies towards viciousness or extreme shyness are serious faults. FAULTS Any deviation from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the seriousness of the fault depending upon the extent of the deviation. _________________________________________________________________ Training/Behavior Hints Most Border Collies have a soft temperament, that is, they are sensitive to rough treatment and corrections. You must be firm and consistent because these dogs will try to get away with as much as they can, but if you are not fair in your corrections and training, Border Collies will become stressed. If that happens, they will probably react in one of the following ways: they will turn completely off, possibly rolling onto their backs in submission, or acting very engrossed in something else and paying no attention to you (avoidance behavior); or they will become more anxious and wound up, trying to do everything in triple time, which will cause them to make even more mistakes. Motivational-type training works best with sensitive dogs like Border Collies. It brings out the best in them, helping to turn them into excellent, happy workers. Border Collies tend to be very sound-sensitive. This sensitivity manifests itself in a couple of ways: some dogs become very frightened at loud or unusual noises (i.e., fireworks, the sound of a smoke alarm, even something as simple as hand-clapping); other dogs might just be extremely distracted by different noises. Attention-training is important for Border Collies that will be shown in obedience competition. These dogs are very sight-oriented, and are easily distracted by anything moving around them. A dog that is closely watching his handler cannot pay attention to other things that are happening around him. Border Collies make wonderful trick dogs. They love to learn new things and can be taught many behaviors, such as sitting up, playing dead, rolling over, etc. This is why these dogs are so popular in movies and television. _________________________________________________________________ Is a Border Collie For You? With the recent media attention focused on the Border Collie, many people are now considering one as a potential new pet. While Border collies are very intelligent, they also require a larger time and energy commitment from their owners than many other breeds. They are active, spirited, and often very strong willed. Although some may be calmer than others, many are decidedly hyperactive, always wanting to be up and doing something. They often exhibit obsessive behaviors, like chasing lights, shadows, and running or dripping water. Many owners have no patience for this kind of activity, but breed lovers seem to enjoy this loony streak. There is no way of telling how highly developed a pup's herding instinct will be. If you acquire one that really wants to work above all else, its frustration may take the form of herding and possibly nipping at the heels of children, running adults, or other animals. This is not a sign of viciousness, but it is something that must be controlled, especially with small children who can become very frightened with the behavior. 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 its owner is tired from a long day at work; and most important, 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. In summary, Border Collies are much more work than most other breeds. They do not typically make easy family pets. If you have never been around one, try to spend some time with the breed before you decide to get one. Many Border Collies end up in shelters when their owners find that they are just too much trouble to have around because they need so much exercise, attention, and training/mental stimulation. _________________________________________________________________ Recognized American Kennel Club Australian National Kennel Council FCI Kennel Club of Great Britain United Kennel Club _________________________________________________________________ Special Medical Problems There is a mistaken belief by some breeders that the Border Collie's work weeds out unhealthy breeding stock and, as a result, the breed is unaffected by the genetic disorders common in other breeds. This belief is absolutely untrue! It is estimated that approximately 25% of Border Collies in the U.S. have disorders such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, and epilepsy. If a breeder tells you that the breed is unaffected by these problems, find another breeder. Also, if a breeder tells you he doesn't check and certify hips and eyes because his particular breeding lines are unaffected by hip and eye problems, find another breeder. HIP DYSPLASIA Like most medium- and large-sized dogs, Border Collies are prone to Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), which can cause mild to severe lameness, so be sure to look for breeders that certify their dogs through the OFA and insist on seeing the certificates. Dogs do not have to be obviously lame to have this condition and pass it on to their offspring. OSTEOCHONDRITIS DESICANS A disease that can cause lameness in the joints of young dogs (usually from 6 to 12 months of age) is Osteochondritis Desicans (OCD). This is a degenerative disease of the joints, and is possibly associated with over-nutrition and too-fast growth of puppies. PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Central Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) are two eye problems. PRA generally shows up in dogs around two years of age. At first it shows up as night blindness, and slowly progresses over eight years or so to total blindness. Dogs that are bred should have their eyes checked and certified by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Again, insist on seeing the certificates. COLLIE EYE ANOMALY Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is another eye problem that is becoming more and more common in Border Collies. Like PRA, CEA can also cause blindness. The entire litter should be tested for CEA between the ages of six and ten weeks by a qualified veterinary ophthalmologist. An official certificate should be available if the litter has been tested, and every puppy in the litter should be listed as normal. DEAFNESS Congenital deafness can be a problem in some predominantly white Border collies. EPILEPSY Border Collies are also prone to epilepsy, a neurological seizure disorder. Unfortunately, there is no test for this. Ask the breeder if there are any known epilepsy problems. Ethical breeders will be more than happy to discuss this with you. ANESTHETICS Because of their low body fat, Border Collies are very susceptible to barbiturate-_base_d anesthetics. This is something that you should discuss with your veterinarian before any kind of surgery or procedure for which your dog will be anesthetized. _________________________________________________________________ References BOOKS AKC, Misc Class Breeds, November 1985 Billingham, Viv, One Woman and Her Dog, Hi-Ridge Farm, Ontario, Canada Carpenter, E. B., Blue Ribband of the Heather: The Supreme Champions 1906 - 1988, Farming Press Books, Ipswich, UK, 1989 Combe, Iris, Border Collies, Faber and Faber, London Jones, H. Glyn, A Way of Life, Diamond Farm Enterprises, Alexandria, NY, 1987 Larson, Janet E., The Versatile Border Collie, Alpine Publications, Inc., Loveland, Colorado, 1987 Longton, Tim, and Hart, Edward, The Sheepdog: Its Work and Training, David and Charles, London, 1976 McCaig, Donald, Nop's Trials (Fiction), Crown Publishers, New York, NY, 1984 McCaig, Donald, Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men, Burlingame Books, New York, NY, 1991 Wilcox, Bonnie, DVM, and Walkowicz, Chris, Atlas of Dog Breeds, TFH Publications, Inc., 1991 Zink, M. Christine, DVM, Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, Howell Book House, 1992 PERIODICALS American Border Collie 12056 Mt. Vernon Avenue, #303 Grand Terrace, CA 92324 Borderlines (Newsletter for BCSA) Editor: Kathy Kemper 322 Spring Branch Lane Kennedale, TX 76060 FAX: (817) 561-2662 The National Stock Dog Magazine 312 Portland Road Waterloo, WI 53594 The Ranch Dog Trainer Rt. 2, Box 333 West Plains, MO 65775 The Shepherd's Dogge Woolgather Farm Box 843 Ithaca, NY The Working Border Collie Magazine 14933 Kirkwood Road Sidney, OH 45365 United States Border Collie Club Newsletter Route 1, Box 83-D Julian, PA 16844 EMAIL LIST ABOUT BORDER COLLIES A mailing list is available for discussing issues and topics relating to Border Collies. You can join by sending a message to:
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In the body of the message, put the lines: subscribe border-collies end BREED RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS Kathy Kemper Border Collie Rescue 322 Spring Branch Lane Kennedale, Texas 76060 (817) 572-6767 Carole Presberg NABCRN 240 Condor Road Condor, NY 13743 (607) 659-5868 Nancy Starkey The Border Collie Rescue Organization Mount Airy, Maryland (301) 253-4732 BREEDERS Disclaimer: These breeders have been recommended in good faith by readers of Rec.pets.dogs. However, you are still responsible for verifying that a particular breeder meets your needs to your satisfaction. Heelalong Kennels Dick and Kay Guetzloff 145 South Penn Prescott, AZ 86303 MacLeod Border Collies Janet Lewis RD 2, Box 361 Huntingdon, PA 16652 Norwood Border Collies Joyce Norris Rt. 1, Box 275A Waltonville, IL 62894 REGISTRIES The American Kennel Club. (AKC) 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, USA The American Border Collie Association Inc. (ABCA) 82 Rogers Road, Perkinston, MS 39573, USA (601) 928-7551 The American-International Border Collie Registry, Inc. (AIBC) 1534 E. 36th Street, Des Moines, IA, USA (515) 262-8152 The North American Sheep Dog Society (NASDS) RR 3, McLeansboro, IL 62859, USA The Kennel Club I-4 Clarges St. Piccadilly London, W1Y8AB, England The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) Chesam House, 47 Bromham Road Bedford, England MK40 2AA The Australian National Kennel Council Royal Show Grounds Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia The United Kennel Club (UKC) 100 East Kilgore Rd. Kalamazoo, MI 49001 USA World Wide Kennel Club PO Box 62 Mt. Vernon, NY or 1101 Midland Avenue, Suite 101 Bronxville, NY 10708 BREED CLUBS Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with any inquiry. The American Border Collie Alliance (conformation-oriented) (Address?) The Australian Border Collie Society Pitt Town, NSW 2756, Australia The Border Collie Club of Great Britain Firbeck, Worksop Nottinghamshire, England Border Collie Society of America, INC (BCSA) (performance-oriented: obedience, agility, herding, etc.) 815 Royal Oaks Drive Durham, NC 27712 The United States Border Collie Club (herding-oriented) Route 1, Box 83-D Julian, PA 16844 USA _________________________________________________________________ Border Collie FAQ April Quist,
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