Scout is a Border Collie we were given four years ago. He is a
beautiful tri-colored dog that is full of energy. The first two years
we had him he hardly stopped running. His family hated to give
him up but they had moved from their home with two acres to a house
with a very small yard. Scout was going crazy, and driving the
neighbors crazy as well.
He loves our large yard and can run the 100+ foot distance from one
side to the other in two seconds flat. He is beautiful to watch as he
seems to hardly touch the ground.
Scout, like most Border
Collies, gets along great with everyone and is never a problem with
other dogs. He is also gentle with all the animals we have: cats,
chickens, rabbit, guinea pigs and pet birds.
For four years he
has been a wonderful companion and excellent pet. Now at six years old
he is calming down and enjoys laying around the house for most of the
day. He is very content as long as he is with one of us.
Border
Collies are amazing dogs. Besides being used to herd sheep they have
been used as war dogs, sled dogs, therapy and assistance dogs, in
competitive sports, as search and rescue dogs, as hunting dogs and,
always, as companions.
They come in various colors: black and
white, tri-color, blue merle, red and white, liver, red merle, yellow,
or white with small amounts of black, brown or red. They can weight
anywhere from 25 pounds to 65 pounds.
Since Border Collies are
so highly motivated to work many are enjoying the growing sport of
Agility. This sport enhances the relationship between dog and handler
and creates a confident, bold and motivated dog.
Border Collies
also excel in Fly Ball and Frisbee competitions. In northern climates
they make up sled-dog teams that are competitive in middle-distance
races.
Like all Border Collies, Scout sheds during the spring
and summer months. Ones with thick fur, like Scout, develop thick
undercoats in winter which must be combed out at the beginning of
summer.
Be careful in the hot summer months. Heat exhaustion is
a killer. A typical Border Collie doesn’t slow down in the summer so
provide him with a little pool to cool off in when he is outside.
Even
though Scout has the choice to be inside or out, if anyone is in the
backyard he is out there with them, running and barking for the fun of
it. He loves being able to jump into his little pool and splash around
for a few seconds before he takes off on another run around the yard.
Scout
is a great dog and we are very fortunate to have been given this
beautiful and bright creature. But they are not for everyone.
Before
you acquire a Border Collie puppy or adult make sure you have the space
for them to run and that you want to spend two years training and
thirteen more enjoying his high energy.
If you are interested in
adopting a Border Collie consider fostering one from a rescue. You’ll
learn if a Border Collie is for you, save a life, and maybe even end up
adopting your foster dog.
Reprinted with permission: www.articlebiz.com
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