The Breed History
Scotland and Northern England were the birthplaces of this breed.
Many varieties of collies including Scotch Collie, Welsh Sheepdog,
and Highland Collies are intermingled in the history of this region
and likely contributed to the bloodlines of the Border Collie. This
breed received full recognition status in 1995. It is thought to have
arisen in the 1700s.
Breeding for Function
Developed primarily for sheep herding but also used for cattle
herding, these dogs are often thought to be the "top dog" of sheep
herding breeds. They were developed as gatherers not drivers, but
they can be trained to do the latter also. Trainability, speed, agility,
and livestock sense were key features bred into these dogs. They
were also bred to love their work, and so will willingly work all day.
So strong is the emphasis on breed functionality that the registries
discourage showing for conformation only. Border Collies also excel
at obedience and tracking and agility. Other jobs that they excel at
include search and rescue, narcotics and bomb sniffing, and guide
dog and assistance work.
Physical Characteristics
Height at Withers: female 18-21" (45.5-53 cm), male 19-22"
(48-56 cm).
Weight: females 27-42 lb (12-19 kg), males 30-45 lb (13.5-20.5 kg).
Coat: Very dense smooth, rough, or medium coats are found; rough
and smooth are the only permitted forms in the AKC standard.
Colors include black and tan, tri-color, merle, sable, and black,
usually with white markings. Solid white is not accepted. These
dogs are average shedders, and should be brushed very regularly.
The dense undercoat sheds out in Spring.
Longevity: 12-15 years.
Points of Conformation: The Physical Characteristics of the Border
Collie are not considered a high priority, except how they contribute
to their ability to work. These dogs are medium sized, and they
possess a very alert expression. Their skull is broad with a moderate
stop. Ears are set up and semi-erect, oval eyes are dark brown
usually, though blue is acceptable in the merle, and their nose is
black. A moderately arched long neck, level topline, deep thorax and
well-sprung ribs characterize these dogs. The tail reaches to at least
their tarsus, and though usually carried low, may be held level when
excited. The body is a bit longer than high and dewclaws may be
removed. Compact feet, straight limbs, and a smooth, long, low, way
of going is characteristic.
Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits
Reported traits include: If kept as a pet, activities such as obedience
or agility are recommended to keep them challenged. They do not
do well as sedentary house pets or backyard dogs because they
need plenty of mental stimulation, lots of exercise, and human
fellowship. They are easy to train, and love to please. If left on their
own too much, they may become bored and destructive.
They should not be allowed to run off-leash unless working since
they may chase. They should be properly socialized as puppies and
may be snappy around children as they try to herd them. They make
good alert dogs for home or farm.
Sound sensitivity is reported at a frequency of 28%, and
nervousness 13% in the 2007 BCSA Health Survey.
Normal Physiologic Variations
Merle Coat Color: Caused by a dominant mutation in the SILV
gene. Breeding two merle dogs together should be avoided, as
homozygous dogs can be born with multiple defects, including
blindness, deafness, and heart anomalies.
Drug Sensitivities
MDR1 Mutation (Ivermectin/Drug Toxicity): Autosomal
recessive disorder in the MDR1 gene allows high CNS drug levels
of ivermectin, doramectin, loperamide, vincristine, moxidectin, and
other drugs. Causes neurological signs, including tremors, seizures,
and coma. A genetic test is available, showing 0.3% affected and
1.3% carrier. In Germany, 0.3% test homozygous affected, and 0.6%
test as carriers.
Inherited Diseases
Hip Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing degenerative
joint disease and hip arthritis. OFA reports 10.9% affected. Reported
at a frequency of 7.1% in the 2007 BCSA Health Survey.
Collie Eye Anomaly/Choroidal Hypoplasia/Coloboma (CEA/CH):
Autosomal recessive disorder of eye development that can lead
to retinal detachment and blindness. A genetic test is available
through Optigen, that reports 2% of Border Collies test as affected,
and 28% test as carriers. Worldwide test results on the Border
Collie Health website reports 0.7% affected and 24.8% carrier.
Reported 0.7% affected in Switzerland. Reported in 1.64% of Border
Collies CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between
2000-2005. CERF does not recommend breeding any Border Collie
with CH.
Elbow Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing elbow
arthritis. OFA reports 1.4% affected.
Patella Luxation: Polygenically inherited laxity of patellar
ligaments, causing luxation, lameness, and later degenerative joint
disease. Treat surgically if causing clinical signs. OFA reports 1.1%
affected.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS, Static Neutropenia):
Congenital autosomal recessive disorder causing mature
neutrophils to become trapped in the bone marrow. Affected pups
have recurrent infections and fail to thrive. Reported in Border
Collies worldwide. This disorder is distinct from cyclic neutropenia.
Worldwide test results on the Border Collie Health website reports
0.8% affected and 19.2% carrier. A linked marker genetic test is
available.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): X-linked recessive mode
of inheritance. Age of onset 1-2 years of age. Reported in 0.45%
of Border Collies CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists
between 2000-2005. CERF does not recommend breeding any
Border Collie with PRA. The causative mutation is not known, and
a genetic test is not available. There may be more than one form of
PRA in the breed.
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL): Autosomal recessive,
degenerative progressive neurological disease causing hyperactivity
and later aggression, gait abnormalities, blindness and dementia.
Onset between 16 months and 2 years of age. Dogs do not survive
more than 6 months from the onset of clinical signs. Worldwide
test results on the Border Collie Health website reports 2.6%
carriers. A genetic test is available.
Cobalamin Malabsorption (Methylmalonic Aciduria): Autosomal
recessive disorder presenting with chronic, nonregenerative anemia,
and methylmalonic aciduria. The disorder responds to parenteral
vitamin B12 therapy, and affected animals have a good prognosis
with treatment. A phenotypic urine test is available.
Disease Predispositions
Hypothyroidism: Inherited autoimmune thyroiditis. 11.2% positive
for thyroid auto-antibodies based on testing at Michigan State
University. (Ave. for all breeds is 7.5%). Reported at a frequency of
2.9% in the 2007 BCSA Health Survey.
Persistent Pupillary Membranes: Strands of fetal remnant
connecting; iris to iris, cornea, lens, or involving sheets of tissue. The
later three forms can impair vision, and dogs affected with these
forms should not be bred. Identified in 6.31% of Border Collies CERF
examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.
Epilepsy (Inherited Seizures): Studies show a strong founder
effect with a major recessive mode of inheritance. Epilepsy in the
Border Collie often has a severe clinical course, with dogs who first
seizure under 2 years of age having a diminished life expectancy.
Cluster seizures and status epilepticus occur at a higher frequency
in the breed. Up to 71% of Border Collies can show anticonvulsant
resistance. Dorn reports an 8.79x odds ratio of developing epileptic
seizures versus other breeds. Reported at a frequency of 3.3% in the
2007 BCSA Health Survey.
Lens Luxation: Breed predisposition identified in the Border Collie.
Age of onset 3-5 years of age. Often progresses to secondary
glaucoma. CERF does not recommend breeding any Border Collie
with lens luxation.
Deafness: Congenital deafness can be unilateral or bilateral.
Diagnosed by BAER testing. OFA reports 0.6% of Border Collies
BAER test as affected. A study in the United Kingdom showed 2.0%
unilaterally deaf, and 0.4% bilaterally deaf. Correlated with blue
eyes, with white head pigmentation, and/or the merle gene. In a
multi-breed study; for single merles (Mm), 2.7% were unilaterally
deaf and 0.9% were bilaterally deaf. For double merles (MM), 10%
were unilaterally deaf and 15% were bilaterally deaf.
Portosystemic Shunt (PSS, Liver Shunt): Abnormal blood
vessels connecting the systemic and portal blood flow. Causes
stunting, abnormal behavior and possible seizures. Seen at a higher
prevalence in the breed compared to other breeds. Undetermined
mode of inheritance.
Osteochondrosis of the Shoulder/Stifle: Age of onset of
lameness usually 4-7 months of age. Male predominance. One
study identified three affected out of five Border Collie littermates.
Reported 15.0x odds ratio for shoulder OCD versus other breeds.
Reported at a frequency of 1.9% in the 2007 BCSA Health Survey.
Unknown mode of inheritance.
Cataracts: Anterior or posterior punctate cataracts predominate
in the breed. Reported in 1.34% of Border Collies presented
to veterinary teaching hospitals. Identified in 1.23% of Border
Collies CERF examined by veterinary ophthalmologists between
2000-2005. CERF does not recommend breeding any Border Collie
with a cataract.
Diabetes Mellitus: Caused by a lack of insulin production by
the pancreas. Controlled by insulin injections, diet, and glucose
monitoring. Age of onset 6-12 years. A Swedish study showed an
increased incidence in the breed, with the majority of affected
Border Collies being female. Unknown mode of inheritance.37
Separation Anxiety: The breed may have a tendency towards
separation anxiety.
Retinal Dysplasia: Focal folds and geographic retinal dysplasia
are seen in the breed. Dogs with the geographic form should not
be bred. Identified in 0.75% of Border Collies CERF examined by
veterinary ophthalmologists between 2000-2005.
Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA, Ataxia): Identified in multiple
siblings of Border Collies presenting with signs of progressive
ataxia and hypermetria beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. Pathology
demonstrates extensive loss of the cerebellar granular cell layer,
with relative sparing of Purkinje cells. Presumptive autosomal
recessive mode of inheritance.
Ciliary Dyskenesia, Corneal Dystrophy, Cyclic Hematopoiesis,
Malignant Hyperthermia, Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, Pannus,
Patent Ductus Arteriosis, and Pelger-Huet Anomaly are
reported.
Isolated Case Studies
Sensory and Motor Neuropathy: A 5-month-old female Border
Collie was evaluated because of progressive hind limb ataxia.
Sensory nerve conduction velocity was absent in the tibial, common
peroneal, and radial nerves and was decreased in the ulnar nerve;
motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in the tibial,
common peroneal, and ulnar nerves. Pathology included nerve
fiber depletion and axonal degeneration in remaining fibers. A
littermate was similarly affected. In another study, two Border Collie
littermates were diagnosed with a purely sensory distal peripheral
neuropathy.
Superficial Necrolytic Dermatitis (Hepatocutaneous Syndrome):
Two Border Collies were identified in a study of 36 dogs with
diagnoses of superficial necrolytic dermatitis, suggesting a breed
prevalence. Affected dogs present with erythema, crusting,
exudation, ulceration and alopecia involving footpads, peri-ocular
or peri-oral regions, anal-genital regions, and pressure points
on the trunk and limbs. Average age of presentation is 10 years.
Diagnosis is by biopsy.
Aortic Elastin Dysplasia (Dissecting Hematoma): Two cases
of sudden death in a Border Collie and a Border Collie cross.
Pathological findings were pericardial tamponade with dissection of
the ascending aorta, and unusual splitting of the elastin within the
wall of the aorta, as described in Marfan syndrome.
Nemaline Rod Myopathy: Case study of a 10 month old Border
Collie with exercise intolerance, abnormal electromyography, and
the presence of nemaline rods in fresh, frozen, and glutaraldehydefixed
biopsies from proximal appendicular limb muscles.
Cervical Syringomyelia and Hydrocephalus with Scoliosis:
Case study of a 6-month-old female Border Collie with a 1-month
history of progressive curvature of the cervical spine. Suboccipital
craniotomy and laminectomy of the first cervical vertebra were
performed, improved the scoliosis and syringomyelia.
Myasthenia Gravis and Dysautonomia: A two year old male intact
border collie with diarrhea, coughing, vomiting and stranguria
had megaoesophagus, flaccid bladder, poor pupillary light reflexes,
an absent gag reflex, poor anal tone, and aspiration pneumonia.
Testing revealed coexisting autoimmune myasthenia gravis and
dysautonomia.
Genetic Tests
Tests of Genotype: Direct test for Collie Eye Anomaly/Choroidal
Hypoplasia is available from Optigen. (Recommended for breeding
dogs)
Direct test for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) is available
from Optigen and the Animal Health Trust.
Direct test for MDR1 Mutation is available from Washington
State Univ. vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/test.aspx.
(Recommended for all dogs)
Direct tests for black, brown (red) and true red coat colors, and
black and brown nose are available from VetGen and HealthGene.
Linked marker test for Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS) is
available from University of New South Wales
bordercollie.org.au/pdf/TNSsamplinginternational.pdf
Tests of Phenotype: CHIC Certification: Required testing includes
hip radiographs, CERF eye examination (annually until age 7),
and participation in the CHIC DNA repository. Optional tests
include elbow and shoulder radiographs, thyroid profile including
autoantibodies, BAER test for deafness, cardiac evaluation, and
gene tests for CEA/CH, NCL, and TNS. (See CHIC website;
caninehealthinfo.org).
Recommend patella evaluation.
Urine test for Methylmalonic Aciduria is available from PennGen.
Miscellaneous
- Breed name synonyms: BC
- Registries: AKC, CKC, UKC, KCGB (Kennel Club of Great Britain),
ANKC (Australian National Kennel Club), NKC (National Kennel Club)
- AKC rank (year 2008): 53 (2,104 dogs registered)
- Internet resources: Border Collie Society of America:
bordercolliesociety.com
American Border Collie Association:
americanbordercollie.org
United States Border Collie Club (working collies):
bordercollie.org
United States Border Collie Handlers Association:
usbcha.com
Canadian Border Collie Association:
canadianbordercollies.org
Border Collie Club of Great Britain: bordercollieclub.com
Border Collie Health: bordercolliehealth.com
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