Caring For A Border Collie
As with any other breed, Border Collies need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition.
They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this, they need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.
Caring For A Border Collie Puppy
It can be an exciting time once the decision has been made to get a Border Collie puppy, but it’s important to prepare for their arrival. Puppy-proofing a home and a garden is essential because puppies are inquisitive by nature and will test things with their mouths much like a baby. This includes chewing on electric cables which could end in disaster. It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of room a puppy can roam around in and the best way of doing this is to invest in some child gates to fit on doors.
Border Collie puppies are sensitive by nature and need to be handled gently yet firmly to avoid frightening them which could result in a timid and shy adult dog. Their education should start straight away and it’s important to lay down ground rules and limits so that a puppy understands what is expected of them.
A puppy would have been wormed before being sold and the documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:
- Puppies should be wormed at 6, 8, 10 and 12 months old
Things You'll Need For Your Puppy
Getting a new puppy is an exciting time and there are lots of things to organise around the house and the garden to make sure a dog stays safe and does not get injured or into trouble. Puppy-proofing a home well in advance of their arrival gives owners peace of mind, but it takes a bit of planning and organising. Puppies like to gnaw on things so it’s important that all electric cables are well out of their reach. Gardens need to be made secure so that a puppy cannot escape and anything sharp or which a puppy might injure themselves on, needs to be put away.
There are certain items needed too and it’s best to have everything set up for when a puppy arrives. It’s also important to time when a puppy is introduced to their new environment which is best done when people are going to be around for a few days, so puppy is not left on their own as they are settling in.
It’s also a good idea to set up a place in a nice quiet corner for a puppy so that when they do want to sleep during the day, they can do in peace bearing in mind that puppies can sleep up to 21 hours a day. Other things needed for when a new puppy arrives in the home includes the following:
- Food and water bowls making sure they are not too big or too deep and ideally the bowls should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal.
- A collar and harness
- A playpen which is great for keeping small puppies out of harm’s way
- A well-made dog bed that’s not too small or too big that puppy feels lost in it
- Baby blankets for puppy to sleep on
- Grooming tools
- Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
FAQs
All puppies are ultra-sensitive to loud noises, and this is true of Border Collies too. Keeping the volume of the television down and not playing music too loudly is important when introducing a puppy to their new home.
A puppy would have been given their first vaccination before being rehomed, but it’s very important for them to have their follow up vaccinations to ensure they are fully protected. Puppies would need to have their second vaccinations as follows:
- 10 -12 weeks old, bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away, but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination
When it comes to boosters, it’s best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However, if a dog needs to go into kennels, their vaccinations will need to be fully up to date.
As Border Collies reach their golden years, they do slow down although their brains can remain very active. There are certain changes in a dog’s behaviour and their looks which includes some grey appearing in their coats, their vision and hearing might not be as good as it once was either. All of which should be factored in to how an owner treats and handles them. Other changes to watch out for in older Border Collies include the following:
- Many older dogs develop arthritis which is a painful condition. Investing in a comfy, warm dog bed will help an older Border Collie sleep comfortably at night.
- Their appetites tend to change with older dogs not being as keen on their food as they once were. It pays to rethink their diet ensuring they are getting enough fibre in it which helps with a dog’s digestion.
- They may drink more water because their kidneys might not be functioning as well as they should. This of course means an older dog would need to urinate more too.
- Their cognitive function might not be as sharp as it was when they were young dogs. It’s important to keep a Border Collie mentally stimulated throughout their golden years as this helps improve their cognitive function.
- Their immune systems may be weaker putting them at greater risk of developing an infection or some other health issue.
