Border Collies are a herding dog breed and are categorized among intelligent dogs.Across the world, there are many breeds of dogs, including the highly intelligent and loyal Border Collie. The Border Collie gets along well with the shepherds and is trained to lead a herd of animals.Some Border Collies have a double coat, meaning a smooth coat and a rough coat, on their body. Border Collie dogs are able to lead a herd of livestock animals, usually sheep. People train these pets so well from a young age that, by the time they grow into adult dogs, they have the impressive ability to control a herd. Border Collies are considered very good companions and have the agility to work for longer periods of time. Border Collies are very energetic dogs that often create a win-win situation for their owners in sports competitions, sheepdog competitions, and dog agility. This dog breed is known to be native to the Anglo-Scottish border region and has been named after that. However, the Border Collie dog breed can now be found throughout the world, and they are a popular dog breed among farm owners.Their double coat is thick enough for them to insulate during the winter season, but along with that, it is also prone to shedding. The Border Collie’s body coat color varies. They may be brown-white, black-white, gray-white, and tan-red-white. Even so, the Border Collie’s eye color varies from gray to black-brown. The male Border Collie is taller than the female border collie, i.e. the male is 19-22 in (48-56 cm), while the female is 18-21 in (46-53 cm) in height. A Border Collie is a working dog that thrives when given an environment in which it can utilize its energy by playing, doing exercise, and engaging in certain healthy training such as running. The healthy diet of these pets, from puppy to adult dog, majorly depends on their size. Border Collie food includes raw meat, bones, vegetables, eggs, and fish. Foods such as corn, wheat, and soy should be removed from their diet to avoid health issues and disease among this dog breed.If you enjoyed reading this article about the Border Collie’s life expectancy and their health conditions, then we are sure you will enjoy reading some more fun facts with Kidadl. Why not stick around and have a read of some other interesting and surprising fun facts, such as how long do Bulldogs live and how long do Weiner dogs live?At what age do Border Collies slow down?Border Collies are known to slow down and have a reduced energy level when they are half of their eventual age, i.e., around six to seven years old.The Border Collie’s lifespan is 12-13.5 years; thus, a 13-year-old Border Collie is considered old, and 14 is a good age for this breed if it is brought up in a healthy way. Border Collies are a dog breed with a high energy level. They are known as great companions to their owners as well as for their amazing ability when it comes to protecting a herd of sheep. The Border Collie has a good ability and intelligence level, which is why it can lead a herd. The training and exercise of this dog are done in such a manner because of its high energy level. Border Collies are categorized as adults when they are either eight years old or nine years old.In their younger years, these medium-sized dogs do so much hard work. When they become adult dogs, they are able to perform to a very high level. In their early years and months, from being a puppy to becoming a young dog, they remain healthy unless infected or suffering from health issues. After 15 months, Border Collies are known to stop their growth and remain the same throughout their lives. In exceptional cases, if they are bred with Labrador Retrievers, then, of course, they will make it to 13.5 years old. Health Conditions That May Shorten The Lifespan Of A Border CollieHip dysplasia, collie eye anomaly, epilepsy, sensory neuropathy, trapped neutrophil syndrome, and ceroid lipofuscinosis are some of the health problems or health issues that your pet Border Collie might suffer through. These problems may shorten their lifespan early.Hip dysplasia is basically hip joint displacement, which can also cause a pet dog to suffer from arthritis and make it difficult for it to use its hind legs. Apart from this, Border Collies may also suffer from a collie eye anomaly, which means that the back of their eyes might hurt. Epilepsy is a sort of seizure that is commonly found among these dogs’ health problems. Border Collies are also very restricted when it comes to medication and might develop allergies.A cellular disorder called ceroid lipofuscinosis is also diagnosed in them, causing the early death of these pet dogs. Apart from that, a nerve disorder affecting the pet dog’s mobility (called sensory neuropathy) and a genetic disorder causing an inabilty to fight off disease (called trapped neutrophil syndrome) have also been diagnosed in the Border Collie breed. That is why it is recommended that if you cross-breed any dog, a test should be done first to determine the immunity and well-being of the dog, as well as its small puppies.What determines the lifespan of a Border Collie?The factors that help to determine the lifespan of Border Collies are diet, food, activity level, genetic disorder, and body size.They are medium-sized dogs that have an average life expectancy of 12-13.5 years. In dog breeds, it is assumed that if the dog breed is small in size, it will live a longer life compared to larger dog breeds. So, the same goes for the Border Collie breed. On a broad level, food is a major factor that has a significant impact on any living creature on the planet, including humans. If Border Collies are not fed a nutritious diet, they may become susceptible to infectious diseases and have weakened immunity.Border Collies are very energetic family pets, but if they are not made to exercise for at least two hours daily, they might become irritated and annoyed. So, exercise and other activities also affect the healthy lifestyle of your family’s pet pooch. A Border Collie’s life expectancy or age is also affected by inherited health problems that can be taken care of but not prevented. So, it is always advised by veterinarians to get your pet’s health checkup done at least twice or thrice a year, depending upon the dog’s breed.Do overweight Border Collies live shorter lives?Yes, similar to humans, Border Collies will also develop certain health issues if they are overweight, making their lifespan shorter.Being overweight is typically a problem for these wonderful animals. When Border Collies are overweight, it becomes difficult for them to move or run around freely despite their high energy levels. As a result, they might even become aggressive. Border Collies may develop heart problems and diabetes if they are overweight. Apart from that, they might also develop joint problems due to the excess weight which they are carrying.So, in order to avoid making it suffer through obesity, you should feed your pet a healthy raw food diet so it can live a good and long life. A vet will typically advise that precautions should be taken when you are working on the obesity of your dog. You must consider what food you are feeding your pet as everything you feed it contains a certain amount of nutrition and vitamins. From being a puppy to an adult, these pets’ healthy diet food is mostly determined by their size. As a result, diet food should be given in proportion to their degree of activity and size. Overeating may cause them to regurgitate any excess food that they have consumed.Do neutering and spaying your pet shorten the life of a Border Collie?Yes, neutering and spaying will improve the lifespan of Border Collie dogs.Neutering in animals is basically done to discourage mating or running behind female partners. However, it has additional benefits; when Border Collies are neutered, they become less prone to certain types of cancer such as prostate cancer. Running behind female partners, getting distracted, behavioral changes and many more behavioral issues may be avoided if a Border Collie is spayed or neutered.Their energy level is high, along with their activity. So, if they often mate, then they may experience pain if they feel attracted to a female Border Collie. Unfortunately, this may cause your dog to suffer and, as a result, it could become more aggressive and less approachable. Such behavioral changes and pain are best removed if you want your dog to live a long time.Do mixed Border Collies live longer than purebred ones? Yes, mixed Border Collies live longer than the purebred ones.This is evident in the case of Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers. If these dogs are cross-bred, then the life expectancy of the new puppy born increases by one or two years. The minimum life expectancy of purebred Border Collies is 12 years, while, when they are cross-bred with Labrador Retrievers, their life expectancy increases on average to 13.5 years. This is just because the two breeds of dogs are cross-bred, and the puppies get more genetic variety.What can you do to help your Border Collie live longer?Regular exercise, a monthly call or visit to the vet, a good diet, and good quality time spent with its owner will all help a Border Collie to have a longer lifespan.If you own a pet Border Collie, then always remember to make them exercise daily for at least two hours. A Border Collie’s body is built in such a way that this pet will survive best when it is provided with a more energetic and playful environment. So, making them exercise daily, such as through running, is a good idea for your best and most loyal companion. Exercise also decreases the chances of their death. A call or visit to the vet is a must to get them vaccinated on time. This is good for their health, as it means they are immunized against some harmful illnesses.These dogs are prone to many diseases, so you should never forget to visit the vet. A vet is your best option to make your pet dog live a healthy lifestyle. A good Border Collie diet should include raw meat, bones, vegetables, eggs, fish. On the other hand, you should totally avoid foods such as corn, wheat, and soy. Including these foods in your pet’s diet may lead to health issues or disease among this particular dog breed. As these dogs help their owners to lead the herd, they need energy, which can only be found from a healthy diet. Apart from that, try to spend time with these dogs, as this will only help you both to create a stronger bond.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Border Collie life expectancy’, then why not take a look at ‘How to calm a hyper dog?’ or ‘Border Collie fun facts for kids’?
Border Collies are a herding dog breed and are categorized among intelligent dogs.
