Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Quick Summary: Border Collies have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, some even reach 17 to 18 years old. In fact, it’s quite common for this breed to die of old age. To prolong the life of your beloved Border Collie, make sure that they’re always getting regular exercise and mental stimulation plus good nutrition. Having regular checkups with the vet is also highly recommended.
It’s fairly difficult to imagine a world without our four-legged friends.
A vast majority of us have grown accustomed to going home with our pooches greeting us excitedly at the door, wagging its tail and pouncing up and down. After a hard day’s work, it’s always rewarding to know that your trusty pal is waiting for you with unmatched energy. It’s just too difficult to disregard!
This is why it’s hard to imagine and accept a harsh reality – dogs have a much shorter life expectancy than humans.
This unfair reality often leads pet parents to resort to whatever means necessary to prolong their Border Collie’s life. In this feature, we are going to talk about the possible ailments your dog may have, different ways on how you can help with maximizing the time you have with your Border Collie, the different activities you can do, and all the potentials your pooch has in his or her lifetime.
Let’s get started!
Border Collies: An Overview
Often cited as the most intelligent of all domestic dogs, the Border Collie is extremely energetic, acrobatic, and is also known to be one of the most athletic dog breeds. This makes them a staple breed in participating in several sheepdog trials and dog sports. More often than not, they end up being successful in the said events.
Border Collies also have a reputation of being medium-sized dogs with a fairly moderate amount of coat, resulting in thick fur and leaving them more prone to shedding.
Being one of the most active of pooches, the Border Collie considerably requires more daily physical exercise compared to other breeds. Mental stimulation is also important to them. Traditionally, the primary role of a Border Collie is to herd livestock. However, since they are known to be one of the most intelligent of breeds, they have been around households, almost as equal and important as any family member.
Behavior and Lifestyle Of A Border Collie
Being fairly known for the type of work that these working dogs can do, it is only rightful to sport a double-layered hair as they adapt to certain weather conditions. They are known to thrive best in households that provide plenty of play and exercise like automatic ball launchers or chew toys.
It’s also important to know that Border Collies have immense amounts of energy. If you own one, it helps to ensure that they have enough space to move and run around to burn all of its energy. As a pet owner, you can find an area for your dog to have a creative outlet and feel satisfied with the exercise requirements (after all, they’re made that way!). In fact, this is the type of breed that would enjoy exercising on a dog treadmill.
If your Border Collie is deprived of such physical exercise and mental stimulation, their pent-up energy can cause them to become bored, leading to misbehaved actions and depressed states, which may then lead to further health issues. Though being known to be highly trainable, they can still be a tad bit difficult to control once boredom and stress start crawling in.
Lifespan and Health Problems
The average life expectancy of Border Collies usually ranges from 12 – 15 years, with the average being 12 years. Although in some rare cases, they can reach 17 to 18 years. Their most common cause of death is old age, while some suffer from cerebral vascular afflictions and cancer.
Having high exercise requirements, there are also certain conditions seen often on the Border Collie, such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, collie eye anomaly, elbow dysplasia, and hearing loss.
Most of the health problems that Border Collies have are considered to be hereditary. Once you are given an opportunity to own one, make sure to do your research, and check the medical history of their bloodline if you can. It always helps to keep medical records and documentation.
Conclusion
As always, a good amount of nutrition and exercise should do the trick. Make sure that your pooch only eats healthy servings of protein and food that has rich amounts of omega fatty acids. Avoid foods and meat rich in additives and preservatives, and you can always throw in decent amounts of wet food, too. Also be aware of keeping your dog at a safe distance from unsafe human food, such as chocolates and mushrooms.
Always look out for their physical and mental stimulation, as it is crucial for breeds like the Border Collie.
Lastly, a regular check-up with your veterinarian is always a good option. Not only does it assure you that your pooch is looked after, but it also helps you identify further complications and potential health issues your Border Collie may experience.