The Border Collie - Hardcover

Tracy Libby is an award-winning freelance writer and author of Building Blocks for Performance (Alpine 2002). Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including the AKC Gazette, Puppies USA, You and Your Dog, and Dog Fancy's Popular Dogs series. She is a member of the Dog Writer's Association of America and a recipient of the Ellsworth S Howell award for distinguished dog writing. She lives in Oregon, and has been involved in the sport of dogs for 21 years, exhibiting in conformation and obedience.

Wayne Hunthausen, DVM, consulting veterinary editor and pet behaviour consultant, is the director of Animal Behavior Consultations in the Kansas City area and currently serves on the Practitioner Board for Veterinary Medicine and the Behavior Advisory Board for Veterinary Forum.

Border Collies have been declared the most intelligent dogs on the planet. They dominate in many competitive dog sports, such as agility and obedience. The Border Collie's versatility has seen these dogs adapt to many roles, but their day job is premier sheepdog. Collies are the working stiffs of the herding world, and they live it morning 'till night. Border Collies have been bred for hundreds of years with one goal in mind: supreme herding ability. Unmatched in their brains, instinct, and endurance, they can do just about anything - and do it first rate. The Border Collie's intelligence, trainability, agility, and relentless energy have made him a favourite in all areas of canine ownership because experienced handlers make training and showing them look so easy. The breed's strong point, however, is also its curse because the very qualities that make them top notch sheepdogs frequently make them unsuitable as pets. Border Collies differ from other dogs, and owning one is not like owning any other breed of dog. They are highly complex animals, and to understand and truly appreciate this remarkable breed, you must first understand its early history, origin, and the function for which they were originally bred.