Understanding Border Collies (Hardcover)

by Barbara Sykes (Author) "The Border Collie is a versatile and popular breed, and is capable of adapting to many different lifestyles..." (more)
Key Phrases: Border Collie, Kennel Club

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Border Collie is an extremely versatile breed, faithful enough to be a loyal friend, honest enough to be a hard worker, and intelligent enough to be an asset in rescue and other services. This comprehensive, illustrated book gives essential advice on how to become the pack leader by understanding and interpreting the body language of man's best friend. Topics include choosing your Border Collie, taking your puppy home, common sense dog training, nutrition, creating a partnership, and adolescent and older dogs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 157 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861262809
• ISBN-13: 978-1861262806
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210,875 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful even to veteran dog owners - lots of specifics!, July 12, 2008

By	E. Moll (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My fiancee and I recently made the decision to follow through with our dream of having a border collie. We've read other breed-specific books (after getting our other dog, a Shetland sheepdog) and came away unimpressed. Most of them provide basic, general dog-ownership advice and common sense. So, yes, we understand that we will need to give the border collie much more time and mental/physical exercise than a typical breed. We have also read plenty of horror stories of restless border collies destroying its owner's home to varying degrees. I bought this book, with limited information in the description, in the hope that it would have breed-specific information that I couldn't find just surfing the internet.

...And it really paid off! Clearly the author has great expertise with respect to border collies and is not afraid to share opinions and impressions that, while not necessarily universal, could be helpful to prospective owners. (e.g. The author believes that coat length and ear shape may give a hint on a puppy's energy level.) What I like, in particular, is that the author provides as much advice for owners seeking mere companionship (like us) as for those seeking working dogs.

I just finished the section regarding specific dietary issues of border collies, and found it very helpful. (I was surprised to learn that the premium dog food we give to our finicky sheltie would probably send a non-working border collie through the roof!)

If I was to find any complaint about the book, it would be that the photographs in the book are not in color. I also wouldn't mind if it were a touch cheaper, given that it's only 157 pages.

These pages, however, are clear, well-written and chalk-full of valuable breed-specific information (and with almost nothing that is just general dog-ownership common sense). I'm sure that this book saved us any number of "incidents" and will only make our future border collie (and its owners) a great deal happier in the future.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barbara Sykes, March 2, 2009

By	J. Whitman (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fabulous book. Barbara Sykes has a keen understanding of Border Collies and dogs in general. I found the information in the book very helpful in helping me better communicate with the border collie I recently rescued.

3.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Border Collies, June 29, 2009

By	Christie Rogers "Temecula K9 Lover" (Temecula, CA) - See all my reviews

The book was mostly the author's opinion on Border Collies and had the usual pet care information applicable to all breeds. While the book was ok, it wasn't what I was looking for and ended up buying Larson's The Versatile Border Collie, which was PERFECT!