With the onset of spring, Border Collie owners try to be outdoors more often with their pets. Awakening nature is fraught with not only beauty but also serious dangers. Here, I have shared how to ready your Border Collie for the spring season. And not just that, I have also shared springtime activities for you and your Border Collie that you will enjoy.
How to Ready Your Border Collie for Springtime
Spring is not only the warm sun but also the ubiquitous mud and slush. With the onset of spring, absolutely everything wakes up, including harmful parasites and insects. Your Border Collie begins to shed actively, getting rid of dense and warm wool. There are many more reasons for allergies in the spring: reagents on the roads, blooming flowers, and even melting snow.
That’s all too much to handle, isn’t it? Not really! If you take precautions and prepare for it in advance, you can enjoy your springtime with your Border Collie as you plan.
Taking Care of Shedding Border Collies in Spring Season
Shedding affects the appearance of your Border Collie and the cleanliness of the apartment. The coat may be dull or fall in clumps. Veterinarians advise you to purchase a special comb with frequent teeth. Combing the dog daily will help keep the coat in order and relieve the owners of the need to vacuum the apartment several times a day.
Springtime Vaccination
In the spring, viral infections are activated, and timely vaccination will help protect your four-legged friend from dangerous diseases. Protection against rabies is mandatory since the disease affects the animal’s central nervous system and leads to the dog’s death. Additionally, you should be vaccinated against:
- Adenovirus
- Parvovirus enteritis
- Plagues of carnivores
- Piroplasmosis
Important! Some dog owners believe that only purebred animals need vaccination since ordinary cross-bred dogs have natural solid immunity. A wrong misconception can cost a pet its life, so you should not refuse vaccinations.
Springtime Deworming
Before vaccination, it is necessary to carry out deworming to cleanse the animal’s body from parasites. Spring days are sunny and warm, and less pleasant surprises are hidden in the soil. The dog walks outside for a long time, sniffing and licking objects, digging the ground, and chewing on sticks – all this increases the risk of infection. A veterinarian should prescribe the drug and dosage since taking medicine “by eye” can have negative consequences.
Treatment is also relevant for external parasites:
- Ticks
- Lice
- Fleas
Anthelmintics are divided into two groups:
- For external processing – from ectoparasites.
- For internal processing – from endoparasites.
It is necessary to use both means since there are no universal drugs.
Nutrition
Do not forget that the dog’s activity increases with the advent of spring. Walks become more extended so that the four-legged friend will spend a lot of energy.
Veterinarians advise including vitamin complexes in the diet that will help improve the appearance and condition of the pet.
Vitamins during the shedding period will help restore a beautiful coat and reduce its loss.
If the animal’s diet consists only of natural products, it is recommended to give a multivitamin complex. It is essential to remember that the content of vitamins in ready-made feeds is also calculated on average, so the dog may not have enough essential trace elements.
Calcium supplements for bone health. Veterinarians do not recommend including normal bones in the pet’s diet, as they can injure the teeth or jaw. The remnants of the undigested “delicacy” can block the intestines making it impossible to save the animal without surgical intervention.
Hygiene
It is essential to remember hygiene procedures. During the period of active snow melting, after each walk, you should thoroughly wash and wipe the paws dry.
In winter, roads and sidewalks are treated with reagents, and minor wounds are open gates for dangerous infections.
Fun Activities That You Can Do with Your Border Collies During Spring
Keeping all the precautions in mind, there’s plenty of fun if your Border Collie is ready. There are a lot of fun activities that you and your Border Collie will enjoy in springtime.
Beach
As much as you love going to the beach in summer, your dog will love it too! Most dogs love the beach. So, if you have a beach nearby, take your Border Collie out on the sand and play in the water. However, make sure the beach allows dogs.
The best time to walk your dog on the beach is early morning or late evening. This way, you won’t disturb other beachgoers. Dogs are allowed on any day in a few select places.
However, elsewhere some beaches only allow dogs at certain times of the day, some are dog-only beaches, and some beaches don’t allow dogs at all. On the other hand, if you don’t have a beach nearby, you can always let your dog splash around in the kiddie pool.
Let your Collie join in the fun too! During the summer, you can play different games with your dog, such as throwing balls into the water.
Travel
If you want to travel with your Border Collie, you must first make sure that the place where you are staying allows pets. Today, more and more pets are allowed. Some even have special accommodations, such as designated areas for cats and dogs.
But how do you take your Border Collie on a trip? The most practical way is the dog holder, placed in the back seat or the trunk. On the other hand, if you can’t use a carrier for whatever reason, make sure your dog is well restrained by a special harness that attaches to your vehicle’s harness.
Keep in mind that during your trip, you should stop about every two hours for your dog to drink, calm down, stretch his legs, etc. Also, don’t leave your Collie in the car.
If you need to leave them in the car, make sure they are in the shade with the windows open. You want to avoid heatstroke, which can have serious consequences.
Day in The Mountains
A good hike in the mountains is a great way to bond with your Border Collie in the spring. You’ll both be exercising, getting some fresh air, and your dog will enjoy some off-leash time.
The view from the mountain top is always worth the trip. You can enjoy the scenery of nature and take some awesome pics with your BC.
Besides, nature is more of a home to a dog than your apartment. They get to experience new smells, new locations, and experience new surroundings. You can practically tell only by their enthusiasm and energy that they are happy.
Be sure not to let your Collie wander far off from you as the hiking trails are home to wild creatures like bears. There’s also a risk of your Collie consuming something poisonous.
Hanging Out with Other Dogs
Dogs are, by nature, pack animals. They’re the descendants of wolves. Your dog gets lonely over time if they don’t meet their kind. They will lose interest in their toys, start chewing on furniture, and so on. They go on a walk but without enthusiasm.
It is an excellent idea to meet up with other dog owners for outdoor activities. You will have some social time, and your dog will love to hang out with new friends.
You can organize a paw party with your dog owner friends and arrange obstacle courses, mini pools, and dog toys. This is great for your Border Collie, mentally and physically.
Culinary Surprises
Another fun thing that you can do with your dog in the summer is to broaden your culinary horizon. Making a special gift for your dog with natural ingredients and a lot of love is the perfect way to enjoy some quality time together. You can do many things like cupcakes, ice cream, pancakes, cookies, etc. in a variation safe for your dog.
You will enjoy cooking, and your Collie will enjoy trying your creations. Be sure to use natural ingredients and keep in mind what your dog will enjoy. For example, some delicious chicken treats are sure to be a hit!
Dog Water Parks
More and more dog water parks are opening around the world. For example, Barcelona has a new dog-only water park. Such water parks are great places for owners to have fun with their dogs during the summer.
Best of all, everything is specially made for dogs. There are large and small pools for puppies depending on their size. Some water parks even have mini slides for your dog.
Teach Your Collie Some New Tricks
Border Collies are energetic and intelligent. If they don’t get enough stimulation, they tend to participate in destructive activities.
Teaching them new tricks can be good entertainment for you and your friends. You can show off their newly learned skills to everyone.
Don’t know how to teach any new tricks to your dog? Go on YouTube. There are a ton of videos that will help you with that.
Take Your Border Collie to A Farm
Border Collies are herding breed dogs, and nothing stimulates them more than herding. A farm is a perfect place where they run freely off-leash and do some herding.
Chasing sheep and burning their excess energy is all they need for a happy day.
Several farms allow you to bring your dog and let you experience farmhouse life. If city landscapes bore you, this can be a good chance. And your Collies will have fun too.
Bottom Line
Springtime is a sign to be more active. And your Collies are ready to experience nature, different smells, and whatnot. After the long winter season, that makes sense.
However, stepping into nature without any preparation will cause you nothing but trouble. Border Collies that shed in the spring season are more susceptible to getting infected. Do your homework, and get them ready before taking them out.
Lately, there has been a rise in all sorts of sites and locations that allow dogs. You can now take your Collie to more beaches, camping sites, and hiking trails.
Have fun with your Collies in springtime and let us know what you’re doing this spring!