If you have a child right now, you will know all about Bluey! It’s all the craze these days, competing with predecessors like Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer.
If you’ve watched it with your children, you may be able to pinpoint that Bluey and Bingo are Australian Cattle Dogs. But how about the other dogs, like Mackenzie? What kind of dog is Mackenzie? We have all the information you could want about Mackenzie’s breed!
What Dog Breed Is Mackenzie?
Mackenzie is a Border Collie. Mackenzie came in with the originals, first appearing in Season 1 of Bluey on the episode “Fruitbat”. This little boy dog moved to Australia from New Zealand. Mackenzie is a straightforward little dog that loves herding and jumping.
Very popular in Australia, the Border Collie is often used in competition and show to herd sheep and do a variety of other agility related tasks. The Border Collie is considered to be the smartest of all dog breeds and is highly revered for their keen intelligence and ultra awareness. In the show, Mackenzie is a fun-loving little dog with high energy.
Much to their breed design, the Border Collie is also very high in energy and ready to learn the next new thing.
Let’s Learn About Border Collies
Since we already know quite a bit about Mackenzie from Bluey, let’s learn a little bit more about the Border Collie breed itself.
After all, it’s exciting to see a fictional dog and think that it would be a perfect addition to your family, without realizing the overall intensity of owning the breed.
Border Collie Pups
Border Collie puppies will be extremely all over the place and eager to explore! These dogs have a thirst for knowledge and will bounce around from every stimulating scene to the other. These dogs will be very fast to learn, so don’t be afraid to teach them very early on. They will master concepts like potty training and basic commands in just a few short months, impressing you every day with their keen intelligence.
It is always best to find a reputable breeder. This ensures that your dog comes from a good bloodline with solid genetics. Steer clear of backyard breeding operations and puppy mills. Make sure that anyone you purchase a dog from is knowledgeable about the breed and has given the dog the proper vetting and care prior to you bringing the dog home.
Border Collie Physical Characteristics
Border Collies are very agile, medium size dogs with sturdy bodies. These dogs are masters at agility, touting lean muscles and quick speeds.
They can come in a variety of colors. The most popular look for a Border Collie is black and white. They tend to have medium to long flowing coats.
Border Collie Personality
Border Collies are very adventurous, eager to please, affectionate, and curious. They are ready to take the world by storm. Border Collies absolutely love running around and would benefit from a fenced in backyard. Keep in mind that these dogs are herding dogs. They have a tendency to herd other animals and even small children. For this reason, we recommend them for children, age, 6 and older.
The Border Collie is revered again and again for their intense intelligence. These dogs can pick up just about any concept anyone is willing to teach them. They are thirsty for new information and will soak it in every chance they get.
If a Border Collie is well-socialized and active, they will likely be very mannerly dogs. However, if you don’t work with your Collie the way you should and they have a lot of downtime with nothing going on, they might develop separation anxiety and anxious tendencies.
The Border Collie works best in homes with lots of space to roam and many exciting activities happening in a day. The Border Collie is not for families who are gone most of the time or have very limited time to commit to training or exercise.
Border Collie Diet
Border Collies burn quite a few calories in a day. For this reason, it’s incredibly important to give them a high calorie, protein-dense recipe that will replenish what they lose in a day. Wet canned food and dry kibble are still viable options.
However, we highly recommend reading ingredients labels to ensure quality so they get the best diet possible. You can always go for fresh, raw, or homemade meals, permitting you clear it with your veterinarian first.
Border Collie Exercise
The Border Collie needs plenty of exercise! These exercise-intensive dogs love nothing more than their time out of the house. They will accompany you on car rides, hiking adventures, vacations, and dog park visits.
On average, these dogs can sometimes require up to 2 hours of exercise in a day. Be sure you’re the kind of person who likes to be on the go enough to keep up. Otherwise, it’s incredibly important to give them a large fenced-in area where they can explore.
Since Border Collies are so agile and active, they can easily jump fences and dig under enclosures. Always secure the area—especially for untrained dogs.
Border Collie Training
A Border Collie will benefit very much from training. They will soak it up, enjoying each moment spent with their person. A Border Collie can pick up just about any concept or willing to teach them, but they do require a lot of experience.
These dogs might not be the best choices for novice owners due to their exercise and mental stimulation needs. Sometimes, because of the dog’s training needs, many owners elect the help of a professional. Professional trainer rates may vary and training techniques will be different from person to person.
Border Collie Health
The Border Collie was bred to be a very healthy dog. They are definitely hardy and quick to heal, so if you are looking for the chance of having lower-cost vet bills, they might be a fabulous choice.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that will be the case with every dog. They are susceptible to several environmental and congenital disorders and illnesses. Here are some of the most common:
- Hip dysplasia
- Obesity
- Epilepsy
- Thyroid issues
The key to ensuring your Border Collie has the best health is to take them to their annual vet checkups. If anything starts to develop, your vet can get ahead of it. Plus, if you have their health monitored, you can change their diet and exercise plan around accordingly.
Conclusion
Now you understand that Mackenzie is a Border Collie. If you love McKenzie, you now understand more about his overall breed, and you can probably pinpoint whether or not you’d like to have one for yourself.
Border Collies are just most assuredly not for everyone. However, many folks can find room in their hearts for this loyal, athletic breed.
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