Border Collie

In 2024, it was ranked as the 31st most popular dog breed in America by the AKC. The athletic dog needs to stay busy by having a job to do and exercise in order to satisfy its high-energy demands, so it needs an owner who is as active and devoted as the dog itself and can work closely and intensely together.

Its high intelligence and eagerness to obey make it a wonderful detection dog for police, customs, and other government agencies, but the breed is also excellent for competitive dog sports, bird hunting, guide dog work, and search and rescue.

It was originally developed in the Anglo-Scottish border county of Northumberland as a hunting dog as well as a farm-working dog for herding sheep and other livestock. With an affectionate, obedient, and intelligent demeanor, good health, long life, and speed and agility, the Border Collie makes an excellent family pet.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning Border Collies

History and Origins

During the Roman Empire’s prime, numerous rulers brainstormed ways to take over and dominate Britain. However, for a variety of reasons — revolts in other parts of the empire or changes in the political scene — these plans were put on hold. It wasn’t until 43 CE that Emperor Claudius accomplished the mission of conquering Britain.

The Roman occupation of Britain had a lasting effect on British culture, including dog breeding. Roman soldiers brought their own livestock with them when they arrived, and as a result, large and sturdy herding dogs were also introduced. These canines stayed in Britain for over three centuries.

As the Roman Empire declined, Scandinavian raiders invaded Britain, bringing with them smaller and faster spitz-type herding dogs. These dogs were crossed with the older Roman breeds, creating agile herders that could work livestock in the hilly and rocky regions of Scotland and Wales. This was the beginning of the Border Collie breed.

Border Collies are widely regarded as the most skilled herders in the world. Their efficient outruns, low-to-the-ground creeping, and intense bursts of energy when needed make them a shepherd’s ideal canine companion. When the perfect dog is imagined, it’s sure to be a Border Collie.

The Border Collie is a highly intelligent and agile breed that has been used in sheepdog trials in the British Isles for over a century. It was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 1995. This breed was famously portrayed in the movie “Babe” and is known for its competitive ability.

Size and Weight

The Border Collie is a medium to large-sized dog with either a long and rough or a short and smooth coat. It has an average height of 24 to 27″ for males and 22 to 26″ for females. Males weigh 30 to 45lbs fully grown, while females weigh 27 to 42 lbs fully grown. Border Collie puppies weigh 4 to 8lbs at 8 weeks of age and are considered fully grown at 24 months for females and 36 months for males.

Common Health Issues

Purebred border collies have a few common health issues, but most of the time, they are easily treatable or manageable. The most common are musculoskeletal disorders, including hip dysplasia and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), which come from age or too much activity, resulting in accelerated growth during puppyhood. Idiopathic epilepsy, patent ductus arteriosus, and hypothyroidism are hereditary conditions unique to this breed, while dental problems, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), and deafness are common.

Temperament

Border collies have very lively personalities. Their temperament is curious and easygoing, with mischievous, dominant, sensitive, and hyperactive traits. They can be quite funny with their clever behavior. As adults, they are wary of strangers.

This does not mean they are mistrustful as puppies, however. They quickly take to socialization, and they enjoy kindness and praise during training. A common Border Collie trait is being easy to train with consistent and clear messages, as they were bred for hunting geese and other birds. Because of this, they also have a “gentle” or “soft” mouth, meaning they don’t bite hard when carrying items in their jaws.

How To Take Care of Border Collies

New pet owners looking for how to care for border collies, especially puppies, need to consider several unique factors. Whether it’s hereditary conditions or different care related to their coat and moderate size, border collies have breed-specific factors their owners must know.

The Best Dog Food

Every dog breed, especially puppies, has different health needs compared to others, and border collies are no exception. Therefore, new owners should consider these needs when choosing food for their pets.

Border collie puppy food: Because of their high energy, size, and genetic makeup, border collies may develop musculoskeletal, neurological, eye, and other issues. When considering wet or dry food for puppies, consider a premium brand that not only has higher calcium and complex nutrients to support growth but also fatty acids such as DHA and ARA to support cognitive function and eye health. Dog food specifically formulated for puppy growth or for all life stages will have enough protein for border collie puppies, while adult dog food has too much and can lead to permanent damage.

Border collie adult dog food: Like puppy dog food considerations, pet owners should consider feeding their adult border collie premium dog food that is high in meat-based protein with meat as the first and main ingredient. Since border collies remain active well into adulthood, we recommend an active dog food variety of at least 25 percent protein and 15 percent fat to provide all the nutrients they need, whether as wet food, kibble, or patties. They can also eat a raw food diet, which can be purchased as a commercial diet or prepared at home. Border collies with dental issues may do best on a kibble-based diet.

Maintenance And Grooming

The Border Collie is one breed but has two main types of coats: the long or medium-length rough coat and the short, smooth coat. Both are double-layered. Although short-haired dogs are easier to maintain, both coats have average shedding throughout the year and more so during the winter. For this reason, they need brushing at least three times a week to keep shedding to a minimum. Long-haired border collies need special brushes for breaking up tangles. Two other lesser-known coat types are curly-coated and bearded. While brown, red, and white, red and blue merle, tricolors, and ticked colors are common to the other coat types, the colors the bearded have are various shades of gray.

Training

Border collies are persistent in their own training and refuse to stop until they learn the task. Unlike other hunting breeds, however, their eagerness to please means it’s best to train border collies with praise and clicker training instead of electronic collars. They were originally used for hunting birds and herding sheep and other livestock. They can work quickly, relying only on hand gestures and noises from their owner, or even working independently or in teams with other dogs.

When they have found prey or livestock, they will make a wide perimeter while out of sight and then herd the prey toward the owner’s designated spot. Their intelligent, hard-working, and obsessive nature makes them a common choice for search and rescue work. While they bark a lot when bored, they can learn to put their energy into barking on command.

Exercise

Due to their strong bodies and high energy, border collies need to live on spacious properties such as farms or ranches, or at least a large house with a large yard. You can help your Border Collie burn off excess energy with chew toys and hiding toys and treats around the house or yard. Puzzles or other games give them the mental stimulation they need, while obstacle courses, playing fetch, or joining a flyball dog team exercise their athletic ability. Border Collies ideally should get a minimum of 1-2 hours of vigorous exercise, such as running, herding, or agility activities, every day.

Puppies

The Border Collie puppy needs dog food specially formulated for puppies or for all life stages. It must be a premium brand for the highest quality nutrition possible. Training the border collie puppy should start as early as possible to replace chewing on household items with chew toys, deter their herding tendency, and meet their athletic needs. Typical colors are black and white, but tricolor, red merle, blue merle, blue, grey, sable, and tan also exist.

With Children

Border collies are loyal to their families and get along with everyone. They are good with children, although they may express their herding instinct with them when they don’t stay where the dog wants them to. For the best socialization, expose the Border Collie to children while it’s still a puppy. Border collies are also hesitant towards strangers and should be socialized early on to learn specific behavior around people they don’t know. Border collies from a rescue may have behavioral issues due to poor socialization, neglect, or confinement.

Dogs similar to Border Collies

• Shetland Sheepdog: Shares the same collie traits of high intelligence, high energy, and excellent working ability, but is well-behaved within the home and with a smaller size that is better for first-time owners or those with smaller homes.
• Rough Collie: A similar build and intelligence to border collies, rough collies (Lassie is a famous example) aren’t as physically demanding, needing only long walks. They’re also easier to train by inexperienced owners.
• Lurcher: A hybrid from the crossing of a Border Collie with a Greyhound, this dog type is moderate in its traits to make it more versatile and suitable for different types of homes.

Famous Border Collies

Border collies are known for being affectionate, smart, and energetic. Show dogs, rather than working dogs, are common as family pets since they’re bred for form over functionality, less behavioral diversity, and prey instinct impulsivity. Regardless, there have been several border collies that became famous for their herding ability:

• Old Hemp was the common ancestor of modern border collies, siring the first litter and fathering over 200 males plus numerous females. He never lost a competition, first making fame when, in a sheep-herding showdown, he used only his hypnotic stare.
• TV border collies: Nana in Snow Dogs, Fly in Babe, Raffles in Rover Dangerfield, and Bandit in Little House on the Prairie are just a few of several border collies that have been in movies and TV.