Quick Take
- The trait that makes border collies the world's smartest breed can just as easily turn your home into a disaster zone if you miss one key thing. See the double-edged trait →
- Border collies are affectionate family dogs, though their herding instinct creates a specific problem that makes them a risky choice for some households. Read about the herding instinct →
- You don't need a farm to keep a border collie happy, though the workarounds most owners try aren't enough. Find the real solution →
- Their coat looks like a grooming nightmare, but the actual upkeep requirement tends to catch most people pleasantly off guard. See the grooming reality →
Are you thinking of adopting a dog for your family? A border collie is a great choice to consider, although they are not the right fit for everyone. Border collies are energetic enough to keep up with any activity, easy to train, and affectionate and friendly. However, they can also be high maintenance. In this article, we’ll discuss eight reasons border collies can make perfect family dogs, and when you shouldn’t adopt one.
#1: Border Collies are the Smartest Dogs
The border collie generally ranks first in canine intelligence.
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Border collies are widely considered to be the smartest dog breed in the world. They can learn new tasks quickly and solve problems independently of humans. These dogs can read subtle human body language and remember the names of hundreds, or even thousands, of objects.
However, they need plenty of mental stimulation. If you don’t give your border collie some type of work to do, they’re going to find their own activities, which may include barking up a storm or chewing up your favorite new pair of shoes.
#2: They’re Easy to Train
These dogs can learn almost anything, and they excel at canine sports.
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As we discussed above, the intelligence of border collies makes them very easy to train. As working dogs, they’re also very handler-focused and eager to please. Border collies can learn a new cue in less than five repetitions and obey commands around 95% of the time.
Use positive reinforcement and other force-free techniques when training your border collie. Keep them engaged by adding variety to your training sessions, offering high-value treats, and keeping things fun.
#3: They’re Extremely Active
Border collies can easily keep up during family activities and do great in very active families.
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Border collies can keep up on runs, hikes, and playtime in the backyard. They’ll love joining in on your family activities. However, you must be extremely active to keep up with these dogs. They need vigorous exercise every day, not just daily walks.
It’s also best if you have a large backyard so your dog can run around, though you can’t expect the yard alone to exercise your pup. If they are kept as pets rather than working dogs, they’ll need hours of hands-on activities.
#4: Border Collies Love Having a Job
Herding, dog sports, and even made-up jobs are all great for border collies.
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If you have a job for your border collie to perform, they’ll thrive in your home. Not everyone lives on a farm with livestock to herd, but you can also create jobs such as finding your keys, fetching bottles of water for the family, or putting away toys.
Canine sports and activities are also a great outlet for border collies. Herding sports, obedience work, and agility training are just a few of the activities that these dogs excel in due to their natural instincts and high intelligence.
#5: Border Collies Are Affectionate
Border collies are sweet family dogs so long as they’re well trained, socialized, and exercised.
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These dogs tend to be very affectionate and love snuggling with their families when the work is done. They’re loyal and sweet additions to the family and are fairly open with strangers, although they may be reserved at first.
The primary issue you may encounter is their tendency to nip at the heels of people and other animals, which can be addressed with good training and socialization. It isn’t an aggressive act but rather stems from their herding instincts. This is why they are generally best suited for older children.
#6: They Live Long Lives
Border collies tend to be healthy dogs with relatively long lifespans.
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Border collies live 12-15 years on average and tend to be a very healthy and sturdy breed. If adopting from a breeder, make sure that the parents are up to date on all recommended health testing and have CHIC numbers to certify that they’re healthy enough to be bred responsibly.
#7: Border Collies Don’t Need a Ton of Grooming
Even border collies with long coats primarily just need to be brushed regularly.
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Border collies have two coat types: rough, which is a feathered, medium-length coat, and smooth, which is shorter and coarser. Both types are dense, double coats, but neither requires intensive grooming. You’ll need to brush them with a pin brush once or twice a week, and daily during the spring and fall shedding seasons.
#8: They’re the Perfect Size for a Family Dog
They’re not too big to handle, and they’re also not small and delicate.
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Border collies stand 18–22 inches tall, with males generally being taller. Weighing 30-55 pounds, most adults will be able to lift their border collie if needed. They’re a great size for a family pet because they’re sturdy and big enough that you won’t trip over them, but they are not so large that their food bills are astronomical or that they’re difficult to handle on a leash.
