How Smart Are Border Collies? Everything We Know About Their Intelligence

Have you ever wondered, “How smart are border collies?” Then you’ve come to the right place. 

Not to be confused with the dog who played Lassie, who was a rough collie. Border collies were bred to herd sheep between England and Scotland in the pastors. The rugged terrain required a dog that was easy to train and could work long hours. 

With this goal in mind, they have become known for their high energy and drive. They’re intelligent and quick but, without proper training, can be a handful. They are also known as the most intelligent dog breed. But what makes border collies so smart?

Keep reading to discover what sets these lovable canines apart from the rest of the pack. 

Exploring the Intelligence of Border Collies

The average IQ for dogs is around 100, making them as smart as a typical 2-year-old human. But what is the IQ of a border collie?

Border collies have a generally higher IQ score, putting them closer to the intelligence level of a 4-year-old child. This means they can understand more commands and perform more complicated tasks than dogs considered as less intelligent.  

Overall, canine intelligence is broken into three distinct categories: 

• Instinct intelligence: Varies according to breed based on tasks they were bred to accomplish.
• Adaptive intelligence: Measures how well dogs adapt to their environment through problem-solving.
• Working and obedience intelligence: Assesses how well dogs respond to commands and perform trained tasks. 

Together these categories show how a dog understands and interacts with their environment. Border collies are so smart because they rank highly in each category. 

The Cognitive Capabilities of Border Collies

So, how do we answer the question, “How smart are border collies?”. The best place to look is their cognitive abilities. Cognitive abilities refer to how the brain processes, stores, and extracts information. For example, how your dog understands, remembers, and carries out taught behavior.

Cognitive capabilities vary from dog to dog and can change with age. However, each breed has its strengths and weaknesses.

Below are three categories that test the cognitive capabilities of every dog. 

Social Cognition

Dogs are naturally social creatures, and many adapt to living in groups. They interact with humans and each other through body language. Gestures, body posture, facial expressions, scent, and vocalizations communicate different messages. However, friendliness and the ability to pick up on various signals vary by dog.

Border collies without negative experiences with other dogs tend to be social. Though they prefer people and tend to bond with one person. Instinctively they look to the leader within the family for direction.

Memory

There is no way to tell with certainty how well a dog’s memory works. But border collies are known for their ability to quickly learn new skills. Regarding verbal commands, the average dog will learn around 150 words. But that number can be much higher or lower depending on each dog. 

For example, Chaser the border collie was so smart that her owner, Dr. John Pilley, taught her to understand 1,012 nouns. Of course, Chaser didn’t learn over 1,000 nouns in one day. Pilley reportedly trained her five hours daily using a mix of her favorite toys.  

Obedience

Following commands measures obedience. As mentioned, herding dogs like border collies were initially bred to herd sheep. While they did this with little to no supervision, they followed the orders of their owner. 

Border collies are easy to train if they receive adequate stimulation from an experienced handler. They have a natural willingness to work and complete tasks. Their intelligence, stamina, and work ethic make them one of the most obedient dogs. 

Border Collies Learning Aptitude: How Quick and Adaptive Are They?

Adaptive intelligence measures resourcefulness. If you want to know, “How smart are border collies?” understanding the importance of adaptability is one way to find out.

Border collies are hardworking and loyal. They quickly learn new commands and obey their owners. According to psychology professor Stanley Coren, border collies can learn a new command after five repetitions or less. Other dog breeds learn a new command after 25-50 repetitions. That means border collies learn up to five times faster. 

In addition to Chaser, other border collies hold records for demonstrating their natural intelligence. Wish and Halo broke the Guinness World record for the most tricks performed in one minute. The energetic duo completed 28 tricks with the help of their trainer Emily Larlham of El Cajon, CA. 

Border collies are quick-minded and quick-footed. But training is essential for harnessing their natural abilities. With daily stimulation, border collies will find healthy ways to adapt to their environment.  

Intelligence Ranking: Where Do Border Collies Stand Among Other Breeds?

“What is the smartest dog?” is a common question among dog lovers and prospective owners. Smart dogs are known for their creativity and eagerness to learn. As mentioned, there are different types of intelligence. And some dogs may succeed in one type more than others.  

But how Smart Are Border Collies? According to experts, border collies are one of the smartest dog breeds. They have high-instinctive and adaptive intelligence, making them one of the best herders. These two qualities contribute to their above-average IQ.

Of course, border collies aren’t the only intelligent dogs. Here are the top ten smartest dog breeds:

1. Border collie
2. Belgian Malinois
3. Poodle
4. German shepherd
5. Doberman pinscher
6. Golden retriever 
7. Shetland sheepdog
8. Briard
9. Papillon 
10. Rottweiler

The list of the smartest dog breeds doesn’t always look the same. This is partly due to different intelligence tests and studies finding new information as we learn more about our furry companions. But one thing is for sure; border collies are always at the top of the list for the smartest dog breeds.  

Unlocking Border Collies Intelligence Potential: Training Techniques and Mental Stimulation

Physical exercise isn’t enough to keep border collies healthy. Instead, they need a healthy balance of daily mental and physical stimulation. Otherwise, they get bored and can become destructive. They may even become aggressive or attempt to escape from the house.

Your border collie should get at least two hours of exercise a day. This means they shouldn’t be left home for hours without social interaction. Instead, incorporating puzzle toys or training into your routine will keep them preoccupied and even improve your bond. 

One of the best activities is playing fetch. Retrieving a thrown object activates their instincts and stimulates concentration. The best part is you can use almost anything from a ball or a stick to their favorite stuffed toy. Playing fetch teaches them how to complete tasks, which helps with training. 

Other ways to stimulate your border collie include enrichment toys or socialization. Enrichment toys can include treats, but they can also be similar to puzzles you can make yourself. For example, you can wrap an empty water bottle in an old t-shirt or fill a kiddie pool with tennis balls.

If your dog gets along with other dogs, you can get together with other dog owners or take them to doggy daycare during the week. 

How to Train a Border Collie

Training a border collie puppy is critical. Starting with basic training commands when your puppy is only a few months old will make it easier to work with your furry friend in the future. Choose one behavior or command to work on at a time. Starting small prevents confusion. Remember to use a firm tone of voice when speaking and use treats for positive reinforcement

The most crucial aspect of successful training is consistency. An hour every few days aren’t enough training for border collies. However, short daily sessions, lasting around 30 minutes, are ideal to ensure your pup reaches training goals without losing interest. 

Remain patient throughout teaching. Whether your border collie is a puppy or an adult, it takes practice to learn something new. You can also contact a trainer with experience working with border collies to provide extra support.