The Border Collie is known for its agility and is considered a super athlete among dogs. In addition to being used for herding sheep, the breed is also becoming increasingly popular as a family pet. Here you will find everything you ever wanted to know about this agile and intelligent breed.

History of the Border Collie

The Border Collie originally hails from Great Britain, specifically the border region between England and Scotland. Hence, its name today. From the beginning, its main task was herding sheep, and as early as 1570, the first exceptional shepherd dog in the region was mentioned in the book “Treatise on Englische Doggess” by John Caius. They needed obedient, robust, and weatherproof dogs that could cope well in the harsh climate of this area. The shepherds would pit their dogs against each other in organized competitions called “Sheepdog Trials.”

One particularly eager male named “Old Hemp” is considered the progenitor of the modern breed. Thanks to his excellent herding skills, he was the most sought-after stud dog in the region around 1893. The cynological umbrella organization FCI recognized the Border Collie as a separate breed in 1976. It is part of the first FCI group (herding dogs & driving dogs). In 1978, the Border Collie was first entered into the studbook of the British Sheepdog Club. The Border Collie remains an excellent herding dog to this day, reacting lightning-fast and cooperating wonderfully with its human. However, in recent decades, breeders have also increasingly marketed it as an active family pet.

Traits and Characteristics

The Border Collie is an intelligent dog with a quick grasp and an enormously high willingness to work. It absolutely needs a meaningful task and a lot of “mental work” to be fulfilled. The breed wants to please its owner and quickly and enthusiastically learns new commands. Well-exercised and trained, the Border Collie is a friendly and calm dog in the house. With appropriate socialization, the breed also gets along well with other pets. Due to its strong herding instinct, however, the Border Collie tends to herd everything that moves. Joggers, cars, or playing children can also stimulate this drive.

Few other breeds exhibit such complex behavior as the Border Collie. Through the strictly selective breeding of the best herding dogs, it has developed a complex repertoire of instincts based on the wolfish behavioral patterns of hunting. The only difference is that it doesn’t catch and kill its prey, but only rounds it up. The Border is an extremely loyal and vigilant dog, but not prone to barking. It is reserved and friendly towards strangers, but not fearful. With the right training, it becomes a great partner in all situations.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	High
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Trainability	High
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	High
Amount of Shedding	Medium

Acquiring a Border Collie

What should I consider when buying?

The Border Collie is by no means a dog for everyone. The decision to acquire a puppy should be carefully considered, and you should be sure that you are up to the task. With a lifespan of 12 to 14 years, you will be committed to the dog for a long time. During this time, you must be able to provide for its needs and keep it occupied. If you live in a densely populated city, you will likely not be happy with a Border Collie, as it requires a lot of space and exercise. Before getting such a dog, it’s best to attend one of the many sheepdog trials, where you can experience the breed in action and also make initial contacts with breeders.

If you are sure that the breed suits you, you need to choose a breeder. The purchase price for a Border Collie puppy can vary widely and depends on where you buy the dog. For a puppy from a reputable, registered breeder, you can expect prices starting at $1000. You should avoid unscrupulous breeders. While the Border Collie is primarily found in black and white, you can also find other coat colors that are not dominated by white. With a lot of dog experience and a good heart, you can of course also adopt a dog from a shelter. Here you will always find dogs in need that have overwhelmed their owners.

Development and Training of the Puppy

The Border Collie is often portrayed as a problematic dog and often ends up in shelters due to the owners’ inability to handle it. However, the Border Collie is a very sensitive dog with a strong “will-to-please” and eagerly tries to please its owner. It learns quickly and unfortunately also immediately detects when its owner makes a mistake. Since the breed is intelligent and also learns by observing its owner, you should not demonstrate any undesirable behaviors to your dog. With meticulous and consistent training from puppyhood, you can manage the bundle of energy well. Visiting a dog school or getting support from experienced Border Collie owners is highly recommended.

At the age of 6-12 months, the British herding dog reaches sexual maturity and is brimming with energy and vigor. During this period, you must pay particular attention to providing appropriate activities and consistent obedience training. Above all, the young dog must now learn that there are also times when there is no activity for it. Those who exhaust their dog permanently from a young age will end up with a real exercise junkie who cannot sit still for a minute. One particularly effective training method for this intelligent breed is clicker training, where you show your dog what you expect from it with targeted rewards.

How to Keep a Border Collie?

Activities with the Border Collie:

If you only want to go for occasional walks and throw sticks, you will not be happy with a Border Collie. The dog requires meaningful tasks and must be mentally and physically stimulated. It is particularly important to find the right balance, as overexertion is just as fatal as under-stimulation. The Border Collie never shows weakness and would push itself until it collapses. Therefore, it needs challenging activities and also some rest in between. Originally, it herded sheep when the shepherd needed it and did nothing the rest of the time. You should use this as a benchmark.

You should plan daily long walks, with the route ideally changing frequently. Since the dogs have high endurance, you can easily take them jogging, hiking, or cycling. Because the Border Collie needs a lot of activity, it can be enthusiastic about all kinds of dog sports. To achieve the perfect level of stimulation, it’s recommended to try out a sport and see how the dog likes it. Whether it’s dog dancing, agility, obedience, or dog frisbee – the Border is enthusiastic about every sport. Of course, it would particularly enjoy herding sheep and letting its natural instincts run free.

Health and Care

Border Collies come in long-haired or short-haired varieties. Both coat types have dense fur with equally dense undercoats, providing perfect protection for the dog in any weather condition. Depending on which type you have, the effort required for grooming varies. Generally, however, the Border Collie is an easy-to-care-for dog. It is sufficient to brush them regularly to remove loose hair and dirt. Of course, you should also check the paws, ears, and eyes of the four-legged friend daily and treat them if necessary.

Interesting and Worth Knowing

Border Collies in Film and Television:

One of the most famous representatives of the breed was the German Border Collie named Rico, who possessed astonishing cognitive abilities. He captivated the television world in 1999 with his appearance on the popular TV show “Wetten, dass …?”, where he was able to distinguish between 77 toys and fetch the correct one from the next room on command. Over the years, his owner expanded his vocabulary to 250 words. However, an even larger vocabulary was possessed by the Border Collie bitch Betsy from Austria. She could distinguish between a total of 340 objects and even graced the cover of National Geographic magazine. The handsome Border Collie is also a popular character in Hollywood. Borders play roles in films such as “Babe,” “Hotel for Dogs,” “Snow Dogs – Eight Heroes on Four Paws,” and several other movies.

Did You Know?

Are you also big fans of the Border Collie? What do you think makes him so special? Tell me more in the comments!