A Border Collie is not only a very popular working dog breed, it’s also the 12th most popular breed of all dogs and it’s not hard to see why.
Not only are they exceptionally easy to train, highly intelligent and don’t shed much compared to some dogs, but they are also known to be great around children and other animals.
Fact file:
- Lifespan – 10 – 14 years
- Height – Males 48 – 56 cm, Females 46 – 53 cm
- Weight – Males 14 – 20 kg, Females 12 – 19 kg
- Pedigree Breed – Yes – KC Recognised in the Pastoral Group
Most intelligent breed
Their intelligence is really what sets them apart from other breeds in this field.
They rank at number one for intelligence, out of seventy-nine other breeds and are known to be the best herding dog on the planet. For generations, the Border Collie has worked alongside shepherds and love being outside, challenged and exercised.
Once trained, Collies rarely get it wrong and when they focus on an owner or handler, it is usually very hard to break the dog’s focus.
Movement
Border Collies are very energetic, moving freely and smoothly with the minimum of effort. This gives them the accurate appearance of both speed and stealth, especially when herding.
They are incredibly agile dogs, winning many canine sporting activities for their agility skills.
Temperament
As history shows, Collies boast an extremely strong instinct to work alongside man, always ready and alert to any commands they are given. They are patient too, and are good with authority, children and other animals.
Working dog roles
Not only do these dogs work to herd flocks of sheep, but they are a popular choice for search and rescue dogs, as well as tracker and sniffer dogs too.
Pack mentality
Border Collies tend to form a very strong bond with one person in particular. They will always be friendly and affectionate to the rest of the household too.
Prey drive
Herding is a trait that’s deeply embedded in a Collie’s psyche. They have a high prey drive and will chase an animal whether large or small, not necessarily to hurt it, but because they feel the need to. It is important that each Collie understands the “recall” command, and will obey it in an instant, otherwise it’s not wise to let one loose around livestock.
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