Herding Group
Border Collie
Champion Pedigree
Brilliant
Driven
Herder
Developed along the Scottish-English border to herd sheep with an intense, low-crouching "eye," the Border Collie is widely considered the most trainable dog breed in the world. Closely related to the Rough Collie and Bearded Collie, it demands serious daily mental and physical work to thrive.
Lifespan
12–15 years.
Did You Know?
A Border Collie named Chaser learned to recognize over 1,000 individual object names, one of the largest tested vocabularies of any animal.
Breed Traits
Size
18–22 in. tall, 30–55 lbs.
Energy Level
Extremely high — needs a job, sport, or serious daily mental and physical work.
Coat & Grooming
Medium to long double coat; moderate to heavy shedder.
Good With Families
Loving with an active family, but herding instinct can surface around young children and other pets.
Registry Record
Also Known As
Border Collie, Scotch Sheep Dog (historic)
Origin
The Anglo-Scottish border region.
Typical Litter Size
4 to 8 puppies.
Club Recognitions
AKC, FCI, KC (UK), ISDS
Disposition
Extraordinarily intelligent and driven, prone to obsessive or anxious behavior without adequate outlets for its energy and intellect.
Coat Colors
Most commonly black and white, but also red, blue, merle, and tricolor.
Working Roles
Livestock herding, still actively used on working farms; also dominant in agility, flyball, and frisbee sport.
Health & Wellness
Generally healthy for a working breed, though hip dysplasia and an inherited eye condition called Collie Eye Anomaly are worth screening for.
Notable Border Collies
Chaser
Famous for learning over 1,000 words, widely studied for canine cognition research.
Sheepdog Trial Champions
The breed dominates international sheepdog trials.
Flyball & Agility Stars
Consistently the top-performing breed in competitive dog sports worldwide.
Related Reading
Border Collie Gifts
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