Border Collie
Herding Group
Height at Shoulders
Females 18-21 in, Males 19-22 in
Weight
30-55 lbs
Life Expectancy
12-15 yrs
History
The Border Collie originated in Northumberland on the border between Scotland and England, bred to herd livestock on the hilly, rocky terrain. It is unknown exactly when the Border Collie originated, but they can all be traced back to one tricolor herding dog named Old Hemp. Old Hemp was born in 1893 and had around 200 puppies in his life. His work style, one in which sheep responded easily, became the characteristic Border Collie style that we see today.
Breed Characteristics
While not all Border Collies will display the exact characteristics typical of the breed, most share a personality and temperament can be generalized by the characteristic rankings below.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
★★★★★
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
★★★☆☆
Intelligence
★★★★★
Affection Towards Family
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★★☆☆
Exercise Needs
★★★★★
Energy Level
★★★★★
Sensitivity
★★★★★
Noise Level
★★★★★
Prey Drive
★★★☆☆
Shedding
★★★☆☆
Common Traits
Can be very shy if not sufficiently socialized early
Considered to be the #1 most intelligent breed according to Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs
Strong herding instinct that can't be trained out, only redirected
Their curiosity and intelligence can lead them to become escape artists
Border Collies were originally bred to be able to run 50 miles per day, so they have a huge amount of energy they need to burn off daily
Known pick up on subtle body language and predict commands before they're given