Border Collie: temperament, size, care and health

About the Border Collie

The Border Collie is a medium-sized, athletic dog standing around 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder, built for speed and agility rather than bulk. The coat may be rough or smooth, and the colors are many, from black and white to red, tricolor and merle. Eyes may be brown or blue. The best-known feature is the eye: the Border Collie fixes livestock with a focused stare, known as "the eye," and crouches low before moving them.

It is the standard sheepdog of the world, bred for working ability and not for a uniform appearance. Today it excels in herding trials, agility, obedience, flyball and frisbee, and it works on farms. Owners value its intelligence, but it is a demanding dog that is wrong for many homes.

Temperament and family life

A Border Collie is devoted to its people and sensitive to their moods. It is often reserved with strangers, and some are shy or noise-sensitive. The herding instinct shows up at home as stalking, circling and nipping at fast-moving things, including children, bicycles and joggers. Early training and supervision are needed, and the breed is usually best with older, active children.

The breed typically gets on with other dogs, though it may try to herd them. Cats and small pets can be pushed around. A Border Collie that does not receive enough work and exercise may develop obsessive habits such as shadow chasing, fence running, or excessive barking, and it may become destructive or anxious.

Exercise and training

Border Collies need more than a daily walk. Two hours of activity is a sensible baseline, and the best of it includes tasks: herding, agility, scent games, trick training and problem solving. A dog that fetches a ball for an hour may still be restless afterward, because the mind needs to be tired as well as the body.

Training is easy for those who know what they are doing and a challenge for those who do not. The dog learns a command in a few tries, then learns how to anticipate and manipulate its owner if instruction is inconsistent. Use clear, positive, structured training, teach it to settle, and begin socialization early. Fencing should be secure, since many Border Collies will find a way out.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming is manageable. Brush the rough-coated variety two or three times a week and the smooth-coated one weekly, with more frequent sessions during the heavy shed in spring and fall. Pay attention to the feathering behind the ears and on the hindquarters, where tangles can occur, and to the feet, which collect burrs.

Bathe occasionally and trim the nails. Check the ears, and brush the teeth. The hair in the home is noticeable but not extreme for a medium double-coated dog.

Health

Border Collies are generally healthy but are prone to hip dysplasia, collie eye anomaly, epilepsy, hereditary deafness and some neurological disorders including trapped neutrophil syndrome and ceroid lipofuscinosis, for which DNA tests exist. Some carry the MDR1 mutation, which affects drug tolerance. Responsible breeders test hips, eyes and these DNA markers.

This is general information about the breed. A veterinarian is the person to ask about any particular dog.

History

The breed is generally traced to the border region between Scotland and England, where shepherds selected dogs for their ability to gather and move sheep with minimal commands. A dog called Old Hemp, born in 1893, is widely cited as an influential sire. The name Border Collie was first used in 1915. Sheepdog trials, which began in the 1800s, shaped the breed. The American Kennel Club recognized it in 1995.

Is the Border Collie right for you?

A Border Collie suits people with time, energy and expertise who want a performance partner or farm helper. It is a poor match for the casual owner, a sedentary household, a small apartment or a home with toddlers.

Compare the somewhat more relaxed Australian Shepherd, the smaller Shetland Sheepdog and the more forceful Belgian Malinois.