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Meet the Border Collie

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs that stand between 20 to 22 inches tall and weigh between 30 to 45 pounds. They look like a smaller version of the Australian Shepherd, but they sport a long feathered tail rather than a curly one.

The Border Collie has a thick, weather-resistant double coat, consisting of coarse outer hairs and a soft undercoat. Their coats will be one of two varieties; rough or smooth, although confusingly, this does not refer to the softness of their fur.

Those with rough coats have medium-length (3-inch) hair with plenty of feathering on their legs, chest, and belly. Those with smooth coats will have shorter (1-inch) fur of the same length all over. Smooth-coated Border Collies will usually have coarser feeling hair. Both types shed a lot and need brushing at least once a week but rarely require baths.

Border Collies most commonly are black and white, with black backs, ears, and tops of legs, and white faces, neck, chest feet, and tail tips. However, although rarer, Border Collies can also come in other colours. They can be any form of bicolour, tricolour, or merle and can also have tan markings.

The two most distinctive features of a Border Collie’s face are its ears and eyes. Interestingly, this breed can have fully erect, partially upright, and entirely dropped ears. In addition, their eye colours can vary between blue and brown. It’s also possible for those with the merle patterning to have odd coloured eyes.

Border Collies are a healthy and robust breed with an average 12 and 15 years lifespan. However, two primary genetic diseases are possible; Collie eye anomaly (CEA) and epilepsy. CEA is a congenital, inherited eye disease-specific to Collies. It can be very mild, not impairing vision. Still, if it progresses to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), it can result in blindness.

The temperament of a Border Collie

Border Collies are full of energy and possess impressive stamina, with most Border Collie owners tiring out well before them. These remarkable canines would run up to 50 miles a day in the Scottish border country! Therefore, they naturally need more daily exercise and mental stimulation than most dog breeds. So, they are not low maintenance or laidback pets by any means.

As a working dog, a Border Collie must have a way to direct positive energy. Therefore, leaving him in the garden is not enough, as this pup needs interactive play and challenging games. If you don’t have a flock of sheep for them to herd, you’ll need to find this Collie another job.

Luckily, they are very bright dogs, making them a joy to train. Thus, you can keep their minds and bodies active with tricks, dog sports, and agility courses. If a Border Collie does not get the mental stimulation it needs, it will create games. Almost always, these will be destructive, like digging or chewing.

While they need an outdoor space to release steam, your garden must be secure as these dogs will herd anything that moves. They can create mayhem with the neighbourhood cats, wildlife, and potentially even cyclists or children if they get out.

Best homes for a Border Collie

The most important thing to consider before getting a Border Collie is if you have the time and desire to exercise and play with them. A short daily walk and five minutes of fetch are not enough for this dog, so if you decide to bring this pup home, you’ll need to dedicate hours to their physical and mental health. Therefore, they are most suited to someone very active, which is why they do well with farmers who spend all day outside.

It’s best not to bring a Border Collie into a home with cats or other small animals. They are also not a good choice for families with young children. Even though early training can mould this canine into a domestic pet, you cannot train their instinct to nip, nudge, and bark out of them. Moreover, the noise of children playing will stimulate this instinct.