Who hasn’t heard of Border Collies? They are famously hard-working, energetic sheep dogs. We’ve all seen videos of a Border Collie herding sheep or, in lack of, ducks, cats, and even children. They have a keen expression, seemingly always ready to run and work! But, there’s more to it than just the hype we see online. These are working dogs that need proper mental and physical stimulation to keep them healthy and happy. You can’t lock Border Collies inside all day with nothing to do, only taking them out for a quick morning and evening walk. Border Collies need to be active for at least 2 hours a day. And that’s the bare minimum… 

Size

Border Collie is a medium-sized dog. Males are slightly larger than females. Breed standards are:

• Male height: 19 to 22 inches (48 to 55 cm)
• Female height: 18 to 21 inches (45 to 53 cm)

Both males and females can weigh from 30 to 55 pounds (13 to 25kg). As mentioned, male Border Collies are usually slightly larger than females. However, they both look like medium-sized slim dogs. 

Color

There are many cat color variations. To quote the Royal Kennel Club “Variety of colours permissible. White should never predominate.” So this means they could be black & white, black, blue, brindle, gold, white ticked, and so on. 

You can see some examples in the pictures below.

Border Collie dogs can also have various coat markings, such as white, ticked, tan points, brindle points, etc.

Social Traits

Border Collies are friendly dogs. They go well with other dogs, animals, and fit any family type. They are not aggressive and, if properly exercised, they shouldn’t be anxious or mischievous. However, every dog needs to go through proper socialization and habituation since they are puppies. That way, we make sure they behave friendly toward other animals. This is also important for their relationship with people, not just the owners. 

A well socialized and habituated dog is a calm and confident, friendly dog that won’t be aggressive or skittish. Of course, every dog is unique, and no matter how well we socialize a dog or introduce them to their surroundings, some might be a bit more scared or a bit more reserved. They all have unique personalities, just like people have.

A few things about social traits of a Border Collie dog:

• They love to herd. It’s in their DNA. Don’t be surprised if they try to herd other dogs or children.
• When they herd the sheep, they nip, which can be scary when they try to do the same to very small children – never leave them alone with children.
• They need proper socialization from an early age (just like any other dog)
• They are energetic 
• They like to follow their owners around
• If not well-socialized, they could show a dominant attitude toward other dogs
• They are smart!

Talking about smart, according to Stanley Coren and his book called The Intelligence of Dogs, Border Collies are the smartest dogs! 

Trainability

One of the reasons people have heard about Border Collies is because they are easy to train. This is because these dogs were bred to obey commands and always be attentive to their owner’s instructions while working. Yes, they already know what to do, how to herd sheep, but they are always listening for their owners to tell them to “stop, come, right, lie down” and so on.

You can watch the reel from the Seanthesheepman and get a glimpse of what a well-trained Border Collie looks like.

Of course, their intelligence and high trainability doesn’t mean they don’t need any obedience training at all! They are dogs, so of course they need to be trained. They don’t understand the rules. But, you will definitely have more success training a Border Collie off-leash walking than an Alaskan Malamute.

Activity Needs

The activity needs of a Border Collie is where things get problematic. People get these wonderful dogs because they heard and saw how it’s easy to train them and how smart they are. But then they forget they are essentially working dogs! They need to work and to be active, both mentally and physically. What does that mean?

Border Collies need over 2 hours of daily activities. They will enjoy catching the frisbee, running around, hiking, running next to you while you ride a bike, or any other type of activity. One of the best things to do is to try some of the dog sports with your Border Collie. There are 42 different sports. One of them will surely fit both you and your dog. 

If you can’t give your Border Collie at least 2 hours of daily activities combined with additional “potty walks”, try another dog breed.

Feeding

If you have an adult Border Collie, they need around 1.5 to 2 cups of kibble food every day. It’s best to divide the amount you give them into two meals. For example, if they need 2 cups a day, give them 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening. 

Of course, each dog is different. How much food a dog needs depends on their activity level, health, age, sex, etc. The best option is to consult a vet. They can examine your dogs and give advice on what food and how much they need. The key is, of course, to keep the dog healthy and not under or overweight.

Grooming

Border Collie can have two coat types: rough and smooth. Both coats are of medium-length, but the rough type is longer than the smooth one. Also, both coat types are water-resistant. Border Collies shed moderately, which increases during shedding seasons. However, besides regular brushing, they don’t have special grooming requirements.

You will need a pin brush and a slicker brush to keep their coats clean and healthy. The pin brush is used to detangle the fur and remove any dirt going deep into the undercoat. On the other hand, a slicker brush is for the “final touch” and to remove any additional dirt or tangles on the outer coat.

Of course, they also need regular nail trimming and an occasional bath. You can give them a bath if they get dirty or they roll around in something they shouldn’t be rolling around (bad dog odor).

Possible Problems

Generally speaking, Border Collies are healthy dogs. However, some health issues can happen, such as:

• Hip dysplasia
• Eye problems (PRA)
• Deafness 
• Epilepsy 

Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Summary

Border Collies are truly wonderful dogs. They are not only beautiful but very smart. However, with their hard-working nature and high obedience comes a lot of responsibilities. They need to be a part of an active family! Border Collies are not suited for people who can’t spend a lot of time outdoors with their dogs. These dogs need to be active at least 2 hours every day to keep them both physically and mentally healthy and happy. If you can’t do it, there are other dogs much more suited for you and your lifestyle.

Read Next: Belgian Laekenois Traits – Breeds 101

Cover photo by Chung Nguyen