Intelligent and loyal, Border Collies like their routine and being a partner with their human. A Border Collie is a working dog and is happiest when given a task to do, preferably with or alongside you. If they aren’t given a job—long walks do count—they may come up with their own job requirements. And these requirements (think: hunting socks, digging holes, chewing furniture) may not be what you had in mind.

A Border Collie was bred for herding sheep and take their role as Herder-in-Chief seriously, which can become a problem in houses with small children or other animals. They appreciate order and may get overwhelmed in a chaotic household or a household where they can’t readily predict their next walk or play session. But that doesn’t mean the Border Collie breed isn’t a great choice for a family pet. They are happy to be part of the pack but need guidance on what their role entails. They’d also do well as the solo dog to a solo pet parent, provided their human has plenty of time for them and can make them a true partner in their lives.

Border Collies are fiercely loyal to their people, and this protectiveness can potentially lead to aggression around strangers or other dogs. On top of that, their intelligence can give them an “I know best” attitude, and they may appoint themselves Park Ranger at the dog park to make sure other dogs stay in line, which may not be appreciated. For those reasons, a Border Collie needs to be well-trained as a puppy to be primed for playing nicely with others.