The Border Collie is the class valedictorian of canines. Considered one of the smartest dog breeds, these overachievers come with plenty of extracurriculars on their resume, including running, herding and search-and-rescuing. If ever there was a dog who lived by the motto “Work hard, play hard,” it’s the Border Collie. They’re energetic workaholics who love having a job to do. And yes, playing fetch counts. A true go-getter, Border Collies excel in many roles, but being your canine companion just may be their greatest role yet.

History

The border collie is descended from landrace collies, a type found widely in the British Isles. The name for the breed came from its probable place of origin along the Anglo-Scottish border. Mention of the "collie" or "Colley" type first appeared toward the end of the 19th century, although the word "collie" is older than this and has its origin in the Scots language. It is also thought that the word 'collie' comes from the old Celtic word for useful. Many of the best border collies today can be traced back to a dog known as Old Hemp.

Breed Appearance

Athletic and muscular, this medium-sized dog exudes strength. They often have an intense, expressive gaze coming from their almond-shaped eyes. Their ears are just as expressive, frequently switching between alert and semi-alert positions as they take in the world around them, and their feathered tail stands proudly when they’re happy or excited. Their double-coated fur comes in two types—rough (medium-length) coat and smooth (short) coat—and in a variety of color options like merle, blue merle, red merle, tricolor and lilac.

Registries

United Kingdom

United States

Australia

Canada

South Africa

Turkey

Elsewhere: The border collie breed is also recognised as the prime sheepdog by the International Stock Dog Federation (ISDF), based in Piccadilly, London, UK.