Allow us to introduce Chaser, a Border Collie celebrated as the world’s most intelligent canine. Chaser’s extraordinary abilities include recognizing an astounding 1,022 distinct objects by their precise names, and remarkably, she can even differentiate between verbs and nouns! A few years back, she graced an episode of “60 Minutes,” affording us a glimpse into her interactions with her owner, an 86-year-old psychology professor named John Pillay. Pillay’s dedication to Chaser’s development has been unwavering, with 5 hours a day, 5 days a week invested over 9 years to nurture Chaser into the prodigious talent she embodies today. Experts posit that most dogs possess the potential to attain similar levels of comprehension and vocabulary, contingent on the owner’s commitment to the necessary time investment.
Border Collie
Extremely smart, full of energy, and often referred to as a “real workaholic.” Please welcome the wonderful Border Collie!
Country of Origin
Scotland
Breed Group
Herding
Height
Male 19-24 In
Female 18-22 In
Weight
Male 26-42 Ib
Female 31-55 Ib
Life Span
12-15 years
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In a Nutshell
Are you looking for an intelligent, sensitive, and affectionate canine companion who gets along effortlessly with everyone and can seamlessly blend into your family? The Border Collie might be the perfect fit! Originating as a dedicated herding dog in the rural borderlands of England and Scotland, the Border Collie is not afraid of hard work. Couple that with its reputation as one of the most astute breeds globally, and you’ll understand why this breed excels in virtually everything it does. All you need to do is to provide him with enough opportunities for both physical and mental stimulation, as this breed has a tendency to grow restless quickly – and you can already imagine how it might end.
Life With a Border Collie
Energy level
Trainability Level
Amount of Shedding
Tendency of Barking
Exercise Needs
Kid Friendly
Pet Friendly
Looks & Personality
The Border Collie has a muscular body structure, short and strong legs, erect and attentive ears, and fur that comes in multiple colors, three being the most common – black, white, and brown.
The Collie forms strong bonds with its owners swiftly and thrives on their attention. It’s an affectionate and caring breed, though it may not always be inclined to spend the entire day cuddling. Typically, it interacts well with both children and other animals. However, its instinct to herd, often manifesting as an attempt to ‘organize’ others like a flock of sheep, might occasionally be quite bothersome to other animals.
The inherent herding instinct runs deep within them, causing them to constantly seek out moving objects to chase, whether it’s cats, bikes, or cars. This behavior is often accompanied by a series of quite loud barks. Releasing boundless energy requires outdoor activities like walking, running, and daily games in the open air. Ideally, engaging in these activities multiple times a day would be beneficial.
Today, the Border Collie retains its global championship status in all matters related to sheep herding, showcasing its exceptional skills worldwide. However, this dedicated working dog, often referred to as a “workaholic,” has diversified its roles. Beyond herding, the breed is involved in tasks like airport bird control, participation in diverse sports competitions, police duties including explosive detection, and even serving as a therapy dog for various populations. The Border Collie’s excellence isn’t confined to these roles alone – it ranks among the top five most intelligent breeds, consistently securing top positions in various measures assessed through field studies.
Common Health Problems
In general, the Border Collie is a robust breed, but if you're considering raising a purebred Border Collie, it's of utmost importance to ensure that the parents have undergone genetic testing. This precaution is crucial due to the presence of several congenital hereditary ailments that can lead to severe impairments such as blindness, deafness, various neurological disorders, and issues with vitamin absorption. Additionally, there's an intriguing yet unexplained phenomenon known as "Border Collie collapse," wherein the dog experiences sudden collapses during routine activities that last for 5 to 30 minutes, followed by a full return to normal function. This condition is also believed to have a hereditary component, though the specific responsible genes remain undiscovered.
A tip from a vet
A tip from a trainer
Did You Know
The breed’s name, “Border Collie,” has its roots in the term “Border,” reflecting their initial emergence along the boundary between Scotland and England, and “Collie,” a Scottish expression denoting sheepdogs.
Research has revealed that the Border Collie possesses the highest level of working intelligence among all dog breeds.
A Border Collie named Jumpy holds the Guinness World Record for skateboarding, covering a distance of 100 meters in under 20 seconds.
In The News
The History Behind the Breed
The breed’s origins trace back to around 1700, situated along the border between England and Scotland, where they diligently fulfilled their shepherd duties with remarkable distinction over the centuries. Ancestrally, the breed emerged from a blend of collie dogs from various other breeds, including the bearded collie and the rough-haired collie. Some researchers even suggest an infusion of spaniel bloodlines.
In the 19th century, the breed garnered favor among the English aristocracy, gaining particular adoration from Queen Victoria herself. Its journey to the United States was catalyzed by Albert Payson Terhune, a renowned dog breeder and prolific writer. The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially acknowledged the breed in 1995, despite substantial opposition from enthusiasts concerned that breeding for appearance might compromise the exceptional working prowess inherent to the breed. In the same year, Border Collies made their debut in the association’s annual dog shows, a development that ignited debates surrounding the potential impact on the breed’s working skills.
Famous Border Collie Owners
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