Border Collie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Border Collie

Other names	Scottish Sheepdog (sometimes confused with the related Welsh Sheepdog)
Origin	United Kingdom Scottish borders
Traits Weight Male 14–20 kg (31–44 lb) Female 12–19 kg (26–42 lb) Height Male 48–56 cm (19–22 in) Female 46–53 cm (18–21 in) Coat Smooth or rough double coat Colour Solid coloured, bicoloured or tricoloured on blue merle, red merle, chocolate merle, liver, lilac merle, bear, chocolate, lilac, blue, sable merle, sable, shaded sable, chocolate sable, black, white, red, brindle or orange Life span 10–17 years, average of 12 years
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

A Border Collie standing in a field.

The Border Collie is a type of dog that came from the border between England and Scotland. It is known as one of the smartest dog breeds. Border Collies have helped farmers herd animals like sheep for more than 300 years. They are also popular as pets or show dogs. A Border Collie is usually around 20 cm (51 inches) tall. They weigh about 14 to 23 kg (31 to 50 pounds). Border Collies usually have long hair. Their fur is often black and white.

What do Border Collies look like?

A male Border Collie.

A blue merle Border Collie.

A dark red Border Collie.

A red Border Collie.

A brown and white Border Collie with one blue and one brown eye.

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs. They have a thick double coat that sheds often. This coat can be smooth or rough, and sometimes curly. While black and white is the most common color, Border Collies come in many different colors. These include black, white, liver, red, blue, and lilac. Some can also have patterns like merle or brindle.

Their eye color can be brown or blue. Sometimes, a Border Collie can have two different colored eyes. This is often seen in merle-colored dogs. Their ears can stand up straight, flop down, or be semi-erect. For working Border Collies, their looks are not as important as their ability to herd.

Dogs bred for shows look more similar to each other. This is because they must meet specific standards to win. These standards describe how the dog should look. For example, show Border Collies should have a "keen and intelligent" look. Their preferred eye color is dark brown.

Male Border Collies are usually 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 inches) tall. Females are typically 46 to 53 cm (18 to 21 inches) tall.

What is the Border Collie's personality like?

Border Collies need a lot of daily exercise. They also need mental challenges to keep their minds busy. They are very smart dogs. Many people think they are the most intelligent dog breed.

Do Border Collies make good pets?

Border Collies are becoming popular as family pets. However, they are very demanding and energetic. They love to play a lot. They do best in homes that can give them plenty of exercise. This can be playing with humans or other dogs.

If they don't get enough mental and physical activity, they can become bored. Bored Border Collies might chew on furniture or dig holes. They also have a strong natural desire to herd. This means they might try to herd small children or other pets. With good training, they can learn to live happily with other animals.

Before getting a Border Collie, make sure you can provide regular exercise. A working Border Collie might run many miles a day. They use their intelligence to control animals. If left alone or inactive, they can become stressed. Border Collies might also chase moving cars or bikes. This behavior can be changed with training.

How long do Border Collies live?

The average lifespan of a Border Collie is about 12 years. They usually live between 10 and 14 years. This is similar to other dog breeds of their size. The main causes of death are cancer and old age.

Common health issues

Some health problems can be passed down through families. These include hip dysplasia, Collie eye anomaly (CEA), and epilepsy. CEA is an eye disease that affects the retina. In Border Collies, it is usually mild and does not cause serious vision problems. However, other eye conditions can lead to blindness. There are now DNA tests for CEA. This helps breeders make sure their puppies are healthy.

Where did the Border Collie come from?

A one-year-old Border Collie.

The Border Collie comes from a type of dog called "collies." These dogs were common in the British Isles. The name "Border Collie" comes from where they likely started. This was along the border between England and Scotland. The word "collie" first appeared in the late 1800s. It might come from an old Celtic word meaning "useful." Many of today's best Border Collies can be traced back to a dog named Old Hemp.

In 1915, James Reid first used the name "Border Collie." He wanted to tell them apart from other Collie breeds. These other breeds had changed their looks for dog shows.

Old Hemp

Old Hemp was a tricolor dog born in 1893 in Northumberland. He was a quiet but powerful dog. Sheep responded to him very well. Many shepherds used him for breeding. Hemp's way of working became the standard for Border Collies. Every pure Border Collie alive today can trace its family tree back to Old Hemp.

Wiston Cap

Wiston Cap was born in 1963. He is the dog shown on the badge of the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS). He was a very popular dog for breeding. His family line can be found in most modern Border Collies. Cap was a gentle and good-natured dog.

Border Collies in New Zealand and Australia

Collies were brought to New Zealand as early as 1858. In the late 1890s, James Lilico brought several working dogs from the UK. One of these was Hindhope Jed, born in Scotland in 1895. She was a black, tan, and white dog.

In 1901, Hindhope Jed was brought to Australia. She was very successful in sheep dog trials there.

How are Border Collies judged?

There are two main ways to judge the quality of a Border Collie. One is through sheepdog trials. The other is by their appearance.

ISDS Sheepdog Trials

The original way to test a Border Collie is in a sheepdog trial. In these trials, a dog and handler move groups of animals quietly around a course. The goal is to gather the sheep calmly without stressing them. These trials can be national or international.

For national competitions, dogs run a 400-yard course. International competitions use an 800-yard course for the final day. The international test includes a "double fetch." The dog must gather 10 sheep from 800 yards away. Then they gather another 10 sheep from another direction. Some sheep wear collars. The dog must separate the collared sheep from the others. They also have to guide sheep through obstacles.

Using dogs to herd sheep is very helpful for farmers. A trained sheepdog can do the work of three humans. In large, dry areas, they can do the work of five or more people. Dogs are more reliable and cost less than machines for herding.

Sheepdog trials started in Bala, North Wales, in 1873. These competitions help farmers find good dogs for breeding. They have also become a popular sport.

Appearance standards

In many parts of the world, Border Collies are also shown in dog shows. For these shows, the dog must match a "breed standard." This describes how the dog should look. In New Zealand and Australia, the standard calls for a dog with a longer double coat. They should have soft, dark eyes and a body slightly longer than tall. Their tail should be slightly curved. Their fur should be thick and they should look intelligent and energetic. They should also have a strong herding instinct.

Some Border Collies have short hair. These can be easier to care for in a home. Sometimes, Border Collies are crossed with German Shepherd dogs. This creates a mix called a "shollie." These dogs are strong and smart. They are used as working dogs and pets.

What activities do Border Collies enjoy?

A Border Collie competing in an agility competition.

Border Collies are very popular in dog agility competitions. They are also great at obedience, flyball, and tracking. They also excel in herding events.

Working with animals

A Border Collie using its "eye" to stare at sheep while herding.

Working Border Collies can be directed by voice or whistle from far away. Their high energy and herding instinct are used to herd many kinds of animals. This includes sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs, and even ostriches. They are also used to move unwanted wild birds from airports and golf courses.

Dog sports

Border Collies are excellent at many dog sports. Their natural herding instinct makes them great at herding competitions. Their speed, agility, and stamina help them in sports like flyball. They are also good at disc dog competitions. Their ability to be trained makes them good at dog dancing too.

Border Collies have a very good sense of smell. This makes them great tracking dogs. In tracking trials, dogs find a "lost" person in a controlled area. This shows how well the dog can follow a scent.

Famous Border Collies

• Rico was a Border Collie who could recognize up to 200 objects by name.
• Betsy was another Border Collie who knew over 300 words.
• Chaser had a vocabulary of 1022 words. She could also group objects together.
• Striker holds a Guinness World Record. He opened a car window in 11.34 seconds.
• Jean was the first canine movie star.
• Rex and Fly were two Border Collies in the movie Babe.
• Shep and Meg were famous Border Collies on the BBC show Blue Peter.

Images for kids

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  Red merle Border Collie. Female.

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  Blue merle Border Collie. Female.

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  Black & white Border Collie. Male.

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  Chocolate Border Collie. Male.

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  An 8-week-old male Border Collie puppy

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  Black & white Border Collie. Female puppy.

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  A Border Collie, registered with the AKC and having an ABCA certificate of descent.

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  Black and white Border Collie, herding a sheep.

See also

In Spanish: Border collie para niños