Border Collie

Temperament and Personality

The Border Collie personality is dynamic. These dogs are brimming with intelligence and athleticism, thriving on good old fashioned hard work. They’re the smartest breed on the planet, so they learn quickly and need constant stimulation to keep their big brains engaged. 

Border Collies were bred to herd livestock and work alongside their human best friend all day, so they need a job to do. From agility and obedience to frisbee and flyball, Border Collies will accept any challenge, and more often than not, succeed!

Without enough mental and physical exercise, Border Collies become bored, stressed and ultimately destructive. They are also known to develop compulsive or obsessive behaviours, so keeping them busy is key to keeping them happy. 

It’s not all work and no play though. The Border Collie is an affectionate pooch and enjoys a snuggle – but only after a long, hard day of activities. While they’re still popular working sheepdogs, their loyalty and friendly nature make them a wonderful pet for active households. 

With an intense focus and acute sensitivity to their owner’s every move, Border Collies can also be used as service animals for those with disabilities. 

As with all dogs though, early socialisation and consistent training is key to raising a confident and well-mannered pooch. So if you’re looking for a partner in crime as opposed to a couch potato, the Border Collie could be the breed for you.

Border Collie paw-sonality traits

• Insanely intelligent

• Extremely high energy levels

• Alert and focused

• Very trainable

• Likes to be challenged and worked

• High prey drive

• Loyal, affectionate and friendly

• Sensitive to body language

• Can develop obsessions and compulsions

• Incredibly strong herding instincts

• Strong minded and independent

• Cautious of new dogs and people

• Needs lots of physical and mental stimulation

• Gets destructive if not exercised

Are Border Collies good family dogs?

Maybe, but only if the family has the same energy and activity levels as their Border Collie pooch. They need lots of training and physical exercise, and are considered high maintenance dogs. If you’re looking for a couch potato to cuddle up to, this breed isn’t for you. But if you’re an outdoorsy family with the time and patience to dedicate to raising a Border Collie, they can be a wonderful addition to your family. 

Are Border Collies good with children?

It depends. Border Collies are lovely, affectionate dogs who get on well with children, but they can be known to instinctively start herding anything in sight – including little ones. This involves chasing, barking, and nipping. However, if the Border Collie is well socialised from a young age and they lead an active, outdoor lifestyle, they could learn to live with young children.

Are Border Collies good with other pets?

It really does depend. Border Collies can be a little standoffish towards dogs they don’t know, so socialisation from puppyhood is essential to curb this behaviour. Their incredibly high prey drive and need to herd everything around them means they’re not typically suited to households with cats or other small animals. However, they tend to be good with animals they’ve been raised with, given that they’ve been socialised from a pup.

Care Requirements

We all want our doggos to live long, happy, healthy lives, so it’s important you know how to look after a Border Collie properly. From tasty nutritious meals to exercise, training and grooming, we’ve got it covered. 

How much exercise does a Border Collie need?

A lot. Actually, more than a lot. Border Collies need at least 2 hours of physical exercise a day. This breed is built for action and has an endless amount of energy to burn. They suit an owner who hikes, runs and leads a very active lifestyle.

Regular daily exercise such as off-lead runs and long games of fetch are ideal, but ensure the area is secure – Border Collies can also try to chase and herd cars. 

If you really want the Border Collie to shine, you could introduce them to different dog sports. Agility and obedience classes, frisbee, flyball and sheepherding trials are great outlets for this dog’s extreme energy levels. 

Their minds also need a good workout, so keep them stimulated with challenging puzzle toys, new games and exploring different trails on your daily adventures.

Remember, the Border Collie is a powerhouse, and isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s important you’re able to provide the lifestyle this pooch needs to stay healthy, happy and sane! 

How do you train a Border Collie?

The brainy Border Collie is easy to train as they’re incredibly responsive and love to please their owners. However, they weren’t born to just learn the basics. These clever boys and girls need advanced training to redirect their herding instincts (if not being used as a sheepdog), and to feed their never ending appetite for mental stimulation.  

Unleash your Border Collie’s potential with some fun training tips. 

1. Start training young. Border Collies are super intelligent but they need training from a young age to establish good behaviour and prevent their instincts from taking over.

2. Be positive. Always use positive reinforcement techniques when training your Border Collie. They respond well to praise, treats and play as motivation.

3. Channel their herding instincts. Use stuffed toys or balls to create fake livestock and let them satisfy their herding needs in a controlled way. This can help prevent Border Collies from trying to herd people, children or other pets at home.

4. Lean in to their sporty nature. Set up a fun agility course with obstacles like tunnels, jumps, and weave poles for your Border Collie to navigate.

5. Prioritise recall. Their high prey drive and deep, ancestral desire to herd means it’s vital you practise their recall before letting them off lead. Along with clear vocal commands and a long line, tempt them back using a high value treat like this high protein Baltic Beef Jerky.

6. Be competitive. Border Collies are focused and determined doggos, so they’re natural superstars when it comes to canine competitions. Start agility and obedience classes from a young age and watch them achieve dog world domination! 

7. Socialisation from the start. Border Collies can be wary of new dogs and people, so expose them to new people, children, dogs, animals, smells, and situations from an early age to help them become calm and confident canines.

8. Be consistent with commands. Consistency is key, but you can use a mix of verbal commands, body language cues and hand signals to keep your Border Collie’s mind ticking.

How much grooming do Border Collies need?

Grooming a Border Collie is like a walk in the park. Their low maintenance double coat is medium in length and moderately sheds throughout the year – more so in spring and autumn. You can get smooth or rough coats in a variety of stunning colours, such as the red Border Collie and the blue merle Border Collie, but most recognisable is the black and white coat. 

Here are some tips on how to groom a Border Collie.

• Brush their coat once a week using a slicker brush.

• If you have a rough (or long-haired) Border Collie, brush twice a week and also consider using a shedding blade to help remove excess dead hair.

• Check their ears for signs of infection and clean regularly; use a soft cotton pad to gently wipe around the inner areas but don’t stick anything down their ear canal.

• Trim their nails every month if they don’t wear them down naturally. It’s important you know what you’re doing when it comes to nail trimming, so learn from a professional or let the groomers take care of it.

• Bathe when necessary using a dog-friendly shampoo, but don’t overdo it as too many baths can disrupt the Ph balance of their skin and cause irritation or allergies to flare up.

• Don’t forget their teeth and gums. Use a dog friendly toothbrush and toothpaste to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent stinky dog breath.

• Give them a healthy dental stick once a day to keep the doggo dentist at bay!

Health and Wellness

Properly looked after, cared for and loved, the Border Collie lifespan is between 12 and 15 years. However, like many beautiful purebreds, there are some specific health problems for Border Collies.

Common Border Collie health issues

• Hip Dysplasia. Due to their active nature, Collies may suffer with chronic joint pain, arthritis and hip dysplasia in their senior years. Sadly, this can really impact their quality of life. Those looking to bring a Collie puppy home should aim to buy from reputable breeders who disclose the hip scores of the parents. Diseases of the joints can usually be managed with a combination of pain relief, anti-inflammatories, joint supportive dog food, and Joint Supplements.

• Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA). This is an inherited condition that affects eye development. Reputable dog breeders will check for this anomaly, with vet examinations happening between six and eight weeks of age. Unfortunately, if CEA is not diagnosed, the dog’s eyesight can become severely impaired as there is no treatment for this condition.

• Epilepsy. Those with epilepsy will suffer from seizures throughout their life. For most, they will experience their first fit between the age of one and five. As epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion, your vet will need to run several tests to ensure the convulsions are not being caused by something else.

• Multidrug Resistance Mutation (MDR1). This affects some herding breeds such as Border Collies, and involves the mutation in a gene known as MDR1 (multidrug resistance mutation). This can make Border Collies more sensitive to common medications, such as flea and tick treatments. Vets can test for this mutation by doing a blood test.

Food and Nutrition

Feeding your Border Collie a well balanced diet that’s tailored to their size and medical needs is an essential part of being a responsible dog owner. From helping their coat stay healthy to maintaining a good weight, the food you give them is so im-paw-tant! 

How much should a Border Collie eat in a day?

The amount you feed your Border Collie will depend on a number of factors, such as whether they’re a puppy or an adult, or if you’re using dry food, wet food or a mix, their activity level, and whether they’ve been neutered or spayed. These highly active dogs are medium size and aren’t prone to obesity, so it’s safe to feed them twice a day as an adult. You could feed them using interactive puzzle feeders because the Border Collie’s brain never stops!

You'll find a handy feeding calculator at the bottom of every product page here at Pooch & Mutt, helping you identify how much of our health-led recipes are right for the age, size and weight of your dog. Take our quick quiz to find your pooch’s perfect food!

Keep your hound healthy with these preventative tips:

Feed a balanced diet

Choose a high-quality, vet recommended dog food that meets your Border Collie’s nutritional needs. High protein dog food is recommended to support their athletic lifestyle, and natural supplements such as Salmon Oil help to boost their physical and mental health.

Protect their joints

To help keep the hip dysplasia at bay, it’s important this active doggo gets as much joint support as possible. Consider adding a Joint Tablet supplement to their diet as an extra preventative measure.

Monitor weight

A healthy Border Collie weight is anywhere between 14kg and 20kg. Make sure table scraps don’t become a fixture in their diet though, as extra weight on a pooch can reduce their quality of life – especially these super active sheepdogs.

Check their eyes and skin

A balanced diet rich in omega-3s (found in fish) can help keep your Border Collie’s gaze nice and sharp. This breed is also prone to allergies, so routinely check their skin and ears and consult with your vet if you notice anything suspicious. 

Take them to the vet

It might not be their favourite place in the world but regular check-ups with a vet can help identify potential health issues early on.

Living Conditions

Take a look at the Border Collie’s dream home.

Cost of Ownership

The unconditional love of a Border Collie is priceless, but there are costs to consider if you plan to own one. 

How much is a Border Collie puppy?

The price of a Border Collie can cost anywhere between £400 and £1,500. The price you pay will depend on the breeder or private seller, and the pedigree of the dog. The average minimum monthly cost for owning a Border Collie is around £80.

Set up costs

Primary vaccines in the UK cost between £40-£70 on average, but this depends where you live and the vets you choose. You’ll also need equipment such as a lead, collar, harness, dog tag (this is a legal requirement), bedding, food bowls, toys, and a crate if you’re crate training. If you decide to neuter your pup, the cost of the operation ranges from £110 to £300, and is usually done between six and 12 months old. Spaying costs can be higher and you should always talk to your vet about the best time to have this procedure done.

Ongoing costs

When it comes to food, these pooches need a high quality dog food packed with vitamins and natural ingredients. On average in the UK, it costs between £50 and £120 per month to feed a Border Collie. On top of this, you’ll also have booster vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and regular accessories like poop bags to buy.

Insurance costs

As this breed is prone to a few hereditary health problems, it’s highly recommended to purchase pet insurance should anything happen. The exact cost of insurance is based on your location, your dog’s age, breed, medical history and the type of cover you choose. Pet insurance prices vary wildly so always compare to get the right protection. (The average annual cost to insure a pedigree dog without any pre-existing conditions is around £403. This might sound a lot but you can’t put a price on peace of mind.)

Fun Facts and Trivia

Get to know the Border Collie even more with these tidbits and tales about everyone’s favourite sheepdog!

• Ever wondered how fast a Border Collie can run? They can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, so we don’t recommend going up against them in a running race. 

• If you’ve ever been around a Border Collie, you might wonder why they stare at you. This intense, intimidating gaze is in their nature, as it’s what they were bred to do. Making intense eye contact can control a flock of sheep and get them moving in the right direction, and it’s part of the herding sequence – stare, stalk, and chase. 

• Queen Victoria had a Border Collie named Sharp. There’s a bronze statue of him in Windsor Castle! 

• They’re record breakers. In 2021, two Border Collies won the world record for the most tricks performed in a minute. Another Border Collie named Chaser was considered the world’s most intelligent dog, as she knew the names of over 1,000 objects.

• The Border Collie is named as such because they originated on the border between Scotland and England, and the word ‘collie’ is Scottish for sheepdog. 

History and Origin

Border Collies began life in the 18th century in Northumberland, a county on the borders of England and Scotland. Farmers needed help managing their livestock, so they did what all clever people do – turned to man’s best friend.

A Scottish farmer named Adam Telfer is who we have to thank for blessing us with this wonderful breed. He dedicated his life to developing a dog that could herd sheep with precision and ease. He crossed local sheepdogs with breeds such as the Old Welsh Sheepdog and the Old English Sheepdog, only selecting dogs that displayed exceptional herding ability.

This resulted in the birth of the highly intelligent Border Collie, known for its stamina, stealth and intense work ethic. Telfer named him Old Hemp, and all Border Collies are direct descendants of this tri-colour pooch!

By the 20th century, Border Collies were commonplace on farms throughout Scotland and England, prized for their razor sharp eyesight, agility and problem solving skills. Border Collies were also invaluable during World War I, not just on the farms to help keep food production going, but also on the battlefields, providing much needed companionship to soldiers. 

Since then, Border Collies have continued to work hard and play hard, and are popular farm dogs as well as search and rescue dogs. Their intelligence, loyalty and athleticism has made this breed an incredible worker but also a loveable family pet. 

Choosing a Puppy or Dog

Before you bring a new furry friend into your life, you need to know you’re getting it from a reputable source. To help you navigate this decision, here are some essential tips for buying or adopting a Border Collie. 

1. Research the breed. Border Collies need regular grooming and can’t be left alone for too long, so you need to make sure your lifestyle is suited. 

2. Ask potential breeders for references from previous customers, veterinarians, or other breeders. This will help you get an idea of their reputation and the health of their dogs.

3. Beware of scammers. A genuine seller will never ask for money upfront before seeing the dogs, and will always offer for you to see them in person before making a commitment. Also be wary if the price is significantly cheaper than other listings. 

4. Always visit the breeder in person to see the mother with her Border Collie puppies and to check the environment. A responsible breeder or seller will never release the pups before they’re eight weeks’ old. 

5. Watch out for people who breed multiple breeds at once. This is a sign they might not have the expertise on Border Collies and don’t prioritise their dogs’ health.

6. A reputable breeder will provide a health guarantee for your puppy, including paperwork about their lineage, vaccinations and microchipping.

When adopting a Border Collie, research the shelter to ensure they’re a reputable rescue organisation, and meet with their adoption specialist to discuss your lifestyle, needs and dog ownership experience. Border Collies in shelters may have complex medical conditions or be quite senior, so you’ll need to ensure you have the time, love and dedication to give them a happy fur-ever home.