Border Collie breed guide

Boundless energy meets devotion and loyalty, in the wonderfully intelligent border collie! 

Read our guide to find out more about the beautiful border collie breed…

Border collie breed history

The border collie is believed to be the descendant of a cross between herding dogs and sheepdogs on the border between England and Scotland.

However, sources indicate there’s considerable debate about when the border collie breed originated! Some sources suggest border collies were in the UK at the same time as Romans and Vikings, whereas others state the border collie breed wasn’t seen until the 1600s.  

While it’s thought that border collies were popular with the gentry during the 19th century, they have always been faithful working companions to livestock farmers.

Today, as well as working on livestock farms, the border collie’s agility, intelligence, and loyalty benefit their role in search and rescue work.

Plus, border collies are often wonderful family dogs and enjoy sports, such as agility and flyball, that allow them to test their incredible abilities!

Common characteristics of the border collie breed

Please remember that the following characteristics are considered ‘average’ for the border collie, and since each dog is a unique individual, your border collie’s characteristics may differ.

Average height for a border collie

Border collies can vary in height, with females often smaller than males – though the average height for a border collie is around 46-53cm (at the shoulder).

Average weight for a border collie

A border collie’s weight will depend on their height, though the average weight of a border collie ranges between 12kg and 25kg. However, male and female border collies are known to differ in weight, as females tend to weigh less than males.

Average lifespan for a border collie

Many border collies live for around 12-17 years, on average.

Typical border collie appearance

The lovely border collie breed is part of the ‘pastoral’ group, meaning they’ve been bred for herding or working with livestock.

Alongside their charming features, with eyes full of expression, border collies have a strong muzzle that tapers to a black or brown nose. Border collies have medium-sized ears that can be carried upright or partially folded, and some border collies’ ears are of different shapes!

This gorgeous breed has an athletic body shape, with a long back and slightly shorter legs. Their paws are deep and oval-shaped, benefitting from strong claws.

A border collie’s graceful tail tends to be set low, with an upward sweep at the end – ‘pawfect’ for wagging!  

There are various coat types typically seen in border collies, including long, smooth, straight, and wavy. However, all border collie coat types have a dense topcoat and soft undercoat, which is thought to be for improved weather resistance.

Due to their coat type, border collies require regular grooming.

Coat colours vary greatly in border collies, with all colour combinations and markings accepted according to breed standards. A few of the colours you might see in border collies include:

• Black and white.
• Chocolate (rich brown) and white.
• Black, white, and tan (pale brown).
• Blue (pale grey) and white.
• Red (orange-brown) and white.

Patterns frequently seen in the coats of border collies are merle (mottled/dappled patches of colour), sable (hair with pale roots and darker ends), bi-colour (two colours), and tri-colour (three colours).

Typical border collie temperament

Along with their loyal nature, border collies are super inquisitive and love to learn – which makes them fantastic to train!

Although, due to being bred for herding livestock, many border collies can have a tendency to chase and/or herd anything that moves, from children to cars. So, it’s especially important to work on your border collie’s recall training, to help them deal with distractions, and keep them on a lead near roads.

Thanks to their seemingly endless energy, border collies love being involved in all your adventures. Whether your adventure involves camping, a trip to the beach, or an exciting day trip somewhere new, your border collie is likely to enjoy being by your side throughout!

Border collies are high-energy dogs who thrive on activity, meaning they’ll need at least an hour or two of exercise daily – along with plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day. 

Border collie health conditions

It’s not unusual for pedigree breeds to be prone to certain health concerns, and border collies are no exception. Here are a few health conditions commonly seen in the border collies:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Epilepsy.
• Collie eye anomaly.

Remember: Keep an eye out for any health issues your border collie may develop, and make sure your canine companion is checked by a vet if you have any concerns.

Fun facts about border collies

Fact 1 – The border collie is considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds.

Fact 2 – A border collie named Chaser could recognise the names of over 1,000 objects and understand basic sentences!

Fact 3 – Queen Victoria was a border collie enthusiast from the early 1860s.

Fact 4 – Scottish poet, Robert Burns, had a beloved collie named Luath, whose passing inspired a famous poem called ‘The Twa Dogs’.

Fact 5 – Border collies often become very vocal when they sense moving objects around them; which you’ll know if you’ve ever played fetch with a border collie!