Breed Description: The Border Collie is a graceful, medium sized dog with a tapered muzzle, semi-upright ears and broad, muscular hindquarters. This breed is well-known for its ability to herd sheep and control livestock with its intense gaze (also known as "eye") and stalking-like movements.
Group: Herding Group
Purpose of Breed: Herding Sheep
Country of Origin: Great Britain (developed on the border between Scotland and England)
Average Size: Bitches average 18-21 inches and 27-42 lbs.; dogs average 19-22 inches and 30-45 lbs.
Color(s): The Border Collie can be black and white, tri-colored, red and white, black and gray, or all black.
Coat Type: There are two types of coats, one with sleek, moderately long hair and the other with coarse hair.
Grooming: This breed's coat is easy to maintain and requires standard care for eyes, ears, pads, and nails.
Exercise Needs: The Border Collie needs a substantial amount of physical exercise and mental activities to stay healthy. A fenced yard, although important for safety, will not suffice. Not suited for a confined living space, they can turn to destructive behavior if confined for long periods. The Border Collie is happiest on farms or ranches where it is allowed to demonstrate its ability to herd.
Temperament: Border collies are highly intelligent, sensitive and responsive. They can also be moody, strong-willed, and territorial. They have a strong desire to please their owners and are considered workaholics. Highly affectionate toward family members, they are somewhat reserved around strangers. The strong herding instincts of this breed can cause problems like chasing cars and "nipping" children into behaving.
Common Ailments: Susceptible to progressive retinal atrophy, ceriod lipofuscinosis (storage disease), hip dysplasia, seizures, and joint problems.
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years.
Trivia: The word "Collie" is a Scottish dialect word used to describe sheepdogs, including collies. The sheep herding dogs featured in the children's movie, "Babe," were Border Collies.
More Information: Border Collie Society of America, www.bordercolliesociety.com
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What kind of dog do I have? I don't know what breed she is or how old she is either. Could you help me?
Usually a vet can tell by the teeth approximately how old a dog is and or if they have a scar or mark if it has been spayed. She kinda looks like she is a terrier mix of some sort. ??
Looks to me like she is part Border Collie as they have that coloring. Also she looks about the right size for one.....How much does she weigh? They are usually about 30-45 pounds.
Hi..It looks like part border collie and from looking at the head, maybe part lab. If you check between the toes and it is webbed, it's part lab.
Definitely Border Collie. Our friends had a dog that looked just like her. Lots of people think Border Collies have to have long hair, but they don't. Definitely a Border Collie!
I'd guess part border collie, part lab too. I also have a dog whose birthday is a mystery. We decided on the month of May. If dogs could talk.
Looks like a border collie cross to me. Nice looking dog!
I think she looks part Pit Bull. I would definitely take her to the vet; they can tell you species AND age.
God Bless,
Sheila in Titusville, FL
Can anyone tell me what my dog is???
she is 4 months old and 10 inches high
I am told she is a rat russell or a rat jack I havent heard of this before but have seen some pic's on the web that look very like my pup.....any ideas???
She looks like Bijou, my pretty boy. He is Pit Bull and Boston Terrier. She's beautiful. (Bijiou)
Looks to me like border collie and rottweiler or dalmation and rottweiler or border collie and pit bull.
Obvious border collie! I don't see ears clearly in the picture. If they stick right up and point without surgery, she could be part Australian Cattle Dog (blue or red 'heeler'). Also, you didn't say how tall.
I think its a border collie mix boxer!
If you must know 100%, get a DNA kit from a Pet-Shop. That was how I discovered Oreo was BC/Rotty.
Check out these photos.
Nikko is 2 years old and a Border Collie. He was a Christmas gift from my daughter and her fiancee.
Willy is six years old. He is a Border Collie hound dog. I got him at four months of age. Willy and his siblings were in a little red wagon at the Whitesboro, TX Peanut Festival.
JJ is 10 years old. He is a Border Collie. I got him from someone with small children who couldn't manage babies and puppies at the same time.
Sissy is a retired working ranch dog. She has hung up her boots from herding cows, and likes to spend her free time outside roaming the meadow and playing with her soccer ball.
Poppy is our 5 year old Border Collie. We got Poppy on September 12th 2009 from Dogs Trust Rescue Centre. Poppy likes to chew on her rope toys and Kongs, and run sniffing everything out on walks.
Heidi (Border Collie) Photo. Our beloved Border Collie, "Heidi" was one of the most gentle and loveable souls I have ever encountered. . .
We had just lost our beloved Border Collie, Petunia. Our house seemed so empty without her, we couldn't stand it any longer and drove all day to a goat farm to get Baa-boo. Dolly her buddy, came from a horse ranch and was the last puppy from the litter.
Sally is 10 months old and is a Border Collie. We found her on the street running through traffic. . .
Casper is a 9 year old Tri-color Collie. Casper was born into the family.
Romeo is a 1 year old Border collie. He is a good friend. He likes to ride in the truck and on our tractor. He loves chasing squirrels and rabbits!
Annie is 6 years old. She is a Border Collie. We have her Momma, Maggie. She got married (an arranged marriage) and now I have Annie, or she has me.
I received Gunner when he was 9 weeks old from my cousin's farm on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day (1-21-13).
