Border Collie Breed Guide & Border Collie Insurance

Table of Contents

Introduction to Border Collies

The Border Collie is a popular dog in America because it is smart, loving, and full of energy. These dogs were bred as working dogs but are common household pets today. They have been featured on numerous TV shows and in movies, and they have set world records for everything from skateboarding to rolling down a manual car window! You’ll often find Border Collies working as search and rescue dogs as well because of their unique skills and instincts.

Size of Border Collies

Border Collies are medium-sized dogs that are athletic and muscular. When fully grown, this breed of dogs gets to be about 30 to 55 pounds..

Here’s how big you can expect your Border Collie to get, based on gender and age:

Weight Chart	3 months	6 months	12 months	24 months
Male Border Collies	10-15 pounds	20-25 pounds	35-45 pounds	40-55 pounds
Female Border Collies	8-12 pounds	18-22 pounds	30-40 pounds	30-45 pounds

Border Collies usually reach heights of 19 to 22 inches tall for males and 18 to 21 inches tall for females.

Characteristics of Border Collies

Border Collies are well-known for their athleticism and excellence in agility training. In fact, Border Collies are happiest and healthiest when they have a job to do – whether that means herding animals on a farm or being challenged with an obstacle course in the backyard.

As you get to know a Border Collie’s personality, here’s what you can expect based on his or her breed characteristics:

Breed Characteristic	Level (High, Medium, Low)
Affectionate with People	High
Good with Kids	Medium
Good with Pets	Medium
Need for Exercise	High
Energy Level	High
Intelligence Level	High
Able to Be Trained	High
Amount of Barking	Low
Amount of Shedding	Medium

Overall, Border Collies are moderately adaptable dogs that do well in both hot and cold weather. However, they do not like being left alone and live their best lives with active owners who are home most of the time to be with them. These are friendly dogs that are fairly easy to care for in terms of health and grooming. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Border Collies is that their energy is very high, which means they need plenty of exercise and playtime. Border Collies can be great watchdogs but should be trained to bark appropriately and not excessively.

History of Border Collies

Border Collies have been part of the American Kennel Club’s Herding Group since 1995. However, these dogs have been around for a lot longer than that. These dogs originated in the Border country between England and Scotland, which is how the dogs got their name.

Border Collies are linked to crosses between herding dogs of the Roman Empire and spitz-type herders from Viking raiders. These particular dogs excelled at working to herd livestock in the rocky highlands of Scotland and Wales. In fact, the dogs were first classified as Scotch Sheep Dogs. They became known for big bursts of energy and great running speed. Scotch Sheep Dogs were shown at the second dog show held in England in 1860, and Queen Victoria became a fan of this type of dog. R.J. Lloyd Price is credited for bringing these dogs to London’s Alexandra Palace for a demonstration, where spectators were impressed with how keen the dogs were to their handlers’ whistles and hand signals.

James Reid, the secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society first used the term “Border Collie” in 1915 to distinguish this dog from other similar types. Many of today’s purebred Border Collies can trace their lineage to a dog called Old Hemp, who lived from 1893 to 1901.

Border Collie Standard Information

The appearance of a Border Collie is well-balanced and muscular, with an alert expression and an intelligent mind. These dogs are highly trainable and have an intense energy that is unique among canines.

Here is an overview of the breed standard information for Border Collies.

Head:

Eager and alert expression
Moderately sized eyes set well apart
Strong muzzle that tapers to the nose
Strong teeth that meet in a scissors bite

Neck, Topline, Body:

Muscular and slightly arched neck
Back level with muscular rise over loin
Broad chest
Moderately deep and short loin

Forequarters:

Parallel forelegs when viewed from front
Long and laid-back shoulder blades
Elbows neither in nor out

Hindquarters:

Long, broad, and deep thighs
Hock about one-quarter to one-third of dog’s height
Compact, oval feet
Dewclaws removed

Coat:

Rough variety coat or smooth variety coat acceptable
Seasonal shedding is common
Whiskers remain untrimmed

Color:

All colors and combinations of colors are judged equally
White patches on body should not predominate
Predominant ear color should match main body color
Black and white colorations are most common and familiar

Gait:

Able to change speed and direction easily
Topline firm with no roll or bounce
No wasted motion or exaggerated movement that is inefficient

Caring for Border Collies

It is important to take good care of your Border Collie so that he or she lives a long and healthy life. These dogs have great personalities because they learn quickly and are always up for a challenge. They are sensitive to their owners’ cues and thrive on keeping busy with plenty of activity. If you don’t keep a Border Collie busy, the pup may start engaging in undesirable behaviors, such as digging or chasing cars.

Here are some general tips for taking the best care of a Border Collie.

Best Living Environments:

Lots of space to run and play
House with a backyard
Farms and ranches
Families with older children

Type of Exercise:

Herding work with livestock
Going on runs
Agility training
Playing catch with frisbees and balls
At least two hours of exercise per day

Mental Enrichment:

Needs steady mental stimulation
Benefits from agility and obedience exercises
Enjoy having a job to do

Training Strategies:

Highly trainable dogs
Socialize dogs early but can still be reserved with strangers
Eager to please, so give plenty of praise

Grooming Tips:

Brush once or twice weekly, especially during shedding season
Trim nails regularly
Check ears regularly and clean as needed

Common Health Problems of Border Collies

Border Collies are generally healthy dogs that have a life expectancy of about 12 to 15 years. Even though these are hardy dogs, they are still prone to medical issues, especially as they get older.

These are some of the most common health issues that arise with Border Collies.

Hip dysplasia
Deafness
Epilepsy
Progressive renal atrophy
Ear infections
Allergies

When you take your Border Collie to the vet, consider a hip evaluation and ophthalmologist evaluation to allow the early detection of these issues.

Diet and Nutrition for Border Collies

Because of Border Collies’ high levels of energy and activity, these dogs need a high-quality dog food that is either commercially made or prepared at home under a vet’s supervision. Adult Border Collies typically need about 1.5 to 2 cups of dry dog food per day, depending on the caloric density of the food and the dog’s activity level. A very active young dog may require more food than an older Border Collie or one that spends more time indoors.

Some people feed their Border Collies a raw food diet, but it is important to consult a vet first. Raw food diets are not always balanced and are associated with an increased risk of bacterial contamination. Overall, Border Collies need high protein diets to support their high-energy lifestyles. True working dogs may need a little extra protein in their daily diets.

border collie in grass field — Photo by Lukas Ruzicka on Unsplash

Where to Adopt or Purchase Border Collies

If you are interested in purchasing a purebred Border Collie, the American Kennel Club’s PuppyFinder Marketplace lists puppies from registered litters and breeders who follow AKC rules and regulations. The Border Collie Society of America is a breed-specific organization that promotes responsible breeding and ownership to learn about this type of dog and preserve their working attributes and intelligence.

You can also find Border Collies and Border Collie Mixes at shelters if you would rather adopt a pet who is in need of a good home. All Border Collie Rescue in Houston, Texas and New England Border Collie Rescue are examples of groups to look into based on where you live. Many different states have Border Collie Rescue organizations, including Arkansas, Arizona, and Colorado.

Related Breeds

The Border Collie belongs to the Herding Group of dogs, which was actually part of the AKC’s Working Group until 1983. Something that all Herding Group dogs have in common is the instinct to control other animals’ movement. These breeds were developed to protect livestock, but they are often used for police protection and even to gently corral children today.

If you are interested in Border Collies, you might also want to learn about other Herding Group dogs, including the following:

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Belgian Laekenois
German Shepherd
Old English Sheepdog
Pyrenean Shepherd
Spanish Water Dog
Swedish Vallhund

Pet Insurance for Border Collies

Border Collies are wonderful dogs that deserve to be taken care of at every stage of life. To ensure that your dog gets the necessary care at a price you can afford, a pet insurance plan from Healthy Paws is highly recommended. Our insurance plans can help cover emergency care, accidents, genetic conditions, illnesses, cancer, and even alternative care for Border Collies to give you peace of mind. With no costly add-ons and the option to use any licensed vet you choose, Border Collie lovers trust Healthy Paws whenever their pups need a little extra care and medical attention.