Border Collie Fun Facts

Basic Border Collie Facts & Info

(Scroll down further for fun facts section)

Basic Stats

Breed Group: Herding Dog

Origin: United Kingdom (specifically the English/Scottish border)

Average Weight:
Males: 30-65lbs (average 35-45 lbs)
Females: 25-50lbs (average 30-40lbs)

Average Height (at Shoulders):
Males: 19-22" (48-56 cm)
Females: 18-21" (46-53 cm)

Average Lifespan: 12-15 years (but can range anywhere from 10-17 years)

Temperament & Traits: Active, Energetic, Intelligent, Alert

Common Colors: Black & White (most common), Brown & White, Black Tricolor (black, brown & white), Blue Merle, Red Merle.

Coat Type: Smooth or rough

Hypoallergenic: No

Shedding/Grooming Needs: Average shedding, needs regular grooming

Typical Litter Size: 4-8 puppies (Average 6)

Interesting Fun Facts About
Border Collies

1. Border collies need plenty of physical exercise....

But they also need down time and mental exercise. While physical exercise is very important, mental activity is just as essential, as well as the need to learn how to settle down and relax when it's not time to work. Proper crate training is important so the dog can learn to relax and lie down when they get over tired.

Make sure you designate some quiet time every day for your border collie, and find fun games to challenge their intellect. Puzzle toys designed for dogs (such as the ones pictured below) work great for this purpose.

Even better, engage in a sport or activity like agility, dock diving, rally-o, or another dog sport that provides an outlet to satisfy both the physical and mental exercise requirements of your dog, while also forming a working bond with their human.

2. Border collies are commonly found in 4 colors....

Black and white, brown and white (also known as red and white), black tricolor (black, brown, and white), and blue merle, with black and white being by far the most common color for the breed.

A classically marked black and white border collie.

A blue merle border collie.

However, more unique colors and patterns can also be found occasionally in border collies, including:

Blue/Grey (aka diluted black) and White
Lilac (aka diluted brown) and White
Beige and White
Sable and White
Brown/Chocolate Tricolor (Dark brown, light brown, and white)
Blue Tricolor (Blue, brown, and white)
Lilac Tricolor (Lilac, brown, and white)
Red Merle
Red Merle Tricolor
Blue Merle Tricolor

3. Their name comes from the borderlands where the breed originated.

The "Border" part of border collie, refers to the area where these dogs were originally bred, in the border lands between England and Scotland.

The "Collie" part of their name comes from the Celtic word, colley, meaning useful or faithful.

4. Border collies are typically healthy dogs with a long lifespan.

A puppy with good genetics is more likely to live a long and healthy life.

These dogs often live 12-15 years - but those with good health sometimes even exceed that!

These dogs have a typical lifespan of 12-15 years, but some even exceed that! Collies often remain healthy and enjoying their work right into their old age. However, as a breed, they can sometimes be prone to hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and various types of cancer. If you purchase a puppy, make sure you choose a responsible breeder who health tests the parents for genetic and breed specific health issues.

5. Border collies really thrive when given a doggie "job."

Agility is a fun activity that provides both mental and physical exercise.

Herding is a natural instinct for border collies. If they don't have access to livestock, they are happiest with another type of "doggie job" to fulfill their need for mental and physical exercise.

Border collies were originally bred with a purpose in mind (aka a doggie job) which was to herd sheep. Although the average family doesn't need their collie to herd livestock for them, their instinct to work is still intact and strong.

Border collies (and other high drive working breeds) really thrive when they are given the opportunity to put their energy and intelligence to good use on a regular basis.

Whether it's competitive or recreational herding, agility, treibball, obedience, or any other one of the countless options for canine sports out there, your BC will surely be happy to take part in some sort of activity where they can work as a team with their owner. Many of these sports have competitions or clubs that you can join (locally or online) so there is an option to train with like-minded people and work towards new goals with your dog.

6. Most border collies live between 12-15 years.

However, the oldest border collie recorded by the Guinness World Records is a blue merle collie named Bramble (from the United Kingdom) who passed away on March 31st, 2003, at the age of 27 years and 211 days old.

Another fun fact:

Bramble actually lived on a vegan diet according to her owner, Anne Heritage, who was also a vegan. The dog received a diet of rice, lentils, and organic vegetables once a day, and also got plenty of exercise to maintain her health.

7. Border collies are part of the herding dogs breed group.

Border collies are herding dog types, along with other breeds like Australian Shepherds, Corgis, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Cattledogs, and more. Herding is embedded deep within these dogs, so special care should be taken to give them a proper outlet, and teach them to refrain from chasing children and other pets.

Something to consider is a dog sport called Treibball, which was invented specifically for herding breeds. This activity involves "herding" several giant balls into a target area with voice commands from their handler at a distance.

Some people even obtain or rent sheep for recreational herding to satisfy their collies' inner herding drive.

8. Border collies are at the top of their class.

These dogs are athletes and top level competitors in anything they do. Often referred to as the best herding dogs, they also excel in other dog sports and activities like agility, flyball, treibball, obedience, rally-o, and so much more. Their potential and work ethic is unmatched in the dog world, and they have a competitive drive like no other.

9. Border collies are rated as the #1 most intelligent breed.

Border collies are consistently rated at the top of the list among intelligent dog breeds, followed by Poodles and German Shepherds, at numbers 2 and 3 respectively.

Border collies have a strong drive to work, and thrive on learning new tasks. They were bred for their independent thinking and problem solving abilities, making them very smart and quick to catch on to new things.

This doesn't necessarily mean they are easy to train, however! These dogs are smart, meaning they are just as quick to learn bad habits as good ones. Combining their active lifestyle with their intelligence can make them a challenge for the average pet owner, but they can be wonderful partners for those that are able to understand and fulfill their needs.

10. Border collies have a unique ability to move in a cat-like crouch.

Border collies are bred to have a space between the tops of their shoulder blades, enabling them to move quickly and quietly in a crouched down position. This helps them to move around and herd livestock very efficiently, and with great precision.

11. They are also known for their "eye" when herding livestock.

These dogs have an intense and focused stare that helps them move and control livestock with more accuracy. They are able to intimidate and direct livestock with less physical interference thanks to the intensity of their herding eye.

12. The AKC first recognized the border collie breed in 1995.

The American Kennel Club didn't recognize the breed until 1995, mainly due to objections from fans of the border collie breed. Many were concerned that the AKC would prioritize a show dog appearance over drive and herding ability, and therefore compromise the integrity of the breed.

Nowadays, the breed lines are separated into herding dogs and show dogs. Despite the AKC's recognition of the breed, many breeders and border collie fans still believe that border collies should remain close to their roots and should be bred only from working lines.

13. Modern border collies can all trace their lineage back to one dog.

Old Hemp (1893-1901) began herding sheep at an early age, with a unique ability to move sheep effectively, and with less aggression than other herding dogs at the time. Old Hemp had an early talent for his work, and his distinctly softer, quieter method still got impressive results. His technique impressed breeders, and he became a stud dog, going on to sire over 200 puppies. His unique temperament and herding ability was the inspiration for the creation of the popular border collie breed we know today.

14. Wiston Cap is also a common ancestor of modern border collies.

While Old Hemp made a significant impact in the early development of the breed, he was not the only dog that played a role in the breed's history. Another border collie named Wiston Cap also had a major influence on the border collie breed as we know it today. Wiston Cap was a tri-color collie born in 1963 and he went on to sire more pups than any other border collie stud. It is estimated that more than 90% of current border collies are descended from Wiston Cap in some way.

15. One amazing border collie named Chaser knows over 1000 words!

A talented border collie named Chaser accomplished an impressive feat of learning over 1000 words. Chaser is owned and trained by John Pilley, a retired psychology professor, who has been guiding her in her language learning journey from the time she was eight weeks old. Chaser has learned to bring hundreds of individual toys by name, and even understands some general common nouns (ie. all round, bouncy items are called balls.)

You can learn more about Chaser by visiting her website, Chaser the Border Collie, or picking up a copy of her book, Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words.

16. Another border collie holds the record for the "Fastest Car Window Opened by a Dog."

A border collie from Hungary, named Striker, captured a world record for the fastest time to roll down a (non electric) car window by a dog. Using his nose and paws to push the handle, he was able to roll down the window in an impressive 11.34 seconds. The record was set in Quebec, Canada in September of 2004.

17. Merle + Merle = White!

Merles are often a highly sought after coat color, which sometimes draws irresponsible breeders to breed merle to merle.

For more information about double merles, see What is a Double Merle? or visit Keller's Cause to see the story of two rescued double merles that are striving to educate and stop this breeding practice.

Did you know that breeding two merle colored dogs together increases the chance of puppies being born with developmental issues?

It's no secret that merle color patterns in border collies (and other breeds) are very beautiful and popular among pet owners. Responsible breeders always achieve this color safely by pairing one merle dog with a non merle dog (for example, black and white), resulting in healthy puppies in both their parents color (ie. some merles, some black and white.)

Some greedy and irresponsible breeders try to produce even more merles in a litter by pairing two merle colored collies together. Unfortunately, the results of these pairings gives every puppy in the litter about a 25% chance of being born a double merle. Most double merles are primarily white and are usually born permanently blind, deaf, or both.

18. Border collies are popular animal actors.

Border collies are popular choices as dog actors due to their high intelligence and stamina. They can often be spotted in commercials, movies, and promotional product photo shoots.

Some popular appearances by border collies include the "Babe" pig movies, "Little House on the Prairie" TV series, "Snow Dogs" movie, and countless more.

19. Fastest tightrope crossing by a dog.

Border collies show up frequently at competitions and sporting events, but did you know they are also renowned for their ability to learn large numbers of difficult tricks? Many talented borders even wind up as world record holders.

One example of a guinness world record showcasing impressive skill and athleticism was accomplished by a border collie x kelpie cross named Ozzy and his owner Nick Johnson. Ozzy can perform the very difficult skill of walking a tightrope tied between two trees. He accomplished this feat in only 18.22 seconds in Norfolk, UK, in 2013.

*Below* Live video of Ozzy setting his world record.

20. Fastest 100 meters with a can balanced on the head.

Yet another guinness world record by a border collie mix was achieved by Sweet Pea and her owner Alex Rothaker. Sweet Pea (a border collie x Australian shepherd mix) performed the remarkable and patient act of traveling 100 meters with a can balanced on her head. This act of skill and focus was accomplished in 2 minutes and 55 seconds, and was set in Illinois, United States in 2008.

21. Fastest 10 hoop slalom by a dog.

Another athletic guinness world record was performed by a border collie named Neo, and his owner Stephen Bailey. Neo was able to complete a super fast 10 hoop slalom in only 8.58 seconds in Minehead, UK, in July 2016.

You can read more about Neo and his record breaking moment in this article.