Pastoral Anatolian Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Dog Bearded Collie Belgian Shepherd Dog Bergamasco Border Collie Briard Rough Collie Smooth Collie Estrela Mountain Dog Finnish Lapphund German Shepherd Dog Hungarian Kuvasz Hungarian Puli Komondor Lancashire Heeler Maremma Sheepdog Norwegian Buhund Old English Sheepdog Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog Pyrenean Sheepdog Samoyed Shetland Sheepdog Swedish Lapphund Swedish Vallhund Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

The Border Collie is one of our most intelligent native breeds and excels at Obedience and Agility and has an exceptionally quick brain which must be used; if you don't find a use for it then he will and you may find that he decides it is his job to round up the children, chase passing bikes and cars and generally make a nuisance of himself.  If you are looking purely decorative dog then carry on looking. The Border Collie is not for you.

As a working dog he has been known in the Borders of England and Wales and Scotland since the 16th Century because of his superb agility and quickness over uneven terrain.  Smaller than mainland Europe herding dogs, he has never been required to guard flocks because of the early eradication of the wolf in England and so does not have the protective instincts of many of the members of the Pastoral Group.

The Border Collie was not recognised by The Kennel Club until 1976 and not given Championship status until 1982; shortly afterwards a working test was introduced to qualify dogs as full Champions rather than Show Champions. Un-registered or non-pedigree dogs of Border Collie type are known as Working Sheepdogs and it is these dogs who are seen performing so brilliantly in the Obedience and Agility rings. The Working Sheepdog tends to be a slightly racier version, teeming with energy, but both need homes where they are given the opportunity to use both their brains and energy constructively.

The Border Collie temperament is excellent, nipping being a serious fault in working trials and his aptitude for obedience work is second to none.  He is an attractive, beautifully balanced dog with sufficient substance to show he can do a day's work and when moving looks as though he can on forever.  Coat can be either smooth or moderately long with distinct mane and good breeching and brush.  A wide range of colours are allowed though white should never predominate.

The Border Collie is a very attractive medium sized dog, up to 21", take plenty of advice to make sure that you can offer him the right sort of home so that owning him is the pleasure it should be.

Click here to read the Border Collie Breed Standard.

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Border Collie Breed Clubs

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Border Collie Rescue and Rehoming

Contact any of the Breed Clubs, Border Collie Rescue or Border Collie Trust, which has some good games! They should all be able to give you information about dogs requiring homes and procedures for re-homing; if you are in the unfortunate position of having to re-home your own pet, please go through breed rescue. They will not be judgmental and are best able to find the right permanent home for your Collie.

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Border Collie Breeders

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If you are looking for a puppy contact the Breed Clubs and the Breeders listed and visit the puppyfinder website where there is a great deal of information on hereditary conditions.  If you are a Breeder and wish to advertise your puppies puppyfinder is an excellent showcase.

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