Border Collie — breed guide

At a glance

Group

herding

Size

Medium

Weight

14–25 kg (31–55 lb)

Life span

12–15 years

Coat

Smooth or rough double coat

Living with a Border Collie

• Very high energy — built for work and long days out.
• Regular grooming — brushing a few times a week.
• Heavy shedding, especially in season.
• Exceptionally trainable — among the easiest to teach.
• Barks readily.
• Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
• Gets along with other dogs.
• Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
• Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
• Better with previous experience behind you.
• Average heat tolerance.
• Handles cold well.

Temperament

Brilliant · Driven · Intense · Agile

Health to watch

• Hip dysplasia
• Collie eye anomaly
• Epilepsy
• TNS (immune disorder)

Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.

Did you know

Chaser the Border Collie learned the names of more than 1,000 toys — the largest tested vocabulary of any dog.

Questions people ask

Is a Border Collie good with kids?

With care. Border Collies generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.

Is a Border Collie good with cats?

It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.

How much exercise does a Border Collie need?

Hours — this breed needs a job or a long day out.

Can a Border Collie handle hot weather?

About average — use normal hot-day sense.