🐾 Border Collie

Border Collie

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A herding dog breed, part of the domestic dog family, whose distant wild ancestor is the gray wolf.
• How to spot it: A medium dog with a thick coat, often black and white, alert eyes, and ears that stand up or fold over.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 46 to 56 cm tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: About 14 to 20 kg (30 to 45 lb).
• Body & adaptations: Its lean, springy body and strong legs let it run and turn all day while herding sheep.
• Top speed: A fast, tireless runner that can reach about 45 km/h (30 mph).
• Strength: Famous for stamina and control, it can guide a whole flock of sheep with careful moves.
• Senses: Sharp eyesight, keen hearing, and a strong sense of smell make it very aware of its surroundings.
• Growing up: Puppies are born blind and helpless, open their eyes in about two weeks, and grow up by around two years.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Lives with people on farms and in homes, happiest with wide space to run and a job to do.
• Where in the world: Kept as pets worldwide.
• Territory: Watches over its home and flock and likes to keep its family close together.

What it eats

• Diet: An omnivore fed dog food, needing plenty of fresh water after all its running.
• Favorite foods: Good-quality dog food, with healthy treats often used as rewards in training.
• How it hunts: Bred not to hunt but to herd, it circles and gathers sheep using a steady, staring gaze.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Runs low and fast, crouching and darting as it guides animals, and loves to leap and fetch.
• When it is active: Very active and needs lots of exercise and play; it can get bored without a task.
• Family life: Loyal and friendly, it bonds strongly with its family and works closely with its owner.
• How it talks: Barks, whines, and uses body language, and reads its owner's hand signals and words very well.
• Babies: A mother dog carries her puppies about nine weeks and then gives birth to a litter of several pups.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A hardworking helper on farms and a loving pet; as a domestic dog it has no wild predators.
• Conservation: Domestic breed.
• Dangers: Stays healthiest with vet visits, good food, exercise, and plenty to keep its clever mind busy.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: About 12 to 15 years with good care.
• In our culture: Often called the smartest dog breed, famous for winning herding trials and dog sports.
• Where to see it: On farms, in homes, and at dog shows and agility contests around the world.
• Fun fact: One border collie named Chaser learned the names of over a thousand different toys.