Border Collie
The smartest dog in the world.
The Border Collie is widely considered the most intelligent dog breed. A tireless herding dog, it needs serious mental and physical work and rewards committed owners with astonishing trainability.
Great points
- The most trainable of all breeds
- Incredible work ethic and stamina
- Excels at every dog sport
- Devoted to its handler
Things to consider
- Needs a huge amount of stimulation
- Herds children, cars and bikes
- Not suited to idle or apartment life
- Can be intense and obsessive
The story
Bred along the hills of the English and Scottish border to gather and move sheep, the Border Collie controls the flock with an intense, hypnotic stare known as the eye. Its brains and biddability are unmatched.
Training
Border Collies learn faster than almost any breed and need that brain engaged daily. Without training, sport or work, the drive turns into obsessive or destructive habits.
Grooming
Brush the medium double coat a couple of times a week, more during seasonal sheds, and check for burrs after outdoor work.
Food & diet
About 1.5 to 2.5 cups of quality food a day, matched to a very active lifestyle.
Exercise
Extremely high. Hours of activity plus mental challenges such as herding, agility or advanced obedience are ideal.
Health to watch
Generally hardy, but watch for hip dysplasia, eye conditions and the MDR1 drug-sensitivity gene.
Fun fact. A Border Collie named Chaser learned the names of over 1,000 objects, a record for any animal.
