Border Collie
About the Border Collie
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 18-22" |
| Weight | 30-55 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Very High (90+ min/day)
120 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $800-$2,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,500/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Border Collies may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Long Work Hours Away
Guides for your Border Collie
The story behind the Border Collie
Sheepdogs of collie type worked the hill country along the border between Scotland and England for centuries, gathering and driving flocks over ground too rough and too extensive for shepherds on foot to manage alone. Sheepdog trials from the 1870s created a competitive record of working ability, and a dog named Old Hemp, born in Northumberland in the 1890s, is regarded as the foundation sire of the modern breed, passing on the quiet intense working style that defines it. Farmers exported the type worldwide to Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. The name Border Collie came into use in the early 1900s. Kennel club recognition arrived much later and remains controversial among working breeders, who maintain separate registries. Today Border Collies work stock globally and dominate dog sports.
Originally bred for: Herding, Droving. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Border Collie
A hard-working herder needs energy density matched to genuine output, with farm and trial dogs requiring considerably richer feeding than pets. Because many are lean, busy and easily distracted at mealtimes, quiet feeding and a consistent quality adult food help maintain steady condition.
Watch for: No breed-wide ingredient sensitivity is documented. Itchy skin turns up regularly across herding breeds from combined environmental and dietary causes, and highly strung individuals may develop stress-related loose stools. Separately, medication sensitivities occur in some collie lines, so veterinary guidance matters for diet decisions.
Start with the Border Collie feeding guide.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Border Collie
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.