Buyer question
Is a Border Collie good for beginners?
Usually not: our Animal Library rates the Border Collie 2 out of 5 for beginners (too much dog for most).
Source: the Border Collie page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Border Collie in the Animal Library
The detail
Bred on the Scottish border to gather sheep with an intense stare and tireless work ethic, the Border Collie is widely considered the most trainable dog there is. That brilliance comes with a need for real daily work, not just walks.
- Temperament
- Intense, brilliant, driven
- Best fit
- Farms, dog sports, runners
- Trainability
- 5 out of 5 (Top of the class)
- Energy
- 5 out of 5 (2 hrs work daily)
- Grooming load
- 3 out of 5 (Weekly brush, sheds)
What to weigh
Without a job, a Border Collie turns its drive on cars, shadows, children or your furniture. It needs hours of physical and mental work every day, and it can be sound-sensitive and obsessive.