Border Collie

The Border Collie has been selected for pastoral purposes for over two centuries. The breed may descend from the English Pointer and the Gordon Setter. It was established in 1893 by the stallion Hemp, considered its ancestor. The Border Collie takes its name from the region of the Scottish Borders or simply Borders (borders), which separate Scotland from England. The name was adopted in 1915. The first Border Collies arrived in France in the early 1970s.

An affectionate dog close to its owner, it is known for its great mental agility. Stanley Coren's book The Intelligence of Dogs classifies it in the category of most brilliant dogs. It is very active and needs to engage in stimulating activities, both mentally and physically, and preferably in partnership with its owner. Herding is the activity that suits it best. Despite this, its popularity as a companion animal is increasing over the years. As a companion dog, it needs regular and substantial sports activity sessions. Its instinct can develop on compensation objects (children, other animals, bicycles, cars, etc.). Lack of physical and/or mental stimulation frequently leads to behavioral problems (destruction, obsessive-compulsive disorders). Conversely, excessive inappropriate play can also generate obsessive behaviors. The Border Collie should not be constantly confined to a house or apartment. It needs to expend its energy, for example by playing frisbee, fetch or running, going for walks... Otherwise, it can become destructive and cause damage to its home. Often sensitive, sometimes to excess, the Border Collie requires gentle and fair training.

Border Collies can present different coat colors, particularly black, brown (from red to chocolate), sable (charred coats), blonde, lilac, or blue. All these coats can be accompanied by fire marks of varying intensity (cheeks, muzzle, above the eyes, hocks). The coat is then said to be tricolored (black tricolor, red tricolor, lilac tricolor, blue tricolor, etc.).

The Border Collie is an easy dog to maintain in terms of hygiene and health. It should not engage in strenuous physical activity after eating to avoid digestive problems and even intestinal torsion, which can be fatal. The coat of medium-long and long-haired specimens should be regularly brushed. A bath every three months is more than sufficient.