Border Collie Review

Overall Rating

Possibly the most intelligent dog of all. Affectionate. Good around children. An ideal working dog for a sheep farmer. Boundless energy.

Totally unsuitable as simply a domestic pet.

I know of several owners who keep Border Collies simply as pets and who highly recommend the breed. I also note with pleasure the numerous favourable reviews of the breed on this site. But, I can only speak from my own personal experience which I now honestly summarise.
First, let me explain that having effectively ran an informal 'dogs rescue centre'for several years; being familiar with many breeds of dog; and having twice personally attempted to permanently rehome two dogs of this breed I have to go against what is possibly the tide of opinion:
Keeping a border collie as a pet is perhaps similar to keeping a parrot in a cage (a parrot has the mental age of a five year old child) or keeping an innocent person in gaol.
Taking a young or middle aged border collie out three times a day for routine exercise is generally not enough physical exercise, and certainly not enough mental stimulation.
This breed has evolved to think, run, and work for many hours each day, every day. Decades of domesticity has done nothing to dampen its fundamental nature. Consequently it is a farmer's, not pet owner's, dog and it is the only dog which I would not recommend to anyone for simply keeping as a pet.
Be particularly careful about taking on a rescue dog as, not withstanding this breed's outstanding intelligence, it is immensely difficult to re-train. Expect b.c. rescue dogs to often be headstrong and disobedient, and eat large pieces of your furniture if left in the house alone! Make no mistake - the b.c. is a FANTASTIC dog which earns my greatest respect. If you must buy one then please buy a puppy (I always state the opposite with every other breed); take it to dog training classes if you are inexperienced; and consider training it to competition level and compete with it, even if it never wins! This beautiful animal deserves a challenging life.

Members' Comments onivan1890's Review

• Magnetic on 18th Jan 2006

  You obviously really know Border Collies! I have owned BCs for 37 years so, like you, have some experience. I have kept them as purely domestic pets - but agree that, for most people, this would be a mistake. They are certainly the most intelligent of dogs and think nothing of inventing games to keep themselves amused. They take a lot of controlling because they are not like other dogs in that they will not do ANYTHING to please their owner - quite the reverse - they prefer to train their owner to do anything to please THEM!