An intelligent working dog that is easy to train, the Border Collie makes the perfect farm dog. This breed performs well in obedience competitions, is a great sheep-herding dog and is used for tracking and as sniffing and rescue dogs.

The Border Collie – also called the Border, Farm Collie, or Working Collie – is a well-proportioned, medium-sized dog approximately 53 cm in height, weighing around 18 kg (females are slightly smaller and lighter).

Borders have a medium-length, low-maintenance coat with a thick, water-resistant undercoat. The most common coat colours are black and white, but other colour combinations you may see include blue and white, brown and white, red and white and tricolour.

Border Collies are excellent herders and when they are working, you’ll see them crouched down with their eyes firmly fixed on their charges. This dog is alert and attentive, always ready to work, eager to please, and devoted to its master.

Collies are not known to be aggressive dogs, but they are not recommended to keep as family pets if you have young children, as they can’t help but try to herd your kids.

This is a very lively dog that needs a lot of exercise and activities to keep it fit and keep its brain occupied, every single day. If they have nothing to do and nowhere to run, Border Collies may well become aggressive. The countryside, with all the work as well as freedom it offers, is the best place for these dogs.

Collies are a hardy, healthy breed without specific genetic problems, with an average life expectancy of 12-14 years.