Border Collie

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Basic Information

Origin
United Kingdom and Ireland
Breed Group
Herding
Popularity
#38
Coat
Dense,Harsh and Rough,Medium
Color
Black,Blue,Brindle,Gray,Red
Weight
25 - 35 Pounds
Height
14 - 16 Inches

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Introduction

The Border Collie is one of the most intelligent dogs on the planet, ranking number one out of seventy-nine other breeds. For generations, the Border Collie has worked alongside shepherds both here in the UK and elsewhere in the world and they are highly prized for being supreme working and companion dogs for people who lead outdoor lives.

Known to be the finest herding dog on the planet, Border collies are athletic and energetic characters that like nothing better than being given things to do, even in a home environment. Interestingly, all modern day Border Collies are direct descendants of one tri-colour dog called Old Hemp, a Border Collie bred by Adam Telfer that gained himself the reputation of being supremely good at the job he was bred to do.

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History

As their name suggests, the Border Collie originates in the county of Northumberland on the Scottish Borders. They were bred to be herding dogs and more especially, to work with shepherds and flocks of sheep. Their name was first used in 1915 when James Reid, the Secretary of the International Sheep Dog Society registered these dogs as Border Collies so they could be differentiated from other collie breeds already registered on his list.

Border Collies have worked with shepherds on the border between England and Scotland for hundreds of years and were highly prized for their intelligence and ability to work in challenging environments. It was not until the end of the 19th century that the breed became very popular after dogs were exhibited at the first ever sheep dog trials held in 1873 in Wales. A dog called Old Hemp won top prize all thanks to his intelligence and the way he worked sheep. He went on to win many top competitions around the country and to sire many of the best Border Collies around at the time. As previously mentioned, all modern Border Collies are descendants of Old Hemp.

Today, Border Collies can be found working in many other countries of the world and they are also a popular choice as companion dogs and family pets thanks to their lovely, honest and energetic natures. The Border Collie is renowned for their willingness to work alongside people which is another reason why the breed is considered being one of the most popular working dogs on the planet.

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