The Border collie dog breed is a herding/working dog breed. Of all the major working breeds in the world, the Border Collie Breed has perhaps stayed closest to its roots. Border Collies still herd livestock just as they were bred to do centuries ago. These collies are particularly well suited to work on challenging terrain for relatively long periods. Athletic and agile, even the most pampered Border Collie still needs the opportunity to get his or her paws dirty with a few challenging activities. Here are the characteristics of the Border collie breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

Border collie’s Behaviour

Recommended for: House pet, handling livestock, outdoors. Given the breed's nature, Border Collies are probably not well suited to apartment living.

Border Collies generally have boundless energy. As with many working dogs, they really crave challenging physical activity and need plenty of outdoor time. The Border collie breed is also known for being affectionate with family. The collies may seem guarded with strangers. After all, their ancestors were bred for centuries to look after farm animals. Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behaviour. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.