Origins
The Border Collie has its origins in the regions of Scotland, Wales and England, in the late 19th century. They were acknowledged as the best herders in the world, really intelligent and responsive. They were bred for working and later on as pets.

Appearance
The Border Collie belongs to the medium dog breed category, with a height of 18-22 cm at the withers and weighting about 13-20 kg. The coat is doubled but moderate, sometimes lushy and slick, with colors varying from a combination of black and white to tan, red, blue, red merle, lilac, brindle. The most usual coat color is considered to be black and white, and sometimes brownish patches in the face area. The face presents dark brown or blue eyes, pointy erected ears, a long and sharp muzzle, ending in a round black nose. The musculoskeletal structure is long and well built, with long legs and steady paws.

Grooming
The Border Collie is a medium seasonal shedder: twice a year he sheds heavily but in the rest of the time it’s normal, but all these facts depend on the coat length. The grooming process should be done weekly, mainly brushing the coat to remove the dead hair. In the shedding season periods, an extra grooming attention is required.

Health Facts
The Border Collie has a lifespan of about 12-15 years. This breed can be affected by various health issues, ranging from eye problems (cataracts, collie eye anomaly – CEA), musculoskeletal problems (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia – osteochondritis), allergies, hearing problems (even deafness), neurologic problems (NCL – neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, seizures), somatic problems (TNS – trapped neutrophil syndrome: it causes immune system deficiency).

Temperament and Lifestyle
The Border Collie is one of the most intelligent dog breeds existing right now. They respond really well to human commands and they have a high level of agility and energy, needing constant exercising and long walks. Besides being an excellent and determined working stock dog, the Border Collie is also used in many dog agility competitions. This breed behaves really well amongs other pets (even if they tend to herd things and people around) and older children, but some dog owners might not achieve the standard requirements for this breed.