The Border Collie (English: Border Collie) is a herding dog originally from the border area between Scotland and England, mainly assisting farms with herding, hence the name “herding dog.” The Border Collie is known for its high energy and ease of learning trick sports, and it is regarded by academia as the smartest dog breed.
　　Border Collies make up the majority of herding dog breeds worldwide. Herding regions prefer using Border Collies to help with livestock, making them very popular in pastoral areas. Some places keep them not because of herding needs but for their characteristics. Border Collies have appeared on the big screen as herding dogs, which made them more widely known in many countries; they are common in regions requiring livestock herding such as Japan, Australia, and Taiwan.
　　Origin and History
　　The Border Collie originates from the UK. Their ancestors are the Collie herding dogs from the England-Scotland border area, belonging to the Collie breed group. Border Collies have long lived along the Scotland-England border and are a very ancient dog breed. They have served as herding dogs for many years, thus possessing strong herding instincts. They are naturally intelligent, perceptive, and can accurately understand the owner’s commands, using different gazes combined with complex herding strategies to move or steer sheep, making them excellent herding dogs.
　　Border Collies have a “gaze control” ability discovered and trained by shepherds on the Scotland and Ireland border. The breed was officially named Border Collie in 1915, registered as a distinct breed by the UK's KC in 1976, and recognized by the American AKC in 1995.
　　Researchers studying over a hundred dog breeds found that Border Collies rank first in intelligence among dog breeds, equivalent to the intelligence of a five-year-old child, making them very smart dogs.
　　Personality
　　Border Collies are intelligent and sensitive. Although very smart, they require proper training from their owners to become stable and outstanding; they are agile and can be trained to catch flying discs and often serve as agility dogs. This allows them not only to exercise fully but also to satisfy their need for such sports. When training them for outdoor activities, it’s important to choose appropriate locations—preferably grassy or safe areas to avoid injuries—because they are a classic workaholic breed. Once they receive a command, they will complete it before stopping, even if injured. Most Border Collies have a strong searching instinct, so if there is no danger, it’s best not to stop them but let them follow their instincts to prevent losing their natural ability. When Border Collies interact with children, adults should accompany them nearby.
　　Health and Diseases
　　Border Collies require regular grooming of their coats; they need proper training and moderate exercise because they require plenty of space to be active. They are less suitable for urban living unless there is a large space available for activity.