The Border Collie is a medium sized dog breed in the Herding Group. Border Collies are famous for their herding skills, and today they are still extremely active in livestock fields and farms around the world. Border Collies have a wonderful personality, and these are one of the most high energy dogs out of all breeds. Border Collies were approved by the AKC in 2004.
Border Collies are medium sized dogs without extreme physical characteristics. Border collies have a moderate amount of coat. Their double coats can be anywhere from slick to lush, and can come in many colors.
Border Collies are a smart, biddable dog breed with an instinctive desire to work closely and intensely with a human handler. Although the primary role of the Border Collie is that of the working stock dog, dogs of this breed are becoming increasingly popular as pets.
Working Border Collies can take direction by voice and by whistle at long distances. Border Collies' great energy and herding instincts are still used to herd all kinds of animals, from the traditional sheep and cattle, free range poultry, pigs, and ostriches.
Hip Dysplasia, Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), and epilepsy are considered the primary genetic diseases of concern for Border Collies at this time. Border Collies are also affected by elbow Dysplasia or Osteochondritis, deafness, and hypothyroidism.
In the United States, the majority of Border Collies are registered with the American Border Collie Association, which is dedicated to the preservation of the working dog. Historically, there were two other working centric registries, The North American Sheep Dog Society and the American International Border Collie Association.