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10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Border Collie

border collie

The border collie is the world’s best herding dog, at least according to those who love border collies (and just about everyone else).  These great dogs are so friendly, adaptable and wonderful and they make great pets for just about anyone. These pets are so friendly and they are so lovable, but they have a tremendous amount of energy. People believe as a whole that border collies are animals that can be very happy indoors, but they do need frequent exercise and they love a job. A bored border collie might be a terrible idea if you’re not home often. Not all dogs will do anything inappropriate when bored, but some will and that could end up making you very unhappy. If you’re considering a border collie for your family, you might be interested in knowing a few interesting facts about this amazing breed. It’s going to make you love it even more than you already love this pretty dog.

They’re Great Actors

Take a look back at some of your favorite movies and television shows and see if you can spot all the collies in these. This is because the breed is use often to make movies and shows because it is such a smart dog that follows instruction so well. These dogs like to work, so giving them a job, even as an actor or actress is a great task for these animals. It’s made them pretty famous, in fact.

They’re Record Holders

A border collie in Hungary holds the record for being the fastest dog in the world to open a car window, which is a feat that is quite impressive. And we aren’t talking about a regular car window, either. We are talking about the kind you have to manually roll down with a lever and your hands – something our kids will never, ever understand as they grow up.

Recognition Didn’t Come Quickly

It wasn’t until 1995 that the AKC recognized this breed. Some assume that the AKC is being a bit snotty for this, but it was actually breeders. These are working dogs. The AKC is for show dogs, and breeders were concerned that breeding dogs that are beautiful and show well was going to compromise the integrity of the breed. It wasn’t until they realized they could do this without making any compromises that they decided to go ahead and make sure the dog was recognized.

All Border Collies Come from One Dog

Not many breeds can find one dog that they’re all related to in some way, but this breed can do just that. Old Hemp is the name of the dog that all the border collies in the world can be traced back to. He was a dog that began herding at only 6 weeks back in 1893. He’s the father to the entire breed, and he’s a very famous dog because of that job.

Wiston Cap is Also Famous

This is the name of another collie born in the 1960s that managed to sire more pups than any other dog in the history of the breed. He’s not the father of the breed, but he is the father of many of the breed, which is an interesting fact that is worth knowing and worth paying attention to. It’s a breed that you can just tell has some seriously good genes, am I right?

They’re Smarter than You

If you want to successfully raise this breed, it’s going to be in your best interest to always been on the lookout. The moment this breed decides you are not paying as much attention as you can is the moment the dog is going to outsmart you. It’s a very smart, highly intelligent breed that can make anyone feel a bit silly if they’re not on their “A” game all the time.

They’re Smarter than All Dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, the border collie is considered the most intelligent breed of dog in the world. That’s why you have to watch out with this dog. It will trick you, deal with you and even outsmart you as often as it would like, and you might not even realize it until it is too late. This is a dog that really does need a job and frequent attention if you’re going to keep it from becoming destructive and crazed.

They Have Other Jobs

They’re primary job is herding, and they’re exceptional in this position. However, the border collie is a dog that also does other jobs quite well, and it’s because they’re so smart. These are often used as therapy dogs and dogs that alert others to health conditions such as seizures. They’re very wonderful with people and they’re very good at work, so they do well in situations like this.

The Name Does Mean Something

This is a dog that originated from a very specific location; the border of Wales, Scotland and England, and that’s where it got its name. Some like to joke that this is a dog that must have come from Cambridge or some other place of that nature because it’s so smart, but it really did not. It’s a dog that came from the border, and that’s where it got its fun name. it was always a working dog, and it likes to be at work no matter what.

Sorry Lassie

Many people assume that the world’s most famous collie was a border, but Lassie was actually a breed called a Rough Collie. There are many collie breeds, and it’s often surprising to people that Lassie was not part of this family, even though they like to think that he was. I suppose it’s close enough, but the dog is not a full on border collie, which technically means it’s not a border collie. The good news, however, is that this does not make us love Lassie any less. After all, Lassie is one of the most famous dogs in the world, and one of the most beloved dogs in the world.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

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