The border collie is, according to experiments like Stanley Coren’s on the dog brain and its capabilities, the most intelligent breed in the world. This great intelligence and learning capacity is linked to a strong need for exercise, a restless character and loyalty to their humans.
Its origin appears to be in the British Isles, although it is not known for sure, as it must have been there for a long time. As a curiosity, it is said that the word “collie” can come from “colly”, an English dialect word that means “black like coal”, or from the Gaelic word “culean”, which would mean herding dog.
The border collie is in fact, in its origins, a herding and working dog, a great helper and companion of the man who works in the fields. His great capacity for observation and his speed of learning seem to come from that past and have survived to this day. It is a faithful dog and very sensitive to humans, thanks to its being a natural observer. However, it is restless and very active and it is one of the breeds that needs the most time and dedication, to release all that energy they have through exercise.
It lives very well with other animals and with all members of the family, since it is a respectful and balanced animal (as long as it is well educated and has its dose of exercise). He is also sociable and playful, so he will have no problem sharing his home and family with another dog; the other way around, you will enjoy it.
As a curiosity, the story of Chaser is interesting, a border collie dog who in 2011 recognized more than a thousand words and knew how to identify each of her 20 toys by name and take it out of the pile. Also of the same breed was Rico, another dog that was able to identify 200 words. So it does seem that they are the most intelligent dogs in the world, in terms of breeds.
This faithful, awake and active dog is the perfect companion for people who love sports and long walks, and who want a loyal and equally restless friend. Do you want to know more about this great breed?
