Border Collie

The Border Collie is still seen performing the task for which it was bred, working sheep (and cattle) and its fitness for function is seen in its speed, its innate herding instinct and its stealthy gait and carriage.

The name derives from the border regions of England, Scotland and Wales where he originally showed his worth, working sheep in the hills and mountains. His intelligence, speed and versatility have brought the Border Collie success in many canine activities such as obedience, agility and as a sniffer dog for detecting explosives and drugs. In relatively recent times the breed has become highly popular in the show ring. The natural activity and intelligence of the Border Collie means that he needs to be engaged to lead a fulfilled life.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Pastoral breed group

The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.

Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Black & White
Black Tricolour
Black White & Tan
Blue & White
Blue Merle
Blue Merle & Tan
Blue Merle & White
Blue Sable
Blue Sable & White
Blue Tricolour
Blue Tricolour Merle
Blue White & Tan
Brown & White
Brown Merle
Sable
Brown Merle & White
Brown Sable
Brown Sable & White
Brown Tricolour
Brown Tricolour Merle
Brown White & Tan
Chocolate & White
Cream
Gold
Gold & White
Gold Merle & White
Gold Sable
Gold Sable & White
Lilac
Lilac & White
Lilac Merle
Lilac Merle & White
Lilac Tricolour
Lilac Tricolour Merle
Red & White
Red Merle & White
Red Tricolour
Red Tricolour Merle
Red White & Tan
Sable & White
Sable Blue Merle
Sable Merle
Sable Merle & White
Seal
Seal & White
Slate
Slate & White
Slate Merle
Slate Merle & White
Slate Tricolour Merle

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you're considering buying a Border Collie puppy or breeding from your dog, it's important to understand the health issues that may affect the breed and how they can be managed or avoided.

Pre-breeding Health Screening

Good Practice schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that breeders, at a minimum, conduct these tests before breeding, as evidence indicates these conditions are a significant concern in the breed.

Eye testing (and gonioscopy for PLA) using the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme

Best Practice schemes and tests

These tests address conditions that are still significant for the breed, though they may not be as critical as those listed under Good Practice. They might be less common or newly identified, and research is ongoing to determine their full impact.

To support the breed’s health, responsible breeders should ensure they complete all tests in both categories. Following our Best Practice guidelines means completing both the Good Practice and Best Practice tests for your breed.

DNA test for Collie eye anomaly/ choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH)
DNA test for Ceroid lipofuscinosis (CL))
DNA test for Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome (IGS))
DNA test for Multi-drug resistance (MDR1))
DNA test for Trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS))
DNA test for Sensory neuropathy (SN)
DNA test for Severe goniodysgenesis & glaucoma risk (gonio) (GGD)
DNA test for Raine’s syndrome
Elbow testing (for elbow dysplasia) using the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
Hearing testing (for deafness) using the KC BAER Scheme (including litter screening)
Hip testing (for hip dysplasia) using the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

DNA Testing Services

To support your health testing journey, we provide our tailored Border Collie Breed-Specific Package (with DNA profile included). Giving you the information you need about potential health risks, this package includes screening for Collie eye anomaly/Choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH), Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome/Cobalamin malabsorption (IGS), Multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), Ceroid lipofuscinosis (CL), Sensory neuropathy (SN), Severe goniodysgenesis & Glaucoma risk (gonio), Trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS), Dental hypomineralisation/Raine’s syndrome (Raine’s synd) and DNA Profile (SNP - ISAG 2020).

9 essential tests valued at £555 for just £150, that screen for multiple conditions at once, saving you time and providing vital health information.

Breed Health & Conservation Plan

The Breed Health and Conservation Plans

Our breed health and conservations plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.

Working together for the breed

We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.

The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team.

Health (The Kennel Club)

More about health

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club breed standard.