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Border Collie

The Border Collie is a medium-sized herding dog from Great Britain, built for endurance and hard work. Its breed standard describes a keen, alert, responsive and intelligent dog that is neither nervous nor aggressive.

Kennel clubs and vets agree on one thing above all: this is a very high-energy breed. It needs more than two hours of exercise every day and plenty to think about. When it is bored or under-exercised it finds its own jobs — chewing whatever is in reach, or trying to herd children at play.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Border Collie, Black and white — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — The Royal Kennel Club S5
Adult weight
13.6–24.9 kg — American Kennel Club S4; 25–30 kg — PDSA S7
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S5
Lifespan
median 13.1 years — Dogs Trust S15; more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S5

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • an active familyS4S5

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS5S7
  • needs mental challengesS4
  • may “herd” children at playS4S7
  • chews things when boredS7

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S5

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: moderately long or smooth (short) — FCI S1

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: median 13.1 years — Dogs Trust S15
  • Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S5

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • Height at the withers: males 53 cm — FCI S1
  • Height at the withers: males 48.3–55.9 cm, females 45.7–53.3 cm — AKC standard S3
  • Adult weight: 13.6–24.9 kg — American Kennel Club S4
  • Adult weight: 25–30 kg — PDSA S7

Training

  • No. 1 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Psychology Today S34
  • FCI standard no. 297, group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs); origin: Great Britain. — FCI S2

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Border Collie need?

According to our sources, the Border Collie needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S5.

How long does a Border Collie live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Border Collie is: median 13.1 years — Dogs Trust S15; more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S5. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Border Collie get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Border Collie, according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S5; Adult weight: 13.6–24.9 kg — American Kennel Club S4; 25–30 kg — PDSA S7.

How much grooming does a Border Collie need?

Coat and grooming of the Border Collie, according to our sources: moderately long or smooth (short) — FCI S1.

Who is the Border Collie a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Border Collie as a good fit for: an active family — American Kennel Club, The Royal Kennel Club S4S5. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S5S7; needs mental challenges — American Kennel Club S4; may “herd” children at play — American Kennel Club, PDSA S4S7; chews things when bored — PDSA S7.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 118 (9.8 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 118 (9.8 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — The Royal Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Psychology Today, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S5S14S18S19S21S24S34S35S45

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

Our sources do not include breed-specific health information for this breed yet.

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S5

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for collie eye anomaly (CEA/CH) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for ceroid lipofuscinosis (CL) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome (IGS) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for multi-drug sensitivity (MDR1) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for sensory neuropathy (SN) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for goniodysgenesis and glaucoma risk (GGD) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • DNA test for Raine's syndrome — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • Hearing test for deafness (BAER) — The Royal Kennel Club S5
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S5

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S1FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) — FCI-Standard N° 297 — Border Collie (valid standard 24.06.1987, EN version)https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/297g01-en.pdf
  2. S2FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Border Collie (297)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/BORDER-COLLIE-297.html
  3. S3AKC standard, hosted by the Border Collie Society of America — AKC Standard for the Border Collie (approved April 21, 2015)https://www.bordercolliesociety.com/breed-info
  4. S4American Kennel Club (akc.org) — M. Erickson, 2026-08-18 — Is a Border Collie Right for You?https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/border-collie-right-for-you/
  5. S5The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Border Colliehttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/border-collie
  6. S7PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Border Collie breed informationhttps://pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/border-collie
  7. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  8. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  9. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  10. S15Dogs Trust (UK) — Longevity of UK dog breeds — research (summary of McMillan et al. 2024, Sci Rep, doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w)https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/research-expertise/longevity-dog-breeds
  11. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  12. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  13. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  14. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  15. S34Psychology Today — Stanley Coren, 2009-07-15 — Canine Intelligence — Breed Does Matterhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/200907/canine-intelligence-breed-does-matter
  16. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  17. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  18. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  19. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  20. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  21. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  22. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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