Border Collie

1. They Are Extremely Smart Dogs

We cannot talk about the Border Collie without talking about his intelligence. Dog experts widely agree that the Border Collie is an intelligent workaholic. They are capable of learning a remarkable number of words and commands, and they are happiest when they are put to work every day.

2. Their Name Comes From Their Home Region

The Border Collie was originally developed in Scotland and thrived in the region on the border of Scotland and England. The word "collie" is a Scotch word used to describe sheepdogs. Because this breed flourished in the border region, it was christened the "Border Collie."

3. They Are Champion Herders

Border Collies were originally bred to herd sheep. They excel at the task because of their strength, stamina, intelligence, and work ethic. Border Collies are famous for using "the eye"— staring intensely at members of the flock to intimidate them. When the earliest recorded sheepdog trial took place at Bala, Wales, in 1873, the crowd was astonished that the Border Collies were able to herd sheep into a small pen, guided only by hand signals and whistles from their owners.

4. Queen Victoria Loved Them

Queen Victoria was a true dog lover who took a liking to many breeds, but in the early 1860s she became an active Border Collie enthusiast. At this time, the Border Collie began to separate and become distinguished from the modern Collie.

5. One Was Featured in Scottish Poetry

The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns (If you don't know him, think: "The best laid schemes of mice and men . . .") owned a Border Collie named Luath that he loved dearly. Luath's tragic death inspired one of Burns' best poems, "The Twa Dogs," which captured the special bond between dog and man. Multiple statues of Robert Burns include Luath right by his side.

6. They've Broken All Kinds of Records

A Border Collie named Chaser has been widely recognized as the world's most intelligent dog; she knows the names of more than 1,000 objects. Another Border Collie, named Jumpy, holds a Guinness World Record for dog skateboarding: 100 meters in less than 20 seconds. Striker, a Border Collie from Quebéc City, set the canine record for rolling down a manual car window. In 2008, a Border Collie-mix named Sweet Pea set a record for dog balancing; she balanced a can on her head and walked 100 meters in only 2 minutes and 55 seconds.

7. They Make Great Actors

Border Collies have been cast in many films and TV shows. The film "Babe" — about a little pig that defies the odds and becomes a sheepherder — features Border Collies, as actors and as herders. Border Collies have also been cast in the movies "Animal Farm" and "Snow Dogs," and in the hit '90s television series, "Mad About You."

8. They Make Great Search and Rescue Dogs

In addition to herding, another common job for Border Collies is search and rescue. A Border Collie named Blitz recently saved a 51-year-old woman's life in England. The woman had been missing for more than one day when Jess Ellsmore, a volunteer search and

9. Border Collies Can Be Official Goose Masters

Border Collies have all kinds of jobs, but one career you probably haven't heard of is "goose master." One Florida company trains Border Collies to keep geese off people's property. The University of North Florida hired a Border Collie named Bee to be the goose master for their campus. Bee keeps geese away from high-traffic areas.

10. Lots of Celebrities Have Owned Border Collies

Queen Victoria and Robert Burns are not the only famous people to have owned Border Collies. James Dean, Anna Paquin, Bon Jovi, Ethan Hawke, James Franco, and Tiger Woods have all owned Border Collies.