List of Border Collies

Border Collies are highly intelligent dogs that were bred to gather and herd livestock. They understand their job so well and have such a high drive to constantly work that trained Border Collies will work without the presence of their owners. Border Collies are distinguished largely by their coloring and markings.

  1. Colors

    • The most common color combination among Border Collies is black and white. Tan ranging from beige to a semi-dark red in conjunction with a white-and-black coat is also commonly seen. Brown-and-white Border Collies give this breed a distinct appearance because the brown is sometimes a reddish-orange shade. Tan-and-white Border Collies are less common and sometimes confused with crossbreeds. However, this tan color, which is called sable in Border Collies, combined with white can still signify a pure Border Collie.

    Blue and Red Merle

    • Blue and red merle fur is a combination of white and another color fur that is closely blended together instead of in large, separate patches. Border Collies with blue or red merle are often mistaken for Australian Shepherds, but keep in mind that Border Collies have tails and most Australian Shepherds do not. Another way to determine the difference between the two breeds is to analyze body shapes: Australian Shepherds have a wider head and stockier build.

    Ears

    • Border Collie ears are either erect, semi-erect or entirely tipped forward. Semi-erect ears stand tall with the tips flapped slightly over the front. Ears that are entirely tipped forward are called "tag ears." Border Collie ears are set far apart on the top of the head. The cartilage is soft, which allows the ears to move easily or flop around when the dog runs.

    Eyes

    • Border Collie eyes range from dark brown to light brown to blue. A Border Collie with a dark coat is likely to have darker-brown eyes compared to a Border Collie with a sable coat. A light-brown eye is considered amber colored, which is common for dogs with reddish coats. In rare cases, Border Collies have blue, green or gray eyes, and in even more exceptional cases, each eye may be a different color.