Should I get a Border Collie? This quiz helps you answer that in a couple of minutes by checking your schedule, home and lifestyle against what the breed needs. Border Collies are amazing dogs and wonderful pets, but they aren’t a match for everyone. They need lots of daily exercise, attention and training, and when they don’t get it, it shows.
Take the Border Collie quiz below, then read on for what the questions are really testing and what to do with your result.
What a Border Collie Quiz Is Really Asking
Whatever the exact wording, a Border Collie quiz comes down to a handful of things that decide whether the breed will thrive with you.
- Do you have about two hours a day for exercise and brain work?
- Are you already active, or would a dog have to drag you out the door?
- Will you keep training for the dog’s whole life, not just through puppy classes?
- How long would the dog be alone each day, and with what to do?
- Can you get your dog out for daily runs and off-leash time? That matters more than a yard or square footage.
- Is there anyone at home, like toddlers or a cat, who might get herded or nipped?
Should I Get a Border Collie? Signs You’re a Good Match
A Border Collie is likely a good fit if most of these sound like you:
- You’re outdoors every day and want a dog to join you.
- You enjoy teaching a dog new things and see training as fun, not a chore.
- You’re home a good part of the day, or can pay for a dog walker or daycare.
- You like the idea of a dog sport such as agility, flyball, disc or herding.
- You want a dog that bonds closely and wants to be involved in everything you do.
If that’s you, the breed’s drive and intelligence will feel like a gift. Our page on Border Collie temperament describes what daily life with one is really like.
Signs a Border Collie May Not Fit Your Life Right Now
Be honest with yourself here. These are the situations where Border Collies tend to struggle:
- You want a dog that’s content with one short walk a day.
- You work long hours away from home and have no help.
- You have a busy household with toddlers and little time to supervise.
- You’re not interested in ongoing training.
- Your lease or building doesn’t allow a medium-sized, active dog.
None of this means you can never have one. It may just mean “not yet,” or that an older, calmer dog would suit you better than a puppy.
What to Do After the Quiz
Your result is a starting point, not a verdict. Use it to decide what to look into next.
If you’re new to dogs, read whether Border Collies are good for first-time owners. If you live in a flat, see how a Border Collie can live in an apartment. To understand the daily commitment, check how much exercise a Border Collie needs.
If you’re ready to move ahead, our guide to adopting a Border Collie walks you through the first weeks, and you can search for Border Collie rescues by state. Rescues often know their dogs’ energy levels well and can match you with one that fits your life.
Border Collie Quiz FAQ
Is a Border Collie Right for Me if I Work Full Time?
It can be, but only with a plan. A full-time worker needs a long walk before work, a midday break from a dog walker, daycare or neighbor, and real exercise and training in the evening. Without that help, a Border Collie left alone all day often becomes bored and destructive.
Is a Border Collie a Good Choice for a First Dog?
It’s a challenging first dog. Border Collies need more exercise, training and structure than most breeds, and they pick up bad habits quickly. Active first-time owners who are willing to learn can do well, especially with an adult rescue whose personality is already known.
How Much Time Does a Border Collie Need Each Day?
Plan on about two hours a day of exercise and mental work combined, plus time for grooming and calm rest. Some Border Collies need more and some a bit less, depending on age and energy level. Mental work like training and puzzle toys counts, and it tires them out quickly.
What Dog Is Right for Me if a Border Collie Isn’t?
If the quiz suggests a Border Collie isn’t a good fit, look at breeds or mixes known for lower energy, or an adult shelter dog whose temperament is already known. Shelters and rescues can tell you how a dog acts at home. If you like herding breeds, read about the Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd, though both are high energy.
How Big Do Border Collies Get?
Border Collies are medium-sized dogs. Most adults weigh about 12 to 25 kg (26 to 55 lb), with males usually larger than females, according to Wikipedia’s Border Collie article. Check that size against any weight limits in your lease before you commit.
My boarder is 14 months now . Yes I know he’s a collie lol . But any advice to take the chassing out of him he a good recall but easily distracted to birds . Iv tried everything for 10 months now . Help would be appreciated. I have had collies befor. Thanks
Hey Clive, Maverick is a beautiful border collie. I saw your post on my facebook page! Can you be more specific about your issue? Are you saying he can’t stop chasing birds when he is off or on leash? You can’t really “take” away his desire to chase birds, but you can train him to ignore them. Here’s a couple good reads that you might be able to pull some nuggets from: http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/topic/1491-help-bc-killing-chickens/ and http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/topic/40219-chasing-birds/
Hay not to be mean so don’t take this the Rong way but border collies are hurding dogs so with out lots (and I mean lots) of exercise it’s physically impossible
I love my dog to by so cute
( border collie)
Yes they are very cute 😀
I have Owen a border collie. This dog was like a human. I lost him from parvel. I loved my dog.
Thanks
Pat
Aw, Pat. I’m sorry to hear that
REALLY LOVE THIS DOG
I do too 😀
I was lucky enough to have my shepherd border collie mix for 13 years. He was a certified therapy dog and worked with me at the hospital for most of his life. Dutch was like a miniature human. He was smart, quirky, fund and serious. I will never have another dog with such a great personality….
Aw, Dutch sounds like he was a great dog. Collies are truly like little miniature humans with their own unique personalities!
I have a border collie, he is so cute and sweet, he will listen to me when training, he is very obedient for me however when my husband and I are driving and he gets frightened he tries to get to my husband who is driving, he will not allow me to console him he gets aggressive and attacks me and bites me how do I get him to trust me enough to comfort him as well?
Hi Donna, have you considered that he might be scared in the car? If it is an issue then you should try putting him in his crate in the car or just don’t bring him along at all. I think it takes a lot of time, patience, and work to get him to trust you once he is fight or flight mode. I have a hard time with it as well, so I just do what I can to avoid putting my bc in those kinds of situations.
Hi Austin, thanks for your brilliant posts, just what I had been looking for. We have a 19mth old border collie Yogi Bear and his pet hate is joggers, if he sees them in the park he chases after them trying to nip them. so therefore we now walk him on a long leash which is a shame as we cant play catch or let him run free, but the puzzling thing is on the leash he doesnt bother them at all he just ignores them and carries on sniffing or whatever .
Very interesting, Terrie! My pup seems to hate anything that moves on wheels LOL. Bikes, scooters, skateboards, you name it.
I love border collies and I have just persuaded my mum and dad that it is a good idea to get one. Any tips for looking after it?
Read the articles on this site!
I might be getting a border collie soon… and I am totally able to care for it, and look forward to doing agility, disc, rally, etc. But i also go to school, and even though I will be getting him/her in the summer, I’m worried about separation anxiety or destructive behavior. Have any tips?
My current dog is a border/golden mix.
I have a chocolate brown and white Border Collie named Coco,
Vanilla and white Border Collie named Bear,
and a black and white Border Collie named Amy.
I’m also getting a Blue Merle Border Collie.
They’re just the best breed ever!
Yay!
My Border Collie, “Magraw” is a beautiful black and white, and is undoubtedly the smartest pet / companion I have ever owned!!!
When I was growing up my parents were always very fond of German Shepards. Having had a lot of experience with both breeds, I wouldn’t trade my BC for a whole pack of Shepard’s.
I have a 14 month border. She is a lot of fun, we play frisbee every morning, long walk in the afternoon, and she has an lighted harness that we put on her at dark. We let her run while we follow. We live at the beach so there is little traffic, she runs full out till we get home. The only issue is that she will growl and bark and try to attack any other dog nearby when she is on leash. It makes some walks a challenge. How do we solve this?
That’s her trying to herd the other dogs. It’s in her blood and it just takes time and training to work out of her. Honestly, mine still does it sometimes too. There are a lot of articles on the border collie forums about it. boards.bordercollie.org
Guess I persevere! Odin is a male BC. He improved a bit today. Counting small blessings! Thanks for responding.
🙂
Hurding
Dear Austin,
I need some advice! I’m a 12 year old and my dream dog is a border collie. I have decided to save up! However, due to school I will have to leave it with my parents some days. I am generally active. I’m really wondering if I should get this dog and really need some advice!!!!
Hi, I am getting a dog soon but i don’t know what to choose should i get a border collie? or no, I have never had a dog before
Probably not
i have never had a dog before so should i get a collie?
Probably not
no joke! I have been wanting one for the past… 4 years! my dad wont let me 🙁 even though I am 16.😠 yeah I need to SOMEHOW get him to say yes! thank you so much for this quiz!
BC’s take work, but it’s very rewarding
I have a beuatiful chocolate BC that is 9wkes old. He is befond biting! My arms and hands are a mess and he doesn’t respond well to “ouch”. Any ideas? He is a beautiful handfull!
Thanks
It takes time to train them out of it, but it seems like they will never fully go away. It’s in their blood.
hi, so I’ve been thinking about asking for a dog for Christmas and I have taken a bunch of tests based on me and the house anyway that mainly all said border collie and that is also my favorite breed I was just wondering if you think it would get along with our ragdoll cat if It doesn’t like cats though
-Sophia
You just have to train your dog to get along with your cat. We have our bc mix and two cats. They all get along fine, but we had to take weeks to introduce them slowly so that they got used to each other. Don’t put them in the room together when you first get them. It will not end well.
Hello! I am thinking of getting a border collie but afraid of its Health issues , as it seems like its poor… I’m very concerned about its future since i’ve read many articles about this topic. Please inform me about the health issues that might be more concerning and how can i help my dog to cope with them.
Mine is 12 and has never had a single issue! It really just depends on the dog. I don’t think you should rule out an entire breed just because of that. All dogs get health issues over time, just like humans or any other animal.