His bloodlines all trace back to the early registered dogs of the studbook, and to J. M. Wilson's Cap, whose name occurs 16 times within seven generations in his pedigree.

[10] In the late 1890s James Lilico[11] (1861?–1945) of Christchurch, New Zealand, imported a number of working dogs from the United Kingdom.

His father supplied Noble to the late Queen Victoria and it was from our subject that the McLeod got Hindhope Jed, now the champion of New Zealand and Australia.

1855, Murrumbidgee, NSW), his brother and Alec McLeod at Canonbar, near Nyngan (north-west of Sydney), brought Hindhope Jed to Australia, where she enjoyed considerable success at sheepdog trials.

Border Collies are, on average, medium-sized dogs with a moderate amount of coat, which is often thick and prone to shedding.

Kennel clubs specify, for example, that the Border Collie must have a "keen and intelligent" expression, and that the preferred eye colour is dark brown.

In deference to the dog's working origin, scars and broken teeth received in the line of duty are not to be counted against a Border Collie in the show ring.

[19] A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.1 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

[20] Leading causes of death in a 2004 Kennel Club survey were cancer (23.6%), old age (17.9%) and cerebral vascular afflictions (9.4%).

[24] These dogs have a normal auditory brainstem response test as pups but gradually lose their hearing some time between one and eight years of age.

The American Border Collie Association's Health & Education Foundation (ABCA HEF) is supporting research into the genetic causes of this disease.

[25] Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a rare but serious disease that is limited to show Border Collies.

NCL results in severe neurological impairment and early death; afflicted dogs rarely survive beyond two years of age.

The mutation causing the form of the disease found in Border Collies was identified by Scott Melville in the laboratory of Alan Wilton of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales.

TNS was identified by Jeremy Shearman in the laboratory of Alan Wilton of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales.

[27] Other diseases found less commonly include juvenile cataracts, osteochondritis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and canine cyclic neutropaenia, carpal soft-tissue injury.

Border Collie Collapse seems to be related to high-intensity exercises that are found to be particularly exciting to the individual dog.

For example, some dogs cannot retrieve a tennis ball, as they find this activity highly stimulating, but can run for several miles with no symptoms of Border Collie Collapse.

[30] A study in the UK looking at clinical records found the Border Collie to have the highest prevalence of hepatic neoplasia.

[33] There are two types of tests, or standards, to determine the breeding quality of a Border Collie: the original ISDS sheepdog trial and appearance.

[34] For a national competition, normally held between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, trials run over a 400-yard course.

[34][36] Sheepdogs must be directed through obstacles at varying distance from the handler, and then the dog must demonstrate the ability to do work close at hand by penning the sheep and sorting them out.

In Australia, Border Collies are registered with an Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) affiliated state control body or with a working dog registry.

[44] Inclusion on the ANKC affiliate's main register allows Border Collies to compete in conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, disc dog, herding and other ANKC-sanctioned events held by an ANKC affiliated club, while inclusion on the limited register prohibits entry in conformation events.

Recently, the Canadian Kennel Club has polled its members to decide if Border Collies should be included on the CKC "Miscellaneous List".

The Border Collie breed is also recognised as the prime sheepdog by the International Stock Dog Federation (ISDF),[47] based in Piccadilly, London, UK.

[48] Working Border Collies can take direction by voice and by whistle at long distances when herding.

They are also used to remove unwanted wild birds from airport runways, golf courses, and other public and private areas.

[50] These competitions enable farmers and shepherds to evaluate possible mates for their working dogs, but they have developed a sport aspect as well, with competitors from outside the farming community also taking part.