Irish Sheepdogs Breed

Border Collie Ireland

Irish sheepdogs typically come from the Collie breed, renowned for their intelligence and strong herding instincts. These traits make them ideal companions for farmers. Across Ireland’s sheep-farming community, top Collie sheepdogs earn high regard for their quick thinking and responsiveness, reacting instantly to their master’s verbal commands and whistles.

Farmers have bred Border Collies for hundreds of years with a single goal in mind: improving their herding ability. As a result, these high-drive, high-energy dogs move faster than the speed of gossip. They combine brains, instinct, and endurance to tackle nearly any task — and excel at it. Border Collies work tirelessly from morning until night, earning their place as the backbone of the herding world. These brilliant dogs play a vital role in Ireland’s agricultural heritage.

Smartest Dog Breed

People widely consider Border Collies the smartest dog breed. They learn new commands in fewer than five repetitions and perform them correctly about 95% of the time. They solve problems, understand complex tasks, and excel at herding — the very purpose for which farmers bred them. Their high intelligence also means they need consistent stimulation and exercise to stay happy and healthy.

Border Collie Looks

Because breeders have traditionally focused on working ability rather than physical appearance, Border Collies now display a remarkable variety of colours and markings. They appear in solid, bi-coloured, or tri-coloured coats; red or blue merle; and even brindle — all with varying amounts of white. The colour pattern most people associate with the Border Collie is black with a white blaze, collar, feet, chest, and tail tip. Their coats can be smooth, rough, or anywhere in between.