Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Border Collies Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Border Collies Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Border Collies Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Border Collies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Border Collies Easy to Train?
- Do Border Collies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Border Collies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Border Collies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Border Collies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Border Collies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Border Collies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Border Collies
- Conclusion on Border Collie Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Border Collie
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Border Collie out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Border Collie based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Border Collie breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Border Collie by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Border Collie.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Border Collie for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Border Collie.
The summary table below shows the score of the Border Collie for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 71.3 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 55.0 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 47.9 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 47.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 46.8 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 44.9 percent |
| Excitability | 42.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 35.3 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 35.2 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 34.5 percent |
| Prey Drive | 32.5 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 25.4 percent |
| Stubbornness | 2.7 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 14.4 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Border Collie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Border Collie, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Border Collie.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Border Collies are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Border Collie ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The Border Collie ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 35.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Bull Terrier | 36.5 % |
| 51 | American Bulldog | 36.3 % |
| 52 | Great Pyrenees | 36.0 % |
| 53 | Border Collie | 35.2 % |
| 54 | Great Dane | 34.8 % |
| 55 | Akita | 33.6 % |
| 56 | Mastiff (English) | 33.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Border Collies are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Border Collie ranks average for aggression towards its owner.
The Border Collie ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has an owner-directed-aggression score of 14.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Bichon Frise | 14.9 % |
| 63 | Shetland Sheepdog | 14.8 % |
| 64 | Kuvasz | 14.7 % |
| 65 | Border Collie | 14.4 % |
| 66 | Bullmastiff | 14.0 % |
| 67 | Borzoi | 13.3 % |
| 68 | Greyhound | 13.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Collies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Border Collies are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Border Collie ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Border Collie ranks number 57 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a dog-directed aggression score of 47.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 50.0 % |
| 55 | Doberman Pinscher | 49.5 % |
| 56 | Belgian Sheepdog | 48.4 % |
| 57 | Border Collie | 47.6 % |
| 58 | Afghan Hound | 47.6 % |
| 59 | Bouvier des Flandres | 47.1 % |
| 60 | Beagle | 45.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Border Collies Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Border Collies are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Border Collie ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Border Collie ranks number 41 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a stranger-directed-fear score of 35.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Belgian Tervuren | 37.4 % |
| 39 | Australian Cattle Dog | 36.7 % |
| 40 | Pomeranian | 35.9 % |
| 41 | Border Collie | 35.3 % |
| 42 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 34.8 % |
| 43 | English Springer Spaniel | 34.6 % |
| 44 | Australian Shepherd | 34.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Border Collies Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Border Collies are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Border Collie ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Border Collie ranks number 40 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a dog-directed-fear score of 46.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Bearded Collie | 48.7 % |
| 38 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 48.7 % |
| 39 | Australian Cattle Dog | 48.3 % |
| 40 | Border Collie | 46.8 % |
| 41 | Afghan Hound | 46.1 % |
| 42 | Bull Terrier | 43.8 % |
| 43 | Weimaraner | 43.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Border Collies Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Border Collies are quite a bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Border Collie ranks high for non-social fear.
The Border Collie ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a nonsocial-fear score of 47.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | American Eskimo Dog | 48.6 % |
| 28 | Shetland Sheepdog | 48.1 % |
| 29 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 48.0 % |
| 30 | Border Collie | 47.9 % |
| 31 | Old English Sheepdog | 46.4 % |
| 32 | Shih Tzu | 46.0 % |
| 33 | Basenji | 46.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Border Collies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Border Collies are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Border Collie ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Border Collie ranks number 50 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a dog-rivalry score of 44.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Afghan Hound | 45.4 % |
| 48 | Rat Terrier | 45.0 % |
| 49 | Bearded Collie | 45.0 % |
| 50 | Border Collie | 44.9 % |
| 51 | Anatolian Shepherd | 44.4 % |
| 52 | Poodle (Toy) | 44.1 % |
| 53 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 43.1 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Border Collies Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Border Collies are very much easy to train.
This is because the Border Collie ranks very high for trainability.
The Border Collie ranks number 3 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the trainability of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a trainability score of 97.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgian Tervuren | 100.0 % |
| 2 | Belgian Malinois | 99.2 % |
| 3 | Border Collie | 97.3 % |
| 4 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 95.3 % |
| 5 | Irish Water Spaniel | 95.0 % |
| 6 | Portuguese Water Dog | 91.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Border Collie is and how the intelligence of the Border Collie affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Border Collie is.
Do Border Collies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Border Collies are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Border Collie ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Border Collie ranks number 95 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a chasing score of 32.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Poodle (Toy) | 34.4 % |
| 93 | Maltese | 34.1 % |
| 94 | Lhasa Apso | 33.8 % |
| 95 | Border Collie | 32.5 % |
| 96 | Pekingese | 30.9 % |
| 97 | Golden Retriever | 30.7 % |
| 98 | Belgian Sheepdog | 30.6 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Border Collies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Border Collies are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Border Collie ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Border Collie ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 55.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Australian Kelpie | 55.9 % |
| 52 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 55.5 % |
| 53 | Boxer | 55.2 % |
| 54 | Border Collie | 55.0 % |
| 55 | German Shepherd | 54.9 % |
| 56 | Basenji | 54.7 % |
| 57 | Shih Tzu | 54.5 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Border Collies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Border Collies are a little bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Border Collie ranks low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Border Collie ranks number 96 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a separation anxiety score of 25.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Labrador Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 94 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 95 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 25.9 % |
| 96 | Border Collie | 25.4 % |
| 97 | Australian Shepherd | 25.2 % |
| 98 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 25.1 % |
| 99 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 24.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Border Collies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Border Collies are quite a bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Border Collie ranks high for touch sensitivity.
The Border Collie ranks number 47 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has a touch-sensitivity score of 34.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Papillon | 34.7 % |
| 45 | West Highland White Terrier | 34.5 % |
| 46 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 34.5 % |
| 47 | Border Collie | 34.5 % |
| 48 | Redbone Coonhound | 33.1 % |
| 49 | French Bulldog | 32.8 % |
| 50 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 32.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Border Collies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Border Collies are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Border Collie ranks low for excitability.
The Border Collie ranks number 73 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has an excitability score of 42.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 43.4 % |
| 71 | Schipperke | 43.1 % |
| 72 | German Shepherd | 42.9 % |
| 73 | Border Collie | 42.9 % |
| 74 | Belgian Tervuren | 42.9 % |
| 75 | Ibizan Hound | 42.2 % |
| 76 | English Bulldog | 41.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Border Collies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Border Collies
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Border Collies are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Border Collie ranks high for energy level.
The Border Collie ranks number 26 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 314 Border Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Border Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Border Collie has an energy-level score of 71.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Border Collie are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Giant Schnauzer | 74.3 % |
| 24 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 73.2 % |
| 25 | American Eskimo Dog | 73.2 % |
| 26 | Border Collie | 71.3 % |
| 27 | Vizsla | 71.3 % |
| 28 | Doberman Pinscher | 70.7 % |
| 29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 70.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Border Collie Temperament
The temperament of your Border Collie comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Border Collie is exposed to.
You cannot change your Border Collie`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Border Collie to.
Exposing your Border Collie to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Border Collie to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Border Collie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Border Collie.
If you think the Border Collie is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Border Collies cost and Border Collie puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Border Collie breeders in the United States and the prices of their Border Collie puppies.