Let's start with what they CAN do. We can't get into it too much because it would take a year to list everything they can and have done! But let's start with record-breaking success. A Border Collie named Chaser has been called the world's most intelligent dog. She knows the names of more than 1,000 objects.
Another Border Collie, named Jumpy, holds a Guinness World Record for dog skateboarding: 100 meters in less than 20 seconds. That's properly fast.
Striker, a Border Collie from Canada, set the canine record for rolling down a manual car window. A manual window. How does a dog even do that with no thumbs?!?
In 2008, a Border Collie-mix named Sweet Pea set a record for dog balancing; she balanced a can on her head and walked 100 meters in 2 minutes and 55 seconds. I'm almost positive I can't do that.
But where does this intelligence come from? Most people associate it with their herding ability. They have a natural drive to learn things and are very open to training. Those things make a great herding dog, but they also make for an intelligent dog that learns quickly and remembers what it learns for a very long time.
Don't forget, a Border Collie's main purpose in life is to herd animals from one location to another. Their breed has been around since humans were in the borderlands between England and Scotland. Today the Border Collie is recognized as the leading sheepherding dog, and frankly, their intelligence is essential to small and medium-sized sheep flocks. This breed is known to be hardworking, smart, alert at all times, and have very high levels of energy.
Their medium size, handsome looks, and the lore of their shocking intellect tend to fool many people into thinking Border Collies and great pets. It's a trap! A bored Border Collie can become a destructive force of nature and a terror to those around him. But with proper training, socialization, and mental stimulation, they are a wonderful family pet for active families.
In this video, the dog is using that famed intelligence and work ethic to try to figure out what his owners want from him. Whenever the dog vocalizes, he gets a reward. A lot of people say they can hear him say no, but I'm on the fence. Do you guys hear him say "No," or are you like me and unsure? Let us know down in the comments!
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