Border Collies are much-loved dogs with a long history of serving mankind; they've been Hollywood heroes as well as heroes in everyday life. Here are some fun and interesting facts you may and may not know about the Border Collie.

Border Collie Fun Facts

The Border Collie gets its names from its early ancestors, dogs developed and bred in the border lands between England and Scotland which were highly prized for their herding abilities

Border Collies show a large range in size and coloration because historically they were bred as working stock and focus was placed on performance, not looks

Border Collies can be almost any color, including red and completely white

All pure Border Collies alive today can trace an ancestral line back to one dog, a Border Collie called "Old Hemp" who lived from 1893-1901

Old Hemp is considered the father of the breed and it was from him that the Border Collie style of herding was developed

The most popular Border Collie stud was Wiston Cap, the dog who appears on the International Sheep Herding Badge; he is posed in the pose that is characteristic of herding Border Collies

Border Collies have been called by other names including 'working collie', 'farm collie', and 'old-fashioned collie'

The Border Collie was not granted full AKC recognition until 1995, but the recognition was strongly opposed by working Border Collie dog supporters

Border Collies are very intelligent; proof of Border Collie intelligence is Rico, a Border Collie study subject who could recognize more than 250 objects by name

The record for the "fastest car window opened by a dog" in the Guinness Book of World Records is held by a Border Collie named Striker; his record time is 11.34 seconds

Border Collies are used for more than just herding; they also make good tracking, search and rescue, and therapy dogs

Border Collies are sometimes used to chase birds and animals from airport runways and golf course greens

Border Collies have long been a favorite in Hollywood and continue to be today. These other Border Collie actors join the well-known Lassie.

Fly and Rex starred in the movie Babe about a sheep-herding pig

Bingo was a Border Collie mix

Mike starred in Down and Out in Beverly Hills

The NBC sitcom Mad About You starred Maui, a Border Collie mix who played Murray

The Border Collie is a dog with a long and proven working history cherished for his work as pet and companion as much as for its herding ability. The Border Collie continues to reign in may dog-competition and show arenas, and is a favorite friend of man.