There are many breeds of dogs that could be best suited to go with a border collie, but some stand out above the rest.
Border collies are an intelligent, energetic breed that needs lots of mental and physical stimulation daily.
They may get bored or frustrated if not given enough activity regularly, which can lead to behavior problems such as constant barking and digging.
The best companion dog for a border collie would be one that is just as energetic and playful.
Hence, they have something in common with each other while still relaxing together when necessary.
The dog should also match their level of intelligence and keep up the more intelligent breed.
The best companion dog for a border collie should be able to play and work on commands together, so there is no need to use up their mental stimulation alone.
It should also be able to run with them as one of their favorite things is fetch and chase after balls, frisbees, and any other types of objects that can fly across the yard at high speeds.
So let’s take a look at the top companion dogs for border collie!
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Australian Shepherd
Australian shepherds are a medium-sized breed.
They have a double coat, a short, smooth outer coat, and a dense undercoat, often slightly wavy.
The fur is longer around their neck and front legs, giving them a lion’s mane appearance.
They come in both shorthaired and longhaired varieties as well as many colors, including solid black tricolor (black/tan/white), red tricolor (red/white), or blue merle (blue-gray/black).
The shorthaired and longhaired versions can be sable, red speckled, black & white, or all black.
Australian shepherds are great at learning commands quickly and do best when given something they can work on, such as herding or agility or anything else that will challenge them mentally.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland sheepdog is not only one of the best companion dogs for a border collie, they are also one of my favorite breeds.
They are sturdy little dogs that love to play and work. They have an odorless double coat that protects them from both heat and cold.
Their coats also come in many colors: black, brown, blue merle (gray/black with tan markings), or red merle (gray/red with tan markings).
The Shetland sheepdog is one of the smallest breeds of dog in the herding, so it may not be able to keep up with a border collie in the long run, but they could certainly walk together and play fetch.
Shelties are smart dogs that love to be around people and do best when given something to do, such as agility or flyball.
German Shepherd
German shepherds are extremely loyal to their owners and enjoy being with their families more than anything else.
They are a medium-sized breed, making them ideal for running around the park but not too small, which makes them a good watchdog.
German shepherds come in three color varieties:
- Tan/black saddleback (black with tan markings)
- Black & tan (solid black with tan markings)
- Solid black
German shepherds are one of the most intelligent dog breeds and can learn commands quickly, making them great at all kinds of activities, including agility, obedience competitions, and more.
They also make great guard dogs because they look intimidating despite their friendly temperament towards people once they know them better.
Corgi
Corgis are a herding breed that look like a small Dachshund and weigh around 15-30 lbs.
Corgis are very friendly dogs that make great companion dogs for people of all ages, including children, seniors, and other pets.
Corgi’s love to be around their family and follow them from room to room in the house if they can help it.
They love to play fetch with balls or any other toy such as frisbees or squeaky toys that they can catch mid-air.
Labrador
The Labrador is one of the most popular breeds in the world today, and for a good reason.
They are the ultimate family pet, always ready to play and please their families.
Labradors are medium-sized dogs that stand 21-24 inches tall at the top of their shoulders and typically weigh between 55-75 pounds.
Making them ideal for any activity, including running in the park, hiking, or even working (police assistance).
They are one of the most intelligent dogs and have a naughty side that makes training them quite challenging.
If you can’t be firm with your borders or establish yourself as alpha, they’ll quickly take control, pushing their weight around.
Because of this, socialization at an early age is extremely important to make sure they don’t become too friendly with strangers and develop bad habits like jumping up on people or barking unnecessarily.
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is one of the most interesting breeds of dogs you will find for many reasons.
First off, they were bred in Australia specifically to herd cattle on large ranches.
Hence, their temperament is perfect for keeping an eye on a large piece of property.
Secondly, they have a beautiful double coat that comes in various colors, including blue merle (gray/black with patches), red merle (light brown/gold color with patches), red tri-color, black tri-color, and solid black.
They stand 20-23 inches tall at the top of their shoulders and typically weigh between 30-45 pounds, making them an ideal size for any activity you can think of doing indoors or outdoors.
Because the Australian Cattle Dog was bred to herd cattle, they are typically quite protective of their families.
They need socialization at an early age and firm training as soon as possible otherwise.
They’ll try to take charge of their family, pushing their weight around (typical herding behavior).
Belgian Tervuren
Belgian Tervurens beautiful double coats come in many patterns and colors, including black & reddish-brown with tan or mahogany markings on their legs and face.
Training Belgian Tervurens is usually quite easy but can be frustrating if you don’t establish yourself as alpha early on and neglect socialization at an early age.
This breed enjoys having a job and participating in many different activities as long as they’re trained well.
They need to be trained with positive reinforcement techniques and given lots of exercises daily (30-45 minutes to keep their mind occupied.
Training will be quite difficult for you if you can’t keep up with their intelligence because they’ll quickly become smart to the average dog owner.
Belgian Tervurens make excellent companion dogs and protective family pets.
They’re extremely loyal and bond well with kids of all ages without being too demanding.
Rough Collie
The rough collie is a herding dog and obedience breed, making them very intelligent and extremely loyal.
They stand 23-26 inches tall at the top of their shoulders and typically weigh between 65-85 pounds, making them an ideal size for playing fetch or tug with you while still small enough to cuddle on your lap when resting.
Their coats come in several patterns, colors, and textures, including rough (tousled), smooth (shining), and long.
They do require regular cleaning because they’re shedders, although their undercoat doesn’t shed too much when it comes to grooming.
Because the Rough Collie’s coat can become matted if not properly cared for, make sure you brush them daily.
The rough collie has a long life span of about 12-15 years, so they’re great companions all around.
Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is an intelligent breed which makes training them quite easy!
They stand 20-22 inches tall at the top of their shoulders and typically weigh between 30-45 pounds.
Their coats come in black, white, brown, blue-gray, or strawberry roan colors with short- or medium-length coats.
Their coats are low shedding but will still require regular cleaning.
Since they don’t shed too much, they’re also an excellent choice for people with dog allergies.
If you were to adopt one of these breeds as a pet, you would probably notice that they’re extremely intelligent and loyal.
Although this means training will be easier than it is with other breeds, it also means that their intelligence can become frustrating if you don’t establish yourself as the alpha.
These breeds enjoy playing fetch or hanging out with kids or grown-ups indoors but prefer to keep themselves busy doing things like herding.
Why A Companion Dog For Your Border Collie Could Be A Good Option
Although most people think that two dogs are more work than one, this isn’t true for border collies.
This breed gets along with other dogs extremely well and tends to form strong bonds.
Border Collies are known to be escape artists, so they’ll try their best to push the limits of your home, looking for a way out, which can be quite frustrating, especially if you have an active lifestyle.
Having two dogs will help keep each other entertained throughout the day while also keeping yourself entertained at night after your job or errands are done.
Another benefit that comes with having a companion dog for your border collies is that they’re able to keep themselves busy by herding each other around the house.
Which means there’s less stress on you as an owner!
Are Border Collies Better In Pairs?
Border collies tend to get along with each other and don’t require as much attention as one dog might, but this doesn’t mean they’re no longer a good option for a single pet!
If you work long hours, don’t like spending time at home, or need some extra help keeping yourself entertained throughout the day, having more than one border collie could be the perfect solution.
Just make sure that you spend time with each dog individually, either through playing fetch or cuddling on the couch before bedtime, so they don’t grow attached instead of you.
