Border collies are one of the most intelligent breeds out there. They were bred for herding, and will frequently try to herd both people and animals even without any training. They need early socialization since they can be wary of strangers and new situations. Border collies are very loyal and love to please their owners, so they are very easy to train.
Needs
Border collies are happiest when they have a job to do. Competitions like agility are a great choice to keep these dogs happy, or giving them herding work. They also love obedience work. They have high exercise needs compared to most breeds. They also hate being bored and will get destructive if left to their own devices too often. Puzzle toys can help, as well as plenty of playtime with humans or other animals.
Diet
Border collies need a high-quality diet to keep them healthy for working. They do well on commercial diets, but you can make your own food with vet supervision. Border collies can become overweight, so carefully watching how much they eat is important. While treats help with training, you should be careful not to overfeed since treats can lead to obesity.
Health Issues
Border collies tend to be fairly healthy, but do suffer from some health concerns. Hearing loss can be common, particularly in dogs with 2 copies of the gene for the merle coat pattern. Eye issues are also common, ranging from Collie Eye Anomaly which tends to be mild to Progressive Retinal Atrophy which can result in blindness. They can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia as well as exercise-induced illnesses and injuries. Epilepsy and diabetes can be health concerns as well. Most of these conditions are genetic and can be tested for as a puppy or detected as a possibility in the parents.