Border Collies come from the hilly farmland along the border between Scotland and England, which is how they got their name. They were bred to herd sheep and they're still the dog shepherds trust most for the job.
A Border Collie doesn't bark at sheep to move them. It crouches low and gives them a long, steady stare that shepherds call "the eye," and the sheep decide it's best to do as they're told! All that focus comes with a big brain. Border Collies are often called the smartest dog breed, and one named Chaser learned the names of more than 1,000 toys.
The classic Border Collie is black and white, with a white stripe down the face, a white collar around the neck and a white tip on the tail. They also come in red and white, blue merle (a speckled grey and black pattern) and tricolor, which adds little tan patches above the eyes and on the cheeks. Use a dark pencil for the black parts and leave the white patches bare, then add a soft grey along the edges of the white fur so it doesn't look flat. A green hill with a few fluffy sheep makes a perfect background.
