Border collies and other working herding dogs have extreme cognitive and exercise needs that make them poor pets for most households.
Border collies and similar herding breeds suffer profoundly in typical pet household environments. Their brains and bodies are optimized for all-day working activity. In a suburban home with normal exercise, they develop obsessive behaviors including chasing shadows, spinning, and compulsive staring that are indicators of chronic psychological distress. They are routinely acquired for their intelligence and beauty without understanding of their needs.