The Border Collie is your overachieving coworker if they had four legs, laser eyes, and a herding instinct that extends to children, ducks, and sometimes Roombas. With off-the-charts intelligence and Olympic-level stamina, they thrive when given a mission—preferably one with complex rules, mental challenges, and bonus points for style. Affectionate with their person and coolly civil with everyone else, they bond deeply and expect you to keep up—both emotionally and aerobically. Leave them bored and you'll find them alphabetizing the furniture or training the cat. While their coat needs brushing and their body needs movement, it’s their brain that demands the most attention. Think of them as the Einstein of the dog park—if Einstein also had a side hustle in sheep management and competitive frisbee.