LabLover--

You should look at this website for a good intro to the breed:
www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/bordercollies.html

Basically, they are dogs that need serious work to do or else they can become psychotic and destructive. I've heard of people with BCs whose dogs resorted to watching a dripping faucet for hours, chasing the blades of ceiling fans, or simply jumping the fence and running away because they were left alone too long with nothing to do. They are INTENSE! A few may be mellow, but that's not the general rule. Keep them busy, though, and they're great dogs.

We live in an area of California where there are lots of Basque sheepherders, and the majority of them have BCs. Those dogs work 7 days a week, 10+ hours a day--and then they want to play fetch or soccer after that!
Before we got our Aussie, we thought we wanted a BC. Then we hung out with some Basque families and realized we needed a breed that would calm down once in a while! Our Aussie is quite a handful--I can't even imagine living with a BC!


Just my two cents...