Now, I have to disagree - with the right family, a Border Collie can be a great family dog. I have known a few who were. Two of them were farm families, with lots of jobs for the dogs, and kids to occupy the dog's time. Another was *just* a family dog, no peacocks to herd, but it was an active family who were always aware of their dog's need for "work." But what were their critieria? Bostons, for example, are fine-boned dogs, which can be hazardous around enthusiastic small children. What about, say, Newfoundlands or Saints? How did they decide who to put on the list and who to keep off? There are many families, for example, for whom a bouncy, enthusiastic, shedding-black-hairs-everywhere, Labrador might be a bad match - a dog with a shorter "puppyhood" would be better ....

I guess what I am saying is "to each his or her own."

Any dog CAN be a good family dog for the right family!