I used to raise Border Collies (and have three), so I would only recommend them if these conditions are met:
1: The owner is smarter than the dog.
That is not a joke. This is the single most important thing. BCs have at least the intelligence of a 2 year old human. You have to be an intelligent person to own one. We have had dogs ruined and brought back to us because the owner was not smart enough. One woman thought her 6 mouth old was going to have to be put down because she was biting, growling, and completely out of control. After the dog came back to us, it only took 15 minutes or less for me to get her completely under control, happy, and obedient. We took her to a new owner and she is now not only a rescue dog, but the best and smartest rescue dog the school had ever seen.
2: The owner must be kind, but stern.
A happy dog is a dog who knows who is in charge. That would be the owner and family. Always use a strong, deep voice when disciplining even a puppy. Don't use a high-pitched or normal tone, and don't yell. Your intention is not to scare the dog, but to establish an "I am King in this house, and I am not talking your guff" attitude. Growl right now. Give a good "Grrrrrr!" from deep in your chest. That is the tone you should use (minis the growl). Your dog should react instantly to that tone. a hanging head or 'sad eyes' is a very good reaction.
3: Discipline!
Do not be afraid to punish your dog. They are not going to hate you. The best way to punish minor infractions is the deep tone. If that fails to inspire the correct behavior, plan B is to tip the dog upside down and hold them good and tight by their throat (but don't choke). while doing this, use your deep voice to tell them that you are the Boss, and they will listen to you. Once the stop struggling and tip their head back, let them up and tell them they are a good dog and pet them all over. Reward is as important as discipline. It will work wonders. It is best to start with a puppy, as they are small and easy to handle, and that is when they learn the ropes the best. Have your kids do it as well under your supervision, as they are also above the family dog in the 'pack'. Yes, the dog sees you as a pack, so treat the dog like it is. A well trained dog does not need treats for obeying, and I would avoid them. They will be happy just to do as you say and get a pat on the head. Our BCs crave being told to do things just to do them. Our female thinks it is the best thing in the world to just be told to pick something up.
4: Room.
If you don't have room for a large or active dog, don't get one. BCs are not city dogs, for instance, unless you have access to a park and can let them run for 20 miles a day.
Follow these rules, and you will have a good dog, whatever kind you choose.
