Jon, ALL Border Collies are working dogs. ALL Border Collies are bloody minded. If there is no job to do, they will find one and you might not like it. That is why I don't have them. Most herding or working dogs are the same way. Only a few will accept being a "pet". Our Corgis (Pembroke) herd the other dogs here, cats and last summer ducks. Corgis like their "cuddle" though, and a lot of herding/working dogs don't so don't make good pets.