Companion: This type of dog is the quintessential family dog. This dog is content with simple daily exercise such as walking or playing fetch. He/she just enjoys being with the family. Watching TV, doing yard work, taking an evening walk to the park, are all activities that may be done with this type of dog. While basic obedience might be needed to help acclimate the dog to your home, competing in dog sports is not something needed for this type of dog.

 Active: This type of dog needs long walks or runs, retrieval games, basic obedience, and tricks on a daily basis. This dog will be happy in a home in which the owners are active and interested in making a dog part of what they do in their everyday activities. He/she needs more exercise and stimuli than the average dog, and this can be accomplished through daily exercise, a weekly agility class or obedience class for fun. Casual competition in dog sports (i.e., agility, flyball, disc, herding) may be very beneficial for a dog like this without the dedication and intensity of a Performance level dog. 

One of the differences between a Companion level dog and an Active dog is that the Active dog needs a mental workout as opposed to a physical workout.  For example, a dog doing agility may seem to be getting less exercise than a dog with the same energy level who spends hours at the dog park with his/her owner.  The dog involved in agility may be calmer, and the reason for this is that the agility provides the dog with a chance to actively use the dog's mind.

A Companion Border Collie may be the right dog for you if you are looking for an Active dog in any other breed.  On the other hand, if you are considering an Active Border Collie, ask yourself if you are prepared to give the dog a life long job!

Performance: This type of dog needs constant training to challenge his/her higher drive and energy level. This dog will do well in an active home where the owners are dedicated and compete regularly in agility, hobby herding, flyball, or disc. This type of dog will need multiple walks or runs every day. Owning a dog like this becomes a hobby unto itself because it takes dedicating multiple hours a day to meet the energy demands of a dog of this level. The adage "Idle hands are the devil's playground" definitely applies to this type of dog. Unless this dog is given a job to do, he/she can become destructive or neurotic or both.

Working: This type of dog displays intense herding instinct and some talent, which may need to be channeled into stock work or other intense, continuous activity. These dogs do not do well in average pet homes. A weekly herding lesson or agility class is not enough for this dog. He/she must have a job everyday.