The herding instinct of the border collie originated from it's ancestors, the wolf, but unlike the wolf pack which survives by circling and working together to gather or herd the animals they stalk for food, the border collie has successfully had the killing instinct bred out of them, while maintaining the herding instinct.

Breeders in Scotland, Wales, and England, and many also from Australia and New Zealand, originally took the dogs that did not possess the kill instinct, but were still inclined to herd, and bred them with the best of this same type, until they developed the border collie we know today.  Although it may occasionally appear, it is very rare for a purebred border collie to posses the instinct to kill it's prey, or the animal it is herding.  These dogs are usually put down in order to protect the breed as a "herding only" breed.  This "herding only" instinct has been prominent in the border collie for over two hundred years. The border collie breed we have today, although they possess this herding instinct, are some of the most loving and friendliest of all purebreds.

If you have ever witnessed a team of border collies, or many times a single border collie, working to gather or herd sheep or livestock, you have to be amazed at how naturally this task is accomplished.