When we think of dogs that run fast, Greyhounds are usually some of the first in our heads. Followed, perhaps, by Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Vizslas… but no one ever thinks about the Border Collie. They’re agile for sure, and they’re expert herders, but they’re not runners, right?
Wrong! On Saturday, June 29th, one farmer dad caught his Border Collie on camera, positively zooming. Echo, the speedy pup in question, is handling his sprint like a champ. You can just tell that he’s the best herder on the team:
@seanthesheepmanDog is so fast he would be speeding in a residential area #fyp #foryou #dog #bordercollie #viral
Sean the Sheepman is so lucky to have Echo on the team. He can keep up with even the fastest sheep in the herd!
Related: Border Collie Doing a Final Sweep of the Farm Before Sunset Is Too Cute
Echo is not the only Border Collie on this Scottish farm, but he is one of their followers’ favorites. There are 4.7 million of them, and everyone is there to see the dogs, the sheep, and their incredibly expansive farm. Though they haven’t shared exactly how much land they have, judging by the fact that Sean’s pups can run for what seems like miles without stopping and the breathtaking view of the hills, it’s a lot.
He goes out to help move the sheep every day, usually with a couple of his “coworkers.” However, it’s important for each dog to also build a bond with the humans on the farm, so he gets to go out for one-on-one time with Sean. This time, they went for a run, and at his fastest, Echo ran at an astonishing 34 miles per hour. For reference, the speed limit on the street I live on is 25! This guy could get a ticket!
Herding dogs have to move fast
Echo is fast, and he very well may be faster than some other Border Collies, but they’re all pretty speedy pups, especially when they’re trained properly. Border Collies sometimes have to run hundreds of yard just to get to the animals they’re herding, and then they have to run even faster to keep a tight circle around them.
If they stop or slow down for even a few seconds, there’s a very real possibility that they could be trampled by the animals they’re herding. That risk only increases when the herd starts to disband, which is exactly what happens when a herder falls behind. However, if you have a Border Collie and you want to see how fast they can really run, you should keep a few things in mind:
- If they’re not used to running, you need to start slow.
- When you’re ready to start training, you have to have a designated area in mind – going off leash in public places is not a good idea.
- Instead of trying to run your Border Collie yourself, you might want to consider a program that can help train them.
- If you got them from a breeder, many of them offer resources for that!
- Even if you’re not training them to herd, training them is a good idea. Otherwise, they’re prone to running away.Â
Obviously, Echo doesn’t need any extra training. He’s as amazing as they come, and Sean is lucky he likes to listen. If he didn’t, things could be bad!
