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A blue merle Border Collie rests its chin on a garden bed edge beside a small brown bunny in the soil. 29 / 36

The Border Collie Peered Over the Garden Bed and Found a Friend

AI imageborder colliebunnygarden

A blue merle Border Collie rests her chin on the wooden edge of a garden bed, her speckled coat dappled in grey and white and her gaze fixed downward. Just below her nose, a small brown bunny sits half hidden among the plants, peeking back up. Green seedlings grow in the dark soil, and long grass sways in the background. They are studying each other with equal parts curiosity and calm.

Border Collies are widely considered among the most intelligent dog breeds. They were bred to herd sheep and need plenty of daily exercise and mental challenges, otherwise they can invent their own jobs, such as gently herding smaller animals. If a Border Collie shares a yard with a rabbit, early training and clear boundaries are important so that herding instincts stay friendly. Gardens are great places for pets, but check what is planted there. Some common garden plants are harmful to dogs and rabbits, and fertilizers and slug bait can be toxic, so keep those stored well out of reach and talk to your vet if you are concerned.

There is real focus in the Collie's face, but it is soft rather than intense. She looks as though she is working out a friendly puzzle: who is this small, brown, whiskered person among the seedlings? The bunny, tucked low, seems to be thinking the same thing. The answer, it seems, is a friend.

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