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A blue merle Border Collie puppy sits inside an open cardboard gift box with a red bow and paper shreds. 12 / 22

A Blue Merle Puppy Was the Surprise Inside the Box With the Red Bow

AI imageborder colliechristmasgift box

Out of a cardboard box tied with a wide red bow, a blue merle puppy rises like the best gift of the day. Her coat is a speckled gray and white, her ears are half-folded, and she looks toward something off to the left with sharp attention. Paper shreds fill the box beneath her, and the cozy living room behind is scattered with slippers, blankets, a plaid pillow, and a Christmas tree glowing in the corner.

Border Collies are widely seen as one of the smartest dog breeds, and they are bred to herd, which means they are quick, alert, and always watching for movement. A puppy like this needs plenty of mental work along with exercise, such as short training sessions, puzzle feeders, and gentle games, or she may invent her own jobs, like herding the kids or the cat. Boxes are a great toy, but the packing paper and tape can be a problem if swallowed, so supervise unwrapping time and tidy up shreds quickly. Ask your vet when to start formal training classes.

She looks ready to leap out of the box and begin the day's work. A watchful stare like that is a Border Collie trademark, and it hints at a lot of future cleverness. For now, she makes a perfect gift, and she is already in charge of the whole room.

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