The Prince Wore the Sash. The Border Collie Wore a Plan.
The prince has stepped out of the shadows with a bright, alert look. His blue merle coat is mottled in silver, black and slate, and he wears a lace collar over a royal blue velvet coat with gold braiding and a wide silk sash across the chest. Behind his shoulder a tall candle burns, lighting one pointed ear. One ear is half-folded, which gives him a faintly mischievous air, and his eyes seem to be counting something, perhaps the people in the room.
Border Collies were bred to herd sheep, and they remain among the most energetic and quick-thinking of dogs. That intelligence is a joy but also a responsibility. A Border Collie with nothing to do can invent jobs of his own, like herding children, bikes or the vacuum cleaner. Daily exercise matters, but mental work matters just as much, so puzzle feeders, scent games and new tricks keep a clever mind busy. Training sessions of a few minutes, repeated through the day, tend to work well. The merle pattern is a coat color, not a personality, though it is worth knowing that responsible breeders take care with merle pairings. Your vet can answer questions about health and exercise for your own dog.
Even in a velvet coat, this prince looks ready to herd the entire court into a neat circle.
