When people bring home a new dog, they often have certain expectations about what their new companion will look and act like.
Poodle lovers imagine elegant, stylish pets. Belgian Malinois owners expect energetic athletes ready for action. Border Collie fans anticipate intelligent, high-energy pups with fluffy coats.
Raquel, a woman from Oregon, was no different. When she adopted a dog she believed to be a Border Collie, she was sure she knew what to expect. But once her new pup, Belinda, settled in, Raquel began to notice things that didn’t quite fit. So, she decided to run a DNA test, and the results left her stunned.
An Unexpected Discovery
From the moment Raquel met Belinda, she knew they belonged together. The sweet dog had been found wandering alone and was later taken in by Herding Dog Rescue in Oregon. When no one came to claim her, she was placed for adoption, and Raquel was the perfect match.
At first, Raquel expected Belinda to behave like a typical Border Collie — full of energy and eager to herd everything in sight. But Belinda was calm, quiet, and had a short, smooth coat instead of the long, fluffy fur Collies are known for.
Curious about her background and wanting to check for possible health concerns, Raquel decided to DNA test her new dog.
When the results arrived, she was completely taken aback.
Belinda was, in fact, a purebred Border Collie.
“I adopted my dog 4 weeks ago and tested her predisposition for diseases and personality traits. However, we weren’t expecting that she would be a pure breed border collie because of her short coat,” Raquel wrote in a Reddit post.
Other Border Collie owners quickly jumped into the discussion to explain what Raquel hadn’t known.
“Border collies come in two coat options! Rough coat and smooth coats! There are plenty with short hair,” one commenter explained.
“They come in so many shapes, sizes, cord and coats! My boy is bigger and has a rough, curly coat,” another added.
A Perfect Match After All
After reading hundreds of replies from experienced owners, Raquel realized Belinda was exactly what she was supposed to be. She had simply never encountered a smooth-coated Collie before.
“I learned so much about BC just by reading the discussions here. I appreciate your time in explaining the differences between smooth and long coat BC,” she shared.
Now, fully aware of Belinda’s breed and personality, Raquel feels even more grateful to have found her.
“It’s a very friendly breed and I feel so lucky to have found such a cute girl,” she said.
Their bond continues to grow stronger every day, and it’s clear this Oregon duo was meant to find each other.