Border Collies

[Sadie G]

I hope everyone who owns, has owned or has an interest in Border Collie's will share information on this thread. I am owned by a Border Collie mix named Sadie. She is actually the first Border Collie that we have had, but we had an Australian Shepherd mix for 15 years before her and the two breeds are very similar. We knew what we would be in for with Sadie before we adopted her. Border Collies are extremely intelligent, extremely active and extremely loyal. They like to have a "job" to do, Sadie's job right now is catching a frisbee and chasing her ball. She is very attentive and alert when outside doing her "job"! They are also a herding dog, and will herd your heels, or a child. They can be taught very quickly though what they are allowed to herd and what they are not. A lot of families adopt a Border Collie or a BC mix not knowing what they are getting into once that really cute little furball grows out of the puppy stage. I hope this thread helps with any information you are looking for or would like to share. If you have any questions I will try to help, and if I don't know the answer there will be an expert who can step in and help with whatever information you are looking for. Enjoy...and love those Border Collies!!

[kian]

My Border Collie Abby, was a tireless fisbree catcher. She would play with endless energy and enthusiam. I had to make her stop and rest! They are active dogs and need to be worked and exercised. A highly intelligent breed makes them fun to train and play. As GwdGma stated they are a herding dog and will herd anything that moves, so training is a must. They are high energy, not for the couch potato!

[The Dog Lady]

I have heard that border collies and australian shepherds are both very high energy dogs. Which do you think is considered higher energy? How much exercise do they really need? I walk Sampson three times a day (before work, on my lunch break, and after work). My husband runs with him as often as he can, at least several times a week. Sampson is 10 months old and for several months has been very good about sleeping with my husband during the day while I'm at work (I work days and my husband works graveyards). Could a border collie or australian shepherd do this or would they need more extensive exercise? If I jogged with her every morning and walked her at lunch, do you think either an australian shepherd or border collie pup could be mellow enough to let my husband sleep during the day? We are thinking about adding another pup to our family this summer and are trying to pick a breed that will work well with our schedule and lifestyle. We are very active on our days off, but it is our work days that I am worried about.

[rexandbaby]

I can't answer you questions, but I too, would love a border collie!

[kian]

They are both hyper on! I think BC's have a little more energy than the Aussie and Aussies seem to settle down quicker as they age. As far as your husband being able to sleep during the day, maybe, when either are over a year old. If you run everyday with the dog that will help having said that, they both are working dogs and need a job. It can be catching a fisbree or a ball, just so it involves some thinking capabilities and you play enough to tire them out. They both do recover quickly and when I am gone I leave something for my aussie to do. (I have owned a BC as well). I stuff her kong, leave toys and I even leave the radio or TV on. Without a good physical daily workout both can become destructive and bark constantly. Not good if your husband wants to sleep. I live in the country and am able to take Allie out and do something simple as throwing sticks up on the mountain seems to really satisfy her need to work. Just be creative, they are fun dogs.
There are others with the same dogs who will be able to give their advice as well. GwdGma has a BC mix and she works FT as well and as worked it out well with Sadie.

[Sadie G]

Thanks for you answer Kian!! Great information!

Sampson's Mom....we have had Sadie for almost a year. She just turned one year old. Both of us work full time so Sadie stays by herself during the day. I do walk her 2 - 3 times per day plus play frisbee and ball with her in the backyard. Her first year has been extremely active and she is just now starting to calm down some what. Border Collies do like routine so it would be possible to get a routine started so she would know to sleep during the day while your husband is sleeping. If you already have a dog that does this, the BC should be trainable to follow this pattern. They are high energy dogs though so be very aware of this fact before commiting to bringing one into your family. I had an aussie mix before Sadie and I was still surprised at how much energy Sadie has had. I have been able to handle it, but it does take a lot of time and energy!! But I will have to say she has already become one loyal girl!! Good luck in whatever you decide to do and keep us informed!!

[The Dog Lady]

Thanks for all the information. I'm leaning toward an aussie, but our second dog is going to be my husband's pick and he think he's leaning toward a border collie. I know it will be difficult with a high energy dog, but based on what you have said, I think it might be workable. My husband doesn't work every night. He works twelve hour shifts so only has to sleep three times a week during the day. A lot of times some of those days fall on the weekend when I'm at home and can occupy the puppies.

I do have another question though. Can you trust border collies or aussies off leash? I have a beagle and although we have a strong recall on him considering his breed, all bets are off if he sees a bird, so he is only let off leash in fenced areas. There is a field a few blocks from my house that is pretty large but does not have a fence. Could I trust a border collie or aussie not to run off if I took her there to play fetch? Unfortunately, we don't have dog parks near my town, so it is hard to find large, safe places to let your dog off leash.

[Sadie G]

It is possible to have both Border Collie's and Aussie's off leash, but only after training. We have a large back yard that is only 3/4 fenced. The Aussie we had for 15 years never left the back yard and he was off leash, and knew if he went out front he had to have his harness and leash on. Sadie has been fine in the back yard now for 3 or 4 months, she has never run out front, but does run straight next door to the neighbors large gate to greet their dog. She comes right back though to play frisbee or ball. So yes it is possible, but only after training.....and both dogs are extremely smart so it doesn't take that long to train them. Good luck!!

[lalalorelai14]

my sister has a border collie--absolutely amazing dog, I wish I had the time/space to have one!!! She goes off leash quite often, even when she's at our house. She listens incredibly well (I'm jealous, since my puppy is so young & doesn't listen at all!!) but they've done a lot of training with her.

If you do decide to get a border collie, good luck!! they're great dogs---so friendly & sweet. But do be prepared for a lot of energy. I can run with my sister's BC for about 3-4 miles, and she's still up for playing later that day. And they are incredibly intelligent, but I also know they have a tendency to be slightly obsessive and become very focused on the task at hand, even if it's fetch or frisbee. Connie (my sister's BC) will ignore everyone else if she's in the middle of a game! And we can't say the word "Frisbee" around her or she'll go nuts! They do need a job to do if they're left alone, or else you will be treated to torn up pillows, couches & carpeting! But Border Collies are great dogs, absolutely gorgeous, and very very very loyal to their families!

[Sadie G]

lalalorelai14 - Thanks for your input on Border Collies! I had to laugh when you mentioned that you can't say frisbee! Our aussie was the same way....he knew the word frisbee well......and now Sadie is the same way. You can't say frisbee or ball around her.....she knows exactly what they are and that it means going outside to play!

[Kye]

I own a 8week old male Border Collie named Kye, I rescued him from West Country Animal Shelter. He was born in the shelter, so he has no traumatic life or anything. He is my first dog and has proved more intelligent then I first thought. Reading up on the breed of dog, whether a Doberman Pinscher or a Border Collie, doesn't always mean you'll be prepared. I knew how smart BC's were, I knew that they are Herding dogs, I knew that Border collie's were used by shepherds in the Border counties of Scotland and England in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and I know that the Irish treat them differently because 'The dog is to smart' according to them. Border Collie, show Collie, Australian Shepherd, Kelpie, English Shepherd and McNab are cousins. BC's will herd anything that moves - including their handlers, that's why you need to be careful when buying a BC because you can't tell what you're letting yourself in for. Some are very laid back, sleepy dogs and others are 'Lets go out and chase things!' dogs. I worked with a Border Collie three years ago and he was nothing like Kye. Every dog is different, just like every human. The Border collie will herd things from Ducks to Sheep and to Cattle. There is a breed for herding Cattle - Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler - but, as I've said, they're all cousins so the Blue Aussies will herd sheep and the BC's will herd Cattle and so on. A farmer called Adam Telfer succeeded in finding the right blend of dog breeds to create herding dogs in 1894. Border Collies are very rewarding dogs if tehy are cared for properly and recieve the right amount of attention and training. The Border Collie of today is descended from Adam Telfer's dog. The dogs' name was Hemp, and the first ever Border collie was Black and White.

Most Borders are smart, energetic dogs while others are lazy, floppy dogs. I have a smart, Energetic 8week-old BC pup, but the one I worked, Blue, was slow and stubborn. He needed allot of treats just to do simple commands like Sit or Down, whereas Kye will Sit, Down, Stay, Wait, Come, and Stand for one treat, simply because he enjoys working.

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[Tia Maria]

Just what I was looking for! A thread only on Border Collies! Okay, well, I would like to get a Border Collie sometime in the future, and I would like to adopt one. Most of the Border Collies that come into the shelter go fairly quickly, and I find it hard to find a puppy in the shelter, and if from a breeder, the puppies go quickly too. If I am ever able to get a BC, would it be better if it was a puppy or an adult, to bring into a home with a little Maltese dog? Tia is little, so would it be better for her to see the puppy as big as her then it grows bigger, or just as big as it will get, and that is that? Do you think that a Border Collie would be to hyper and active for Tia to handle? Thanks!

[Deerie me]

Tia might get fed up of being herded. There are lots of BCs in rescues in the UK because people don't understand their needs. They have to have a job and be kept busy mentally and physically or they create their own jobs be it chewing up the furniture or herding children. A family near me bought a beautiful red and white BC with wonderful idealised thoughts of how dog ownership would be. I hear that the dog is rarely allowed in the house now as it has been so destructive.

My friends' working BC had an accident a year or so ago and was on house rest while his leg heeled. He got so bored he decide that his job would be to know where the cat was every second of the day. He didn't herd the cat or do anything except stare at it. If you sat in the way he would peer round you or move until he could see the cat again. Thankfully he is now out working sheep again and the cat is relieved.

[lifeisgood365]

I own a border collie husky mix named Kierran!I have to say he is Perfect for me he is so gentile but he can play and play and play all day long he is like two different dogs!

[lifeisgood365]

Tia might get fed up of being herded. There are lots of BCs in rescues in the UK because people don't understand their needs. They have to have a job and be kept busy mentally and physically or they create their own jobs be it chewing up the furniture or herding children. A family near me bought a beautiful red and white BC with wonderful idealised thoughts of how dog ownership would be. I hear that the dog is rarely allowed in the house now as it has been so destructive.

My friends' working BC had an accident a year or so ago and was on house rest while his leg heeled. He got so bored he decide that his job would be to know where the cat was every second of the day. He didn't herd the cat or do anything except stare at it. If you sat in the way he would peer round you or move until he could see the cat again. Thankfully he is now out working sheep again and the cat is relieved.

i think if you get a mix there not as destructive but that just what i have heard.