Collie cross husky General Chat

hi all, i have been offered a collie x husky pup and was wandering if anyone could give me heads up on the bread b4 i decide weather to except!! thanks!

Hi I would imagine it's very cute and full of energy as both breeds are active and will need lots of mental stimulation.

Are you talking border collie x husky Wendy? Have you been able to see the parents ? Was it an accident this cross or intentional ? Both breeds have so many fantastic attributes but I'm not sure how they go together. Is this a rescue pup? Will wait to hear from you.

hi thanks for the replys yes its a collie x husky, not a rescue pup its a friends, parents pups both mum and dad are good natured and happy dogs dont think it was intentional just an accident! have read some good things about the mix just wanted some extra info!! thanks again!!

How much dog experience do you have? Any experience of these two breeds? Also do you have the time/energy/inclination to do any sort of activities, clicker training, long walks, etc. with it, basically do you want a very active dog or a slightly more sedentary one? I imagine these two breeds will produce a high energy pup with a smart brain but you may also find that you may have the issue that a lot of Husky owners have, in that its recall isn't 100%. Having owned a dog that had to stay on-lead (for health reasons though) from a young age, it is hard to wear them out when you can't let them have a good run around!

hey i dont really have any dog experience but do have the time and energy to train and excercise the dog i am a keen jogger and have been told they make great training partners and we live next to the beach so plenty of running to be done!! i also have a puppy training class which takes place locally so i would be sure to enroll in it! i only work part time and my partner is on night shift so would never be alone either, i dont want a small dog as we have also got a cat!! thanks for the info has really helped!!

I know a few, they are nuts but in a good way!

Basically loads of energy and drive, really great dog if you want something to run/horse ride ect with.

Keep a close eye on the prey drive though, needs to be channeled from a young age into something productive, retrieve tug ect.

Can be a bit noisy also they seem to feel the heat.

Adam

thanks adam will add the info to the long list im getting!! im new to this site and have found it most helpful! as for the heat thing i live in northern ireland we have maybe 3 nice days of sun in the summer and thats about it so i dont think that should be a problem lol lol

To be totally honest, I would say it's probably not a dog for a beginner owner. A puppy is enough of a challenge - I grew up with dogs but my first puppy, despite being a breed I knew well, was certainly a shock to the system! I would say it would take a lot of research, dedication, and support from local dog owners/trainers to do a good job of it. I don't think Huskies are generally recommended as a novice breed, nor are Collies particularly, and you don't know what traits the dog will inherit - could be the best, could be the worst, or could be somewhere inbetween.
Also worth noting that exercise should be limited when the dog is young as too much can put a strain on a growing body and cause problems in the future. Collies are a breed that are prone to hip dysplasia I understand, and large breeds tend to all suffer from hip/joint problems so definately do your research in terms of how much and what type of exercise it should be getting as a young dog (it certainly won't be your jogging partner for a while) and do your homework on a good diet to give it the best chance, especially if it was an accidental litter with no health checks done.

thanks will keep that in mind!!!

Is it a popular mix? This is the second one I have heard of this week.

Not sure really, the ones I met were accidents.

I can see how they would appeal to some people though, one looked amazing to say the least!

They are a dog I would consider having, but they are pretty intense.

Adam

ive met a couple, really nice!

Well I have owned dogs for well over 20 years and have had quite an extensive variety of dogs yet that cross would scare the bejabbers out of me:-o

Seriously that has got to be one high energy dog and not one I would think would suit a first time owner?

I agree its not the best choice of pup for a first time owner but in saying that i go to various classes with my dogs and have met plenty of dogs who are bonkers regardless of breed.
If you do end up taking one pick the one with the nicest temprement and dont forget to post pics.

No such thing as an accidental mating. Negligent yes. I've had a household of entire dogs & bitches for many years & never had an unplanned litter. Even when my older bitch Jessie had a silent season because she is never left alone with the boys was never in any danger of having a litter(she's now spayed because of her erratic seasons)

If you have no experience of dogs then this puppy will not be a good cross(not a breed)to start with.

Both breeds have high prey drive & both are bred to run. You would need to be extremely careful when & if you can ever allow the dog to free run.

Just because you like jogging, doesn't mean that this is the ideal dog. Strangely enough a breed bred to "trot"rather than run is better(like a Dalmatian-the carriage dog)

Have the parents been health tested at all ? Hips & elbows are a must.

You shouldn't take your puppy for any length of jogging until it has finished growing(which could be as late as 18 months)otherwise you run the risk of damaging the growth plates in the legs.

good god, the brains of a collie, with the desire to run of Husky.

Holy cow, that scares the doo doo outta me, and Ive been around dogs since I was 6!

If this your first dog, please dont!

wow so many things to take in im not a compleat novice dog owner but granted its been a while since ive had a pup around!! we are hoping to view the bitch and pups over the weekend to gather more information and see them in there own environment but it is not a done deal as i do understand the amound of work it would take!! and would like to ask those who have said its not a good idea which bread would u suggest??

What do you want the dog FOR?

Do you just want ANY dog, or do you have an idea about what you DO want the dog to do/not do?

For example, if you wanted a dog with a reliable recall that you could enjoy letting off the lead, you may want to rule out some of the more independent hounds/sled dogs.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money at the groomers, you may want to rule out breeds that need regular stripping/trimming ie some terriers, cocker spaniels etc.

For a beginner, even with a little doggy knowledge, I would probably recommend approaching a rescue for a slightly older, assessed dog because as said, puppies are hard work whatever the breed. Learning about dog behaviour AND training a puppy is hard - try learning dog with an adult before jumping in to the puppy stuff!
If you're not too fussy about breed then I would approach your local rescues and let them know your preferences and needs (e.g. must be OK with visiting kids if there's any, would prefer a medium sized dog, must be OK to be left for up to 4 hours, would prefer a dog that doesn't need too much grooming, etc.) and they will match you to a dog that will suit you and your lifestyle - making your first doggy experience a much more pleasant one than constant, all-night potty trips, chewed furniture and no end of frustration, because everyone often forgets that part of owning a puppy!