Tell me about your Border Collies :D General Chat

I think maybe in the future I might get a Border Collie... but tbh I don't know much about them!

What can you tell me about them? Good and bad things!

And of course pictures!

I guess it depends on the kind of Border Collie you get, not all are hyper or always on the go as so many people assume.

One of mine is really lazy and would happily lounge about all day. He has no herding instincts, none of the collie 'ways', isnt interested in chasing toys, isnt highly strung etc.
I think my bitch is just about right for a pet collie. She has herding instincts but they are low key and she doesnt herd dogs, traffic, kids or anything else and she has lots of the collie 'ways'. She is a very hard worker though and has oodles of stamina. She will chase a toy all day and is quite obsessed, she likes to make a ritual out of things. If you want her to be on the go she is happy to do that but then can equally chill out on her bed.
None of my collies have the instinct to nip, chase or bark.

My Toby is the same as Leanne!

He is so laid back that I do wonder if he is really a collie at all. The funniest thing is that he was a reject from a farm so he is from working lines.

No herding instincts, no nippings and no obsessions at all! He would sometimes chase after a ball but it is quite rare.

He is 16 months but act like 16!

I love collies and I was looking forward to working with a brain. Instead I got the brawn but I wouldn't change him for the world!

Here is the dog in question

My collie is 16 now but we've had her since she was 1 from a rescue.

She did have herding instincts when she was younger, but wasn't really one that needed to 'do' much, we tried agility and did some tricks with her but she was happy just to go for walks and be with us (walks from anywhere from 1- 6/8 hours).

She is a chewer and we went through hundreds of rawhide chew sticks when she was younger, she adores her kongs now.

She has always had a habit of going mental at the tv when she sees a dog or a cat and memorized all the theme tunes to the adverts with dogs on so she would come rushing in to bark when she heard them

Can I just say 'aww!'

You should totally video that!

My five are all very different!

Oldest at 14 has not been easy to live with as she constantly tries to protect me against any other dog, although being very soft with people. Quite a strong herding instinct, I had to rehome some hens I had as she was wearing a path in the lawn doing the 'outrun' every time I let her in the garden! My first agility dog, she was consistently clear but not particularly fast.

My second is Milo, now aged ten. Built like a lurcher and with the speed to match, I have the best of both worlds with him as he is laid back at home but, press the right button (ie agility) and he's a collie! Sadly he has just had a leg amputated and is on chemo for osteosarcoma but responding well.

Third is Rowan aged seven - the best agility dog I will ever have. Fast and responsive but neurotic and verging on obsessive compulsive in character. He hates change of any sort. He has been diagnosed epileptic but very stable on his medication. He loves everyone, dogs and humans alike but would have struggled in a pet home.

Fourth is Guy, aged four. The biggest girls' blouse in a dog coat you could ever find! Also the most beautiful border collie I have ever seen. Very loving but very dependent on me and my approval. Always to be found at my feet. Makes me laugh daily.

Fifth is Gem, aged two and quite closely related to Guy. Very dainty build but deceptively strong. Extremely intelligent but sensitive with it. Learns very quickly and doing really well at agility. Very laid back and well behaved in public but a little witch at home with the rest of the pack.

I love them all to bits! Here they all are: (they aren't really grazing - I had scattered some kibble!)

Do you like the show type or working type border collie?

In my honest opinion, many working bred collies do not make the best pet dogs. Certainly collies can do well in very active homes and of course there are loads in working trial/agility/flyball homes, but there are many collies in rescue because they didn't settle in pet homes. Just something to be aware of, and to consider before getting a puppy. The good BC Rescues will always rehome the dogs with potential to working homes and will ensure the rest find homes that suit their needs and temperament.

They are a fabulous breed (beauty and brains).

Here are a few of ours ...

Thanks everyone! A real mixed bunch then!!

People had always told me collies weren't for pet homes stuff, and was only recently I was thinking, if I want and do well with a german shepherd, surely I could handle a collie?

ETA: Beautiful dogs Moobli! If I do get one it will be a looong time in the future, it was just out of curiosity I asked

Collies are one of the breeds that are still very much bred with working sheep in mind. If a prospective owner gets a collie as a pet and works WITH his inherent instinct instead of against it, and they keep him mentally and physically active then it can be a wonderful partnership. GSDs are challenging in a different way to collies.

Have a read of this, I think it makes a lot of sense and all prospective collie owners should read it

http://agilitynet.co.uk/training/bordercollie_suekitchen_leewindeatt.html

Thanks I will

Again it isn't a breed I am going to research heavily just now, was just for maybe in the future

(besides, I still have a lot of reading up to do on GSD's just now as that will be my next dog - in case you hadn't guessed.... )

But you are forgetting - once you have had a GSD, you won't ever want another breed ;-)

People keep telling me that...

I don't think it has sunk in yet though, because as much as I love Alfie, if I never had another jrt or jrt cross, I would still be happy, like I love him but am not totally addicted to the breed/mix

Apparently it's different with GSD's then?

i agree with this, i love all dogs, but gsd's are definatly my choice of breeds

Moobli - this one of yours, s/he is stunning! Would love to see more pictures of this one if you have any, please.

Thanks Westie. Yes, that is Tweed. He is a pup we bred ourselves. He is a really lovely, sensible boy and is probably my fave of the working collies (shh don't tell the others )

Here are a few others. I will get some working ones if you are interested in seeing them

Wow, he is really lovely! Thanks for sharing more pics. I would love to see some working ones! How old is Tweed?

He is lovely, I love his name!!

(more pics are always welcome )

Thank you - he is a gorgeous boy. He is 16 months old. I will get some working pics of him tomorrow (if it is a decent day).

My Border Collie has always been full of energy, when he was younger he never switched off and to start with I didnt meet his needs in the form of mental of physical exercise. For this reason he developed a few aggressive behaviours which got fixed with plenty of training and exercise. My dad had a collie before I got mine and they are total opposites in terms of personality. Mine is from working lines, all his relatives on the dame and sires side were working dogs. The farmer had a litter for a dog for himself but she ended up having 10! So needed to find pet homes for a few. You definitely have to have your wits about you or he will train you, like he did to my mum when we lived with her
Hes nearly 13 and a half and is still full of energy ( not hyper) He walked/chased after a ball for 3 hours today and still wanted to go further. Has had an hour or so sleep and is up again lol He will happily lounge for some of the day now though.

Here he is!