ok,so there is a difference between the two,but i have a dog de bordeaux and we are planning on getting a friend 4her. just wanted some collie advice b4 deciding as i know loads about northern inuits and we wanted 1 or the other(afraid my OH wont let me have both), where best to get a pup? kc or non kc? best way to train? are they as nutty as people say? whats the pros and cons? (nething else that you mite feel relivent let me no) and the main biggy,will a collie get on with my trin? ne advice from collie lovers out there will be much appreciated
LOL your in the same dilemma I was when choosing a dog, I found it very difficult to choose between the 2 breeds as I have ALWAYS wanted a BC but fell in love with NI's too! The thing that swung the balence for me was the exercise issue. A BC needs ALOT of exercise and stimulation and although I could provide quite abit, it wouldnt of been sufficent for such an active breed, whilst a NI needs only a meduim amount of exercise. A BC will require quite alot more exercise than your Dogue De Bordeaux without a doubt. You need to give your collie alot of stimulation if you decide to get one, if they dont get enough they will amuse themselves and cause mischief... Good luck with your choice.
trin likes all dogs,she wouldnt mind either way,her best friends at my training class are an elk hound and a jack russel. the dog either way will be a pet and a compaion dog. i luv northern inuits but im not sure wether the personality would suit trin,she likes rough and tumble just like an inuit but i try not to encourage it,if you met her you would understand wot i mean when i say that even though she acts like a mastiff in lots of ways she also has alot more energy than your average mastiff,likes to play with ne breed of dog,loves attention,and doesnt like being left on her own. the only reason we arnt getting another mastiff is because thats the only breed she isnt keen on,she likes being the bigest and is sure of her own self importance:smt002
I would say in terms of temperament and being non aggressive the NI is better as a lot of collies seem very snappy. Obviously they are a bigger breed and the recall is not as good always, but they are very good with other dogs and quite submissive. They also need less exercise than a collie. I would def get a male if your bitch is quite dominant as two bitches together can fight very badly esp if one of them wants to be top dog. A male NI would just let her be the boss I would think. They aren't the easiest of dogs but are very friendly.
Heidi1 you say the northern inuit isnt the easiest of dogs,well u've neve met my stubborn a**e trin,boy have i has to work hard on her to train her to a standard im happy with. DDB are quick learners but even when they no a command they choose wen they follow it. thankyou for the advice,i do luv northern inuits and ive found a breeder who is even willing to hold a puppy of my choice,ne colour,ne gender when she has the nxt litter. im doing my research now so i dont make a big mistake wen we get a pup in august. i luv collies to but no nothing about them really,worried it mite be to bouncy 4trin as wen shes had enough shes had enough. shes not an aggressive dog and in general she is very placid but she is very much incharge wen it comes 2other dogs. im incharge of her but shes very much incharge of everything else,she was even incharge of xena(my rotti)b4 she passed and trin was much younger than her
If you have either make sure they are from a breeder who has carried out the relevent health checks on the parents etc. If they haven't done health tests then wonder how reputable they are and think again. Also I think either of my two NI would out 'bounce' any collie! Though after excersize they good at home and are relaxed. Have you thought about meeting up with some breeders or owners of NI and their dogs to see how they are and interact with your dog maybe?
Heidi, I think you must have been very unfortunate in your experience of BCs. None of the BCs I know are aggressive or snappy. Peatree - not sure where to recommend to get a BC from - both mine are from rescue. Are they all nutty? It depends what you mean, but no, I don't think they are nuttier than many other breeds - they are just more focused. Where this focus is properly channelled, there isn't a problem, where it isn't, there can be problems (e.g. car chasing). BCs pick things up really quickly - bad habits as well as good, so you do have to be very consistent in your approach to their training. I know there are a lot of BC owners who will say differently, but in my experience, I don't think I would get a BC as a companion for another dog. Mine are focused on me, my OH & toys - thats it. They're not aggressive to other dogs, they're just not interested at all. It might just be that neither was socialised well when younger and getting a pup will no doubt be very different (although I do know several bcs that are like this, even where they come from multi-dog households). If you want a BC, be prepared to put the time in...they need to be well stimulated as well as exercised. If you are able to do this, they make the best of pets. If you arent, I could imagine that they could end up being a bit of a nightmare. Good luck with your decision (I love NI's as well & maybe one day will own one)
I don't know any snappy collies. For a pet BC I would suggest show lines rather than a farm or sports lined dog - somewhat less drive.
Sorry if I've offended BC owners. I have met a few snappy ones who seem to go for other dogs without provocation. Maybe it's the herding instinct.
My collies aren't snappy and I am not sure I have ever come across a snappy collie. I agree with Muddi, if you want a BC purely as a pet then consider show lines. If you are wanting to work your dog or compete in some kind of sport, then look at working or sport lines. BCs are very trainable, intelligent and quick to learn - you always need to try and be one step ahead of your collie though, otherwise they will learn bad habits just as quickly as good
The herding instinct has nothing to do with it. If the dogs are going for other dogs then they are owned by out of control owners who can't control their dogs or the dogs are of ill temperament. Applies to all breeds.
Totally agree. It's difficult to split the working/show lines as they do merge in the middle so to speak so do your research and find the right breeder depending on what you want from the dog. From what you have put, I would say a show line would be better for you and a good breeder would be able to advise on the right pup for you. Showing lines in the main are a little calmer, although still require a lot of mental stimulation to other breeds. Some of them still work. They make good all round dogs and are popular for obedience. If you are looking for a companion to run with your other dog then research it carefully. You have two very opposite dogs and the bc will require more from you than your other dog.
We are often near people with BC at shows and have never had a problem with them snapping etc, Seems wrong to tar the breed with the same brush Terry
My bitch will snap at or barge another dog if it gets 'in her face'...She isn't very friendly and doesn't like strangers but she'd never go out of her way to seek out another dog to 'have a go at'. If I see another dog coming towards us I call her over to avoid the conflict but you'd be surprised at how many times other dogs are allowed to continue towards us even if I have her on a lead...I often have to ask owners to recall their dogs so they don't provoke Tara into snapping. :?
If it helps any, I have a male NI with a female Rottie. They are great together even though my rottie is pretty dominant. My NI can be dominant too and there have been the odd spats but nothing that required any treatment afterwards. It was more noise and "my mouth is bigger than yours" type of thing. My rottie was just under 2yrs old when we got our NI as a 12 week old pup. They are now 8yrs and 6yrs old. They rough and tumble but when Kara gets tired she tells Trouble to back off and he mostly does. If he doesnt he gets a mouthful from her so he goes and plays with either me, the kids or his toys until he is ready to snuggle up with her for a nap. NI's are generally very submissive, friendly dogs.
Yes have to agree with Heidi, my friend owns an Border Collie and he is great at home with people but out on a walk if he is to be let off a lead with other dogs he has to ware a mussle. Our NI however adores all dogs and people and is no trouble at all anyware or with anyone. Yes they like to play but if walked they do sleep on return and do settle well. Keeping them with another dog i found is better as they do hate to be on there own. And long for your attention to.
