Border Collies

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:18 am

iceman wrote: One of our friends has recommended Border Collies as a great family pet.

I had always heard that they need a lot of exercise and time and attention.

So maybe both these are true...but i wondered if anyone on this forum has experience with Border Collies?

I seem to remember seeing reference to border collies in the .sig of someone

who posts to this "forum". IME they are fine as pets, don't need vast amounts

of exercise, are intelligent, and not vicious. One pet in my youth was a dog

trained to work with cattle and sheep, who hadn't passed the test, being

a little too enthusiastic. If you flung an assortment of articles for him to bring

back, he'd drop them all in the same area, and circle them. One unfortunate

tendency was to get behind guests and try to herd them, too!

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:46 am

Majuscule wrote: it just isn't fair to keep one cooped up with nothing to do.

I don't think I'd keep any dog in an urban environment, unless it was a toy

(or miniature).

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:29 pm

They make excellent sheep dogs

Attached files

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:47 pm

my favorite dog ever was my border collie corgie cross... she was as smart as a whip, and fun, and a great pet for my daughters when they were very young. Shadow came before the kids so when each was born, shadow graciously accepted her place in the pecking order and was a grand companion to both girls for many years. Dogs do well in working homes as long as you set aside special play and social time for them. Generally the spend so much sleep time that it works out well. If you worry about your home then put them into a kennel in a room that won't get to hot or cold during the day and make sure it has soft light and put on a radio and they are fine. Again just make sure you spend quality time with them upon your return. All my dogs have been raised this way and all were lovely. Currently mind you my dog has run of the house along with my cat and they get along famously and have fun amusing each other. Both has their own space and both get individual time when I get back home.

Der Wulf · Post by **Der Wulf** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:04 pm

Yo Minks, here's hoping you clean out your cat box more often than you do your PM box

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:05 pm

iceman wrote: One of our friends has recommended Border Collies as a great family pet.

I had always heard that they need a lot of exercise and time and attention.

So maybe both these are true...but i wondered if anyone on this forum has experience with Border Collies?You heard right. Having said that, though, if you can give them something

to do things will go a lot better for you!

I take an almost-daily 5 mile walk. If I were to have a border collie, that

would satisfy some of the need for exercise, and I'd maybe throw in a

game of 2-ball for 30 minutes or so.

They are capable of "hanging out" when nothing is going on. They are

devoted to owners, and just want to be near.

My Dad was given a border collie pup at age 73 and my first thought

was that it wasn't a very smart thing to do, because of the dog's

needs. But boy, was I wrong. My Dad has an acre and a half of land,

and the perimeter is cyclone fenced, so this dog has all of that to run

and my retired Dad to follow around when he's doing chores!! :yh_bigsmi

The obedience level is absolutely amazing... this dog has 100%

recall, even when there are squirrels to chase!! My very highly trained

gsd I don't think could do that. This dog does not wander off the

property because he obeys my Dad. Dad can leave the gate open

(with the neighbor across the road's peacocks strutting by) and this

dog will NOT go out.

I would not get one with the thought that you can leave it out in a

backyard for 8 to 10 hours a day while the family is at work and school.

Do that and you will likely cause boredom and resultant behavior

problems!!

Good luck whatever you decide and welcome to the board!!

minks · Post by **minks** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:23 pm

Der Wulf wrote: Yo Minks, here's hoping you clean out your cat box more often than you do your PM box

Oh DW you have no idea how clean my box is.

Love the kitty pic mind you and I dont' do litter boxes, jr minks does.

Mind you if you compare the kitty litter box to my mind, there is a totally different angle ahahahahahahaha

DW your a bahhhhhhd Man

devist8me · Post by **devist8me** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:01 am

Do these collies shed hair much? I have a rot/chow mix now and I'm forever cleaning up after him, esp in the spring.