Border Collies

C

CSYMolly

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 February 2004
Messages
2,078
Location
Essex
community.webshots.com
So who has one and what can you tell me about them? Might be an opportunity in the next few months that I could get a dog again. I've always had big dogs in the past (not for the past 10 years though), mainly german shepards (and one rottie), how do collies compare to german shepards, both are very intelligent, sensive and active from what I have noticed. My aunt has always had them and they are such lovely dogs. My Aunt was saying hers preferred the kennel to living indoors. Don't take this the wrong way please but I grew up in SA and our dogs always lived outdoors and I do prefer that but I realise the climate is a bit different over here! I will be living in a flat but on a farm so although the dog can come indoors I would prefer for it not to live indoors. Is this being unrealistic?
Definately not ruling out another german shepard and the only small dog I really like is a border terrier.
Just thought I'd pick your brains.
Thanks in advance
 
I have had a few collies over the years, and they were all very different. One was farm bred from proper working stock, and she prefered to live out in a stable, but would come in to the house for a few hours in the evening. She was very strong minded, and just wanted to be outside all day running round trying to round up the house martins - she would literally run until she was too exhausted to move!
shocked.gif


The collie I have now is very different, she was home bred from showing/agility stock. She lives in, and although she loves being outside whenever I am, if I am in she just wants to be with me. She is much calmer and less "wired" than my previous collies.
She is incredibly affectionate and loyal and VERY intelligent, she needs lots of exercise but also mental stimulation too.

I love the breed, but be warned, some are much more demanding and "driven" than others.
 
I think it is also down to the breeding line. My Border Collie is from a line of working dogs and his main purpose in life is to herd, herd and herd the poor horses on my yard. It is all he thinks about, at home he stares out at the window to the yard and when he leaves the house he is straight to them 100 miles an hour lol. He is kind to them but they do get fed up so sometimes we tie him near to give the horses a break from him laying at thier feet lol.

At night he is very calm and chilled out and sleeps in his fav spot in the house. This is due to the fact he can run all day long and he is now 6 years old.

Jake is the most loyal loving dog however if we did not have the farm he would have to be sold, it is his life running free and 'working' lol. This year we are going to have a crack at agility which will be fun.

A warning though, Jake is loving and great with my two kids and never puts a foot wrong but...He tried to snap at my god daughter who thought staring him straight in the eyes at close range was a good idea. It was scary and I was shocked, he jumped up at her and snapped, it was a warning shot as he did not make contact and I pulled him off and gave him a good telling off. It is just this one thing he has done in 6 years, borders need constant exercise and be aware they can be a bit odd in behaviour. I wouldn't say they make a good kids pet in my own opinion, Jake was bought as a pet we could have running on the farm and for that he is amazing, I have always been a little cautious with him with my kids though.
 
Thanks guys, its all food for thought. I have had 3 german shepards over the years and they were all quite 'nutty' and lived for coming riding with me! I thought they had loads of energy but sounds like collies have even more! Its not somethign I'm going to rush into but I do love dogs that love to work and be trained and play and go for long walks etc.
 
I have two collies both are very different. Zak is from a working background and can be a bit of nutter is he is kept occupied all day. Poppy on the other hand is very calm and affectionate but still needs a good few runs a day.

We have alot of fields by us and they go for a run about 3 times a day. If they dont go out then they go nutty and working together plus with the help of the st bernard pup who thinks hes a border collie they try to destroy the house. We have fun with cars with Zak as he thinks he can go a round them up. He stalks them even on lead and tries to pounce at them.

Both can be a bit snappy. Zak can play bite when my little brother hypes him up he will then tend to nip his ankle to get him to play with him. Poppy though can be quite nervy around people and other dogs. She acts worse if she knows someone is scared of her.

I think having one on a farm would be great and as long as it is safe to allow it to sleep outdoors then would give it a go.
 
Beau is from a working background, and loves to be outside but couldn't live out 24.7

He started to herd when he was younger, but trained that out of him!

He is a big soppy git, although slightly mental at times!

Wouldnt swap him for anything though!
smile.gif
 
I've got 2 Border Collies - farm bred brother and sister. We do use them for herding sheep but funnily the girl started off with promise but has since lost interest (she sees a sheep and she heads off home) whereas the boy was a slow learner but has developed really well into quite a good sheep dog with, too be fair, not an awful lot of training from me. Both are totally different dogs. Flyn (the girl) is a soppy little thing who is so disloyal it's untrue. She would go with anyone and would stay with my mum without a second thought! Mika (the boy) is a totally different kettle of fish. He is very loyal and protective of me. Won't have much to do with anyone else and borders on being fear aggressive towards other dogs. Flyn I would trust with anyone but Mika I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw him and would never trust him to be with a child or an adult on his own. He is a very barky dog and people are always very wary of him. I'm always being asked 'does he bite'

I got them two years after my beautiful GSD went to sleep because I wanted something totally different to a GSD so I wouldn't fall into the trap of comparing. You can't really compare a border collie to a GSD.

However, this might not be very popular and as much as I love my two and wouldn't swap them for the world they don't come anywhere near GSDs.
 
We have had three collies over the years all from working stock, all bitches, all have been very individual, but all great family dogs.
Kes the one we have now is very protective of our boys even though they are now young adults, when she as younger she would try to protect any kids she thought were being threatened by adults, even jumped the fence into next doors garden when the kids were in a paddling pool and a couple of adults ran down the garden shouting, she stood in front of the kids barking at the adults. could get embarrassing when out.
 
I have one. The best thing to do is a lot of socialising with other dogs when a puppy. Mine is a fantastic nature, never bites, totally loyal, mad, loves to play ball. They need to keep their mind stimulated as they are v bright. Mine has got more protective as he has got older, never bit anyone but im sure if someone threatened me he would.
 
I have a Border Collie, my first though I have always had dogs, and I love her to bits. The brightest, fastest, lightest thing on four legs and very affection to the point of being a bit of a "velcro dog" at home. She was a rescue and I fell for her because she was so quiet and timid and needed TLC. Blimey what a change around! - she is positively raucous now and needs lots of exercise. I wouldn't be able to cope without a ball throwing stick to tire her out. I would have another one like a shot but they do need firm and consistent handling. Like kids they need to know their boundaries to feel comfortable and to function properly. They are bright enough to manipulate you if you are not careful. Agility for fun, if like me you don't feel into competing, is an absolute blast. Thoroughly recommended as a breed as she is small enough to take everywhere and light enough to carry if necessary. (Her party trick is to leap straight into my arms, side on and legs tucked in ready to be carried, on command!) Good luck with your choice, I'm sure either breed would make you happy.
 
Hi we have 4 border collies, 2 home bred and all from working stock. In my opinion they are fantastic!! They are very loyal dogs, very much "one man dogs". So much so that mine won't go anywhere near my OH (snigger snigger!). They are also very protective of our 2 young kids, especially our 2 homebred boys. They were born when my youngest was only a few months old and I made sure they all spent a lot of time together from the start. They are very intelligent dogs, quick learners but full of energy! They need a lot of exercise or they start going bonkers through boredom.

All of ours live outside, all year round. I don't ever bring them into the house, and to be honest, they wouldn't cope with the heating. They need to be in 24/7 or out 24/7, their coats grow accordingly.
 
Hi,
We own 11 Border collies/ border collie crosses
They are fab, and my parents wouldn't have any other breed
They are naturally herders so you have to redirect that instinct before they start collie nipping/chasing cars etc but apart from that, they are amazing dogs
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top