Collies.

Hate to put a dampner on things but I've been bitten 3 times as a child by collies, nearly blinded in one eye by one. I have a serious phobia of them (which is annoying as nearly EVERY welsh farm has one), parents have since had several GSD's and they are such kind, sweet, loyal dogs to family members and not at all sly. I have the Inuits (that have Husky in them) and when out they love kids.

My injuries from my second attack...
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Hate to think what would have happened if teachers hadn't acted so quickly.

Sorry collie lovers but I really don't think collies and kids mix...they really are sly....*sorry horsenut...yours are lovely*!
 
thank you for your comments on my puppies tia and i 100% agree with what you have said having a seen a little of both sides ISDS and KC i would now go with ISDS everytime they are much better tempered,but this is only my opinion.
 
sorry to see your story about getting bitten but there are surely good and bad in every breed,i got bitten by a GSD and would never consider one but we all have our likes dislikes i suppose.
if you don't think collies and kids mix you want to see my OH's grandkids covered from head to foot in my collies and 14 week old puppy rolling on the grass ...
 
14 week old pups are different to adults. The only collie I like is a neighbours, its the kindest thing and even though I'm still 5hit scared of going into the yard with her she's kind. I'm not talking one collie and one bad experience, I've been bitten three times and apart from the one mentioned above I'm hard pushed to think of one locally who doesn't nip your heels or grab your hand when you turn your back.

I think Katy should consider a Lab...soft things with kids!
 
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OMG - what actually happened? Did it just run into the playground and attack you?

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Yes, I don't really remember much(was 4 at the time), just that we were playing tag and then I remember a feeling like my cheek was hanging off and looking at the teacher and her face was covered in blood from where I was crying and it had splattered her. Thats all I remember.

The owners said it was put down but it never actually was
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sorry but i disagree,my 14 weeek old lives in a run with my other dogs and unfortunately much as i dislike it i have to go to work so my spend all day there and they are happy,sane and loving dogs.
my 14 week old old went in my uncles house last week her first time indoors and just flopped down and went to sleep
so don't be put off collies are great.


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Collies are great, but can you really tell how yours is going to turn out at 14 weeks? And also, your pup has company all day and the dog Katy was enquiring about won't have so the circumstances are different.
 
I wouldnt throw away the idear of a GSD, they are IME the most loving, soppy and tolerant breed out there (sorry to anyone who doesnt agree!).
We had two stunning ones when I was a child,both the best friend an adult or child could ask for.They had rough starts to life but NEVER showed any sign of agression.
They were "replacements" for our collie who had gone for me and my brothers more then once for no reason at all.

Of course, good and bad in any breed, but IMO cant do better with a young family then a GSD.
 
I agree....to the family they are loyal and loving, its strangers they don't like! I've grown up with two of them and pulled tails and ears and patted them whilst they had food/bones and never an agression, restored my trust in dogs!
 
in my opinion, collies are not suited to being fmily pets, i've always had collies and springer spaniels, they've always been working dogs and we've never had any trouble.BUT, we have had several collies 'donated' to us because they've not been suited to their family home.
They need so much physical and mental exercise, they are one of the brightest breeds around and if not occupied they will occupy themselves and end up causing all sorts of trouble - kennel or not.
I would seriously consider something like a labrador (golden or black - the brown ones tend to be a bit thick)as they can be goos strong working animals but also very tentative family pets. They are extremely loyal and good around children.

Good luck with finding a special companion but PLEASE think very very carefully before buying a dog, that in all essence, is bred to work.
 
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I like a dog who is happy with two walks a day and to mooch around with me on my terms and at my pace!

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Me, too. And I walk my dog at least five miles every day and run with her three times a week. Maybe it's because I'm a novice owner, but it boggles the mind when novices (NOT the original poster) talk about getting an Akita, a Husky or a Pointer for a "normal" pet.
 
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parents have since had several GSD's and they are such kind, sweet, loyal dogs to family members and not at all slyMy injuries from my second attack...
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Hate to think what would have happened if teachers hadn't acted so quickly.

Sorry collie lovers but I really don't think collies and kids mix...they really are sly....*sorry horsenut...yours are lovely*!

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Gosh. No wonder you have a phobia of them.

I actually have a huge fear of German Shepherds. I grew up in a semi-rural area of West Lancs and farmers would almost always keep GSDs on long chains. Sometimes. I can't tell you how many times as a kid I cycled along a footpath at top speed with a snarling Shepherd in hot pursuit.

I guess my rather obvious point is that any working breed can be nasty if raised incorrectly. My aunt has a rescued Border Collie and he is a sweet house pet (though he has to run ten miles alongside a bike every other day, with commands, to chill him out some).
 
You have hit the nail on the head there, any working dog needs to be taught how to behave from an early age. Thanks to those who promoted GSDs, to me they are the best, but I do think they need an experienced owner. A training class is a must with any puppy, and I think most of us seem to agree that a puppy is best to introduce to a young family. Whilst I agree that in a perfect world one shouldn't go out to work if you have a dog it is not realistic for most people. I think 9-3 is fine for an older dog, and as I read it the OP isn't planning to work yet but when her youngster starts school. A lab or lab cross is possibly a good idea, but again I would say the most important thing is to do loads of research, talk to breeders, rescue kennels etc and see what they recommend. A good breeder will always tell you if they don't think you are suitable for one of their puppies. Mind you I have done this and received loads of abuse, but at least one of my puppies didn't knowingly go to the wrong home. Best of luck and let us know how you go on.
 
think i have a bit of an idea what a collie will turn out like as she is my 4th collie and as for saying she is good at 14 weeks well my 16 yr old is good too and not aggresive or herding in the slightest.
i do think that a lab would make you a great pet though as they all seem very suited to family life.
sorry to all the GSD owners but i am not at all sure they would suit a family life i have been bitten or threated by these on a number of occasions and am very wary they also have a number of health issues.
 
I know there are alot of opinions on here - but I just want to add my experience.

I totally agree with Milor..

When growing up we had a rough collie (lovely dog - amazing with children etc etc.) when she sadly died my parent got a border collie - who they still have (She's 11 now).

I love our collie - but having had one - I would never get one myself... Ours was KC reg - showing lines - my mum had always had pet dogs and just liked the idea of a collie. I wish we had known what we know now - even though she is fab... they wouldn't get another...

on the plus side: She is very intelligent - will play forever, trainable, quick, loves being involved in everything, loves us and loves all adults.

on the down side: she doesn't like most other dogs, although will tolerate some. Not good with Children (partly as my youngest sister was 15 years old when she arrived - so didn't get to meet many children). She is Noise phobic - getting worse the older she gets. Also - you could walk her for hours - then bring her home and she would still want to play ball endlessly...

edited to add - she was well socialised with other dogs as a pup - the trainer at puppy class told us she had the 'border collie eye' and would always have the tendency to be like that
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She is both the best dog ever and the most difficult... My family still love her though

We chose a lab for our first dog (me and OH) - my family collie was part of the reason why!

Anyway - hope this of some use...
 
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think i have a bit of an idea what a collie will turn out like as she is my 4th collie and as for saying she is good at 14 weeks well my 16 yr old is good too and not aggresive or herding in the slightest.

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Eh? That's like saying i've had 4 children so I know what this 5th one's going to be like! And how do you know Katy will end up with one like yours and not one that like the one that bit severnmiles? What we are all doing is generalising as no-one can possible know how each individual dog will turn out, but the feeling on here seems to be don't get a farm bred collie as a family pet doesn't it?
 
Katy, if you like collies - i thoroughly recommend a bearded collie. they are very similar to border collies but do not need AS much mental stimulation. as a family, we are on our 3rd pup. they are a bit larger but alot are bred for pets these days. our 1st was about 7 when i was born and was an absolute gent around me as baby. when he died, and i was 7 - we bought another. he had severe illnesses but was a sweet and beautiful dog to his dying day. now we've got another puppy who is currently teething but is attentive and trainable and ADORES children (although there are exceptions to the rule)
i really rate the breed!
here's our 2nd dog:
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and our pup:
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the only downside is the grooming but if upkept it really is just a quick brush every evening!
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I think this debate is over but felt id give my story a go...

We have two border collies- both came by accident.

One was from a 'pet' household, ie. had no immediate working family and one was from a farmer out of a barn with all immediate working families..

which one do you think we have the issues with?

Our 'pet' type collie is very nervous, can be agressive and i would never ever leave him within sniffing distance of a child, he has a tendancy to nip and snap at every stranger who dares to try and touch him, he heards us both up and cannot be intergrated with any dogs apart form our other collie.
BUT he is a loving, gentle and extremely obedient pet and would defend us and his terriory to its dying death!

Now, the farm collie has never shown any agression to anyone, is extremely relaxed and stress-free, she never herds us up or chases anything (except possilby birds!)
she is not AS affectionate as our boy but has her moments, she also seems less intelligent and takes longer to lean rules or tricks.. i would trust her 100% with any children and any stranger.

Both live on our little farm with plenty of exercise (all be it they dont 'work' as such as we dont have sheep)

I think as ive shown above its impossible to generalise.
 
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