working collies

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mickandmurph

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i have been looking for a pet for a long time and have seen this 2 year old collie it is used to herding sheep all day out on a hill farm. but it keeps leaving the ewes wandering and going home. its only two i think it hasnt been given a proper chance as it does round up about 900 ewes somedays. anyway the farmer has branded it useless and was going to shoot the poor thing, but some local person saved it.
thing is now it needs a home, i would be willing to give it one but i live in the 'city' would a working collie adapt?
i would be taking it to work with me 3 days a week to the stables (but on an hour public transport bus and metro) but would have to leave it at home from 8-4 3 days a week while i am at college. the other day i will be out with the dog or in the house ect.
i would be up walking it 2-3 times a day or more!
do u think it would be suitable?
has anyone else had experience of working collies?
its also my first dog.....
 
A working collie would not be ideal for your situation, no. In fact, I would strongly suggest you do not go for this dog, as a first dog.

Collies can be very sensitive like a lot of working breeds and such a huge change in lifestyle could be very damaging to the dog, especially if it has never been off a farm before and you introduce it to something like a bus or a train - can you imagine how you would feel?

This dog will have a lot of 'chase/herd' drive also, could you cope with that and divert the dog away from this sort of thing?

Someone posted a great link about collies a while back, I will try and find it for you.
 
No, I would say a working type collie needs some kind of job in its life, such as agility, flyball, competitive obediance or similar.

However there are many dogs that would adapt to the life you can offer beautifully:) Perhaps a smaller breed, which would be better for public transport, and I would also say a slightly older dog would be better than a puppy since 8-4 is a very long time to leave a dog alone. You will really need someone to come and walk or at least let the dog out on those days, or to go home at lunchtime yourself to do this.
 
right yeah i had kind of come to the same conclusion about it but that other link really set it straight and confirmed it in my head. thanks for the link:D
as u know i will be a first time owner but want a rescue as theres far more that need rescuing then breeding. what type of dog would u recommend?
is it fair to leave it in the house for that time? :confused:
theres a possibility of taking it to colleg but it wud be in the kennel for some of the day. i am doing a ND in animal managment
but a dog could often get used to educate about training in agility or for health checks. then i could walk it at lunch time and bring it out for any free periods i have :)
 
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I'd go to a local rescue and see who you fall for!
Maybe a quieter older dog, 18 months plus. Three days a week being left alone for that time won't kill a clear-headed, sensible dog if you intersperse that with lots of activity on either side and/or crate train.
 
mickandmurph said:
why is it that most rehoming centre have lots of staffies and collies is it due to there high energy levels??
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I would guess that yes that is a big reason. Also because it has been my experience that staffies go through the teenage years hard and that seems to be when most people decide they can't handle them and get rid.
 
mickandmurph said:
its not to old to play or on megga vet bills!
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Would suggest you got insurance. A dog does not have to be old to get a "megga vet bill" - my 4 year old collie cost me over £2500 as a 2 year old. Have you really thought this through? What are you going to do after college when you have to get a full time job? I suggest you get a greyhound.
 
Lots of Staffs are also bred as "status" dogs, by eejits. When said teenage boy gets bored with it, or said eejit realises sais "status" dog is in fact soft as partially melted butter, they end up in rescue.
 
Collies end up in rescue centres because people assume that they're suitable as house pets and that walking is enough to keep them exercised... it's not - collies need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. They're super intelligent but develop displacement behaviour and neurosis very easily - take a collie out of it's regular environment and leave it alone for 8 hours a day and it's a recipe for disaster to be honest!

They're brilliant dogs to have if you want to do a lot with them (obedience/agility/flyball/trialling etc) and are very loving (though tend to be quite 'one-person' dogs) but useless as house pets. Westies are lovely wee pets though :D
 
Sorry, I don't think a Border Collie is for you, especially not 1 that has already been trained to herd sheep from strong working lines. If you took this dog to work with you it would probably need to be shut away as it would try to herd the horses, either causing injury to the horses or itself, I know I have 4 BC's and 4 horses and even though my collies have never been trained to herd their natural instinct is there. For a BC to be a happy, well adjusted dog they need to be doing something, I've competde at agility for 11 years with mine, done some obedience, HTM, 2 are registered P.A.T. dogs and do hospital visits and I've just started competing at flyball.
 
My Collie is a pet.I have had him from 6 weeks old and he is now nearly 3.He is on the go all day,luckily between me and my parents who live next door Floss is rarely left on his own.The back door is open all the time and he comes in and out as he pleases.The thing with Collie's is that as someone has said they are quite sensitive and need regular mental stimulation.A bored Collie is a naughty Collie.
 
Sounds like a staffy would fit right in if you really think you can offer the time and exercise every day that it will require.

I personally would not leave a dog home alone for 8 hours although as you say, access to a kennel with run would be fine. alternatively as suggested, someone would need to come and walk the dog during the day.
 
Thanks for the replys
Yes I do agree that dogs should not be left alone for 8 hours. Its asking for trouble!
And yes sanolly I do realise that not only old dogs get ill but the vast majority of illness happen when the dog gets older. But accidents do happen. So insurance is a must!

I finish college for summer end of this month so hope to go to the shelter and look for a dog. This way I will spend 2 months bonding and training ready to start college again.
 
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