Discussion
Will this be your first dog? A BC is not necessarily a breed I would recommend as a first dog (I am sure I will be flamed by people who have had them as their first dog though!)
My parents had collies and collie crosses almost exclusively when I was growing up. They were not the easiest of dogs, and definitely need plenty of both physical and mental stimulation. My best friend had a BC from a pup to old age. My OH also had BCs (from working stock), one as a family dog, one as his own. When he and I moved to a house in the country with 10 acres of land, I was sure he would want another, but he didn't, as he feels they really need a working home (again, pet collie owners, don't shoot me, it's an opinion!)
They are very, very intelligent and incredible dogs in the right environment, and if you can fully occupy them. As someone else has said, they can get neurotic if bored.
I've owned 14 dogs, but don't think I'll ever have a collie. They're just too 'intense' and 'high maintenance' for me.
But that's me. Ultimately, it needs to be your decision, but well done for asking.
My parents had collies and collie crosses almost exclusively when I was growing up. They were not the easiest of dogs, and definitely need plenty of both physical and mental stimulation. My best friend had a BC from a pup to old age. My OH also had BCs (from working stock), one as a family dog, one as his own. When he and I moved to a house in the country with 10 acres of land, I was sure he would want another, but he didn't, as he feels they really need a working home (again, pet collie owners, don't shoot me, it's an opinion!)
They are very, very intelligent and incredible dogs in the right environment, and if you can fully occupy them. As someone else has said, they can get neurotic if bored.
I've owned 14 dogs, but don't think I'll ever have a collie. They're just too 'intense' and 'high maintenance' for me.
But that's me. Ultimately, it needs to be your decision, but well done for asking.
ilovesheds said:
Thanks for replies. It would be my first dog, other half had good experience with dogs growing up though. So reasonably confident she can train it fairly well from a young age etc.
We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
Pretty brave getting one as a first dog.We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
Have you considered a Lab? They are very easy to get on with (much less maintenance than a collie).
How regular are your regular long walks? To keep a border collie happy you will need to be walking it for hours daily not just a weekend hike or similar. We had several as family dogs when I was growing up but I wouldn't have one now as they are such a huge commitment.
If you are able to give one the exercise needed then they are very rewarding dogs and incredibly intelligent. I have some old 80s home videos of our old one standing on its hind legs and rocking my pram to get me to sleep
If you are able to give one the exercise needed then they are very rewarding dogs and incredibly intelligent. I have some old 80s home videos of our old one standing on its hind legs and rocking my pram to get me to sleep
ilovesheds said:
Thanks for replies. It would be my first dog, other half had good experience with dogs growing up though. So reasonably confident she can train it fairly well from a young age etc.
We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
Not a dog I have experience with, but a number of people on here have Hungarian Vizslas, which seem to me a good fit for people who want the 'outdoorsy' dog which is trainable but also very affectionate and does chill out too.We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
As others have said, labs are also an option, as are spaniels (I do have a cocker spaniel, but due to her background she is not really 'typical'!)
ilovesheds said:
Thanks for replies. It would be my first dog, other half had good experience with dogs growing up though. So reasonably confident she can train it fairly well from a young age etc.
We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
Lab x alsatian - great dog offers everything you want We want a medium size, intelligent dog to enjoy the outdoors with.
We’ve had one as a family pet for 5 years. He was bought as a puppy and he has been absolutely amazing.
Ours isn’t one of the super clever ones, but he is very perceptive, even tempered, confident and refined, he just needs the slightest hint to know what he should do. We were lucky in that we visited the farm we bought him from and his mother and grandfather were both extremely friendly and not at all nervous.
I don’t know if it’s important, but we never castrated him.
As others mentioned, he needs lots of physical activity… he gets at least an hour a day… and every second day or so he is brought for a 5-10 Km fast run (accompanying a bicycle). This really calms him down.
Growing up in a farming area, there was some amazing BC and some proper vicious examples. I’m not sure how much of that is genetic or how they’re treated.
Ours isn’t one of the super clever ones, but he is very perceptive, even tempered, confident and refined, he just needs the slightest hint to know what he should do. We were lucky in that we visited the farm we bought him from and his mother and grandfather were both extremely friendly and not at all nervous.
I don’t know if it’s important, but we never castrated him.
As others mentioned, he needs lots of physical activity… he gets at least an hour a day… and every second day or so he is brought for a 5-10 Km fast run (accompanying a bicycle). This really calms him down.
Growing up in a farming area, there was some amazing BC and some proper vicious examples. I’m not sure how much of that is genetic or how they’re treated.
Thanks for the advice!
Sounds like it's achievable, but also a gamble!
Will consider labs when looking, they seem like a safer choice.
We have a detached house with a bit of a garden, would be looking at 2 walks a day, big walks at weekends, and my OH will take it running 5-8k two or three times a week. So fairly active but understand a BC will need this consistently.
Sounds like it's achievable, but also a gamble!
Will consider labs when looking, they seem like a safer choice.
We have a detached house with a bit of a garden, would be looking at 2 walks a day, big walks at weekends, and my OH will take it running 5-8k two or three times a week. So fairly active but understand a BC will need this consistently.
We have a BC, from a puppy. He is not like anything I've read on here! He's calm and pretty laid back. He's very gentle as well as very intelligent. He's also very friendly with every person and dog we meet on our walks. He gets two long walks a day, with extra long ones at weekends. He is now 18 months old and doesn't really need the longer walks but enjoys them and would walk forever.
If you get a puppy, make sure you don't over walk them. It can cause problems with their joints. We were told by my son (who is a vet) that they is only have 5 minutes walk per month of their age, twice a day. So at 6 months, they should only be walked for 2x30 minute sessions. It does depend on whether a 'walk' is a saunter through the woods or a full-on ball-chasing session!
If you get a puppy, make sure you don't over walk them. It can cause problems with their joints. We were told by my son (who is a vet) that they is only have 5 minutes walk per month of their age, twice a day. So at 6 months, they should only be walked for 2x30 minute sessions. It does depend on whether a 'walk' is a saunter through the woods or a full-on ball-chasing session!
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