Border Collie

[starshrike]

I have a BC/GSD/Heinz57 Mutt that I got as a picked up as pup from an unintentional litter. He was free, they were planning to spay the mom after (the dad was their neighbors working BC). I have since dewormed, de-fleaed (oh god), utd shots, neutered, obedience class, and spent much $$ on him.

He is a VERY smart puppy, much brighter than both my previous dogs (full lab & full husky). Many of the commands I taught to him before we went to class, and he was generally one of the top pups - when he wanted to listen. Picks up commands fast, smart dog. He will be in either flyball or agility later. Somewhat aloof and will play fetch till he's parched, drink a bowl of water, and want to play again. I haven't found an effective way to tire him yet!

I took him to meet some chicks at the feedstore before I firmly decided to get chickens, he was interested but very gentle. He's a bully to shy pups though - he used to be the one picked on =/

 

[lorieMN]

BC are great dogs,my friend has many she trained and trialed,I have an aussie that has his STs,CGC,and OB titles,as far as energy it all depends on the breeding,some that are doing breed ring breeding are not as hyper,but should work well for the average person,at least you can keep up with them..lol.. but if they are from the old import lines,they will be very high energy,it is good advice whoever said to make them a house dog,and basic obedience,which is great advice for any dog,you can start them on runner ducks as a pup,and if you have some very dog broke sheep they can start on them as they wont go after the dog,but sometimes they dont turn on right away so they may seem like they wont herd until they are several months or even a couple years old,but most need training,they arent born knowing how to herd,do an internet search,there are many great trainers and handlers that will give you and your dog lessons,and they provide the broke stock,

 

[Buster]

greyfields, it occurred to me that if you are in Washington State, I may be able to find out through the people in my stock dog club here in eastern Idaho if there is one around where you are. Many of the people in this club have been around and know others who are doing the same in other areas.

Another thing to remember as you begin to introduce your dog/pup to stock is to KEEP IT FUN! At first the most important thing is to let them have at it and just have a good time with out exerting a lot of pressure on them. They need to learn to enjoy it and that gets them to work better with you as you start to get more serious.

 

[Laurena]

Hi ,
new here , just thought I'd chime in .

Check out www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php
http://www.bordercollie.org/buyersguide.html
http://www.bordercollie.org/lwbc.html
http://www.bordercollie.org/akc.html
http://www.gis.net/~shepdog/BC_Museum/Permanent/BC_History.html

Border collies are not a breed for everyone but if you have the time , patience and devotion they can very a wonderful very rewarding breed to work with . In comparison to many other breeds they are a higher maintenance breed for sure . The key to a happy and healthy border collie is providing them with enough mental and physical stimulation . A bored border collie is a bad border collie , they will get into mischief . They are a breed that you get out what you put in .

I have a two year old female bc , she is a excellent dog . Lots of energy but not crazy , she's always ready to go but is content to just lay about too . Very intelligent , sometimes a little too smart . I on average exercise her (heavy running) for upto two hours per day in addition to training her . If we miss a day , she doesn't go psycho , doesn't destroy the house/yard .

They are great dogs , just make sure you do a lot of research before you bring a new pup home . They can be wondeful dogs but are not for everyone .

Best of luck .

 

[froggy]

I have2 great pryneses and they are great with animals

 

[fowltemptress]

They can get very focused when herding the flocks, so be sure to watch them when they're working, and be ready with your commands. Growing up, we used them for goats, and my mother will never forgive herself for being distracted one time while working her favorite dog. In that moment of distraction, he was so intent on his command and the goats that he ran into the lone tree in the field, killing himself. They are extremely rewarding to keep, and so intelligent and focused that it can amaze you at times.

 

[Coco]

I have a pure breed Border Collie. I've had her since a puppy. She is a wonderful dog but is very high energy, hyper as can be and very dominant w/our other 3 dogs...so much that we had to completely divide our 4 dogs in to pairs of 2...she is with our Lab mix who is very laid back and doesnt mind her dominant ways. She was always jumping on our other female dog's back and then just standing there...nipping at her heels, etc. Our other dog finally got fed up and there were several "disagreements" between the two...which led to the split. So now our household goes on a rotation schedule...2 dogs outside, 2 dogs inside...etc.

When she was 6 years old, one day she started yelping and refusing to go down the steps, which she went down many times every day. It continued this way and I noticed she started bumping into things as if she really couldnt see well. We took her to the vet, and were informed...yes, she was going blind. She would end up losing her sight completely in a 2 wk period of time. The vet said it was either a eye disease which is common in the Border Collie breed...so you may want to look into that and research that more...or it was a brain tumor. After thousands of dollars spent and trips to a specialist...we found out it was the eye disease. It was a very sad and stressful on all of us, but we were relieved it wasnt a brain tumor. The disease has effected her sight only.

Today she's about 11 yrs old. She's not the dog she once was...she used to be so, so active and fun....and fit. Now every step is cautious and she knows our home and yard, but the only time she leaves here is to go to the vet's...which is always a horribly stressful experience on her (and us.) Luckily our lab mix is wonderful with her...her best buddy and seeing eye friend....he leads her around the yard and the house. They are adorable to watch outside, if she gets up and starts to walk around, he will also get up and lead her to where ever she needs to go. He is very patient when she jumps on him and plays. We always say how we dont know what we will do when one of the two go...they wont be able to live without the other.

Sorry, long post...I know. I love my border collie dearly...couldnt imagine life without her. But you may want to research the eye disease...sorry can't remember what it's called. Otherwise they are wonderful, high energy and very intelligent dogs!!

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

I have a BC and he is the most hyper dog ever. He never seems to be tired. We got him an electric fence and he has a ditch dug about 6 inches in the ground from running back and forth trying to keep the chickens in (they are fenced in but he doasn't know that). And whenever a chicken escapes unless he gets all excited and it runs from him (which they learned not to do) he just tries to keep the other chickens in

. Bud is very hyper and I love him but I don't recomend border collies to most ppl. They are high energy as everyone has said and if he doesn't get excersise regularly he will be mischiefous (even destructive). So if you don't do work with your animals that day then you need to take him for at least 2 walks that day. I don't regret getting Bud but I wish I had researched his breed a little more before I got him.

 

[inudat12]

Well, can't say much for BC's but we have a German Shepherd and when we got our first batch of chicks we brooder them right next to his crate. (Yes we crate train our dogs, best thing ever).

He couldn't care less about the chickens. On the other hand we have two pot bellies that drive him nuts. Why, because he believes they belong under the call duck pens cleaning up the food spills. So, that's where he herds them too.

We also have a cock-a-poo that was a rescue, boy does he love chickens. He will chase them until he or they drop, which ever comes first. Needless to say, he is kept in a fenced yard to avoid this very problem.

Tracy

 

[Becky89*]

Quote:
MY MOM BREEDS BORDER COLLIES I love my border collie Rose she is a Red and White 7year old female and she is one of my best friends. She is gentle and loving and has never once so much as mishandledd another animal.

We have a Black and white male that is named Rocket and he is 2 and very hyper he has a stronger herding instinct then Rose and he gently herds my little cousin around when she's with me or when he's bord he'll run laps around the border of our farm and never once has he or Rose ever left the property.

They are fun loving dogs that are mostly great with young kids and warm up to the family really quick.

Rose and Rocket's last set of pups included 3 red and whites and two black and whites with 1 tri colored male.

Rose when we first bred her before we found Rocket was bred with a blue merle and man was he handsome. In that liter which was Roses first we had only 3 pups but there was a blue merle, a red merle, and a red and white.

If someone tells you that Red and White border collies aren't good dogs they really are, I have had more success with Red and White dogs then the black and whites.

When you go and look at these dogs the best lines come from ABCA = American Border Collie Association.

My dogs and my moms dogs have lines all the way back from scotland and England and last september I went to the National Herding Trials in Gettysburg and they were awsome. I would enter rose in something like that but with her becoming old I don't want my Rosie to get hurt.

My Borders love to play with sticks, jugs, plastic bottles, and Rose won't lay down at night unless I play ball for a half hour with her and when she does lay down she has to have her favorite sqeaker toys Mr. Moose and Squeaker Squirrel.

I love my Rose!!!!!

picture one of those hugging smiles as a dog


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO PM ME OR EMAIL ME PLEASE

Becky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!