Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, All Herding breeds, Tell Me About Yours

[ShrekDawg]

I'm excited thinking about getting another one.

You have me wanting one lol

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I currently have what we believe to be a BC/aussie mix. (Picture's a few months old now. He's grown up a bit since this!)
View attachment 1983493

He came to us wildly under-socialized, under trained and terrified of everything. His previous owners had no idea what they were doing and kept him in an apartment all day every weekday and then gave him up when he started breaking things. He's also a puppy still, about 8-9 months now. He's gotten much better but is not over it so take my report with a grain of salt knowing that.

Surprisingly he's our noisiest dog, he whines a lot, barks at other dogs just walking past and needs a lot to occupy him. He chewed a literal hole in one of our walls in his first two weeks here. He wants to play fetch almost constantly. Even outdoors he will fetch, running hard, for literally hours before stopping for anything but water if you let him. He freaks out at other dogs and hides from people. He's broken a lot of toys, soft and hard. He chews through everything so much his canine teeth have worn down (he tries to chew on rocks sometimes that's how much he chews). He wants to chase chase chase the chickens (we're working on turning that into herding but it's slow) and the rabbits. He likes to climb on things more than any dog I've met and he panics when we take the other dogs out to pee without him and cries at the door even if someone else is inside with him. He eats SO MUCH, as much as dogs half again his size, and refuses to gain an ounce of fat.

On the other hand he crate trained very fast and despite his anxiety about being alone he doesn't cry much in his crate. He's deeply loving, wagging his nubby tail every time he sees us, aroo-ing with joy and bouncing around. He learned so many tricks so quickly despite having no training almost at all in the first four months. He bell trained in two days. He responds dramatically to body language compared to words. He learns from example very quickly. And at the end of the day he curls up pressed as close to you on the couch as possible, curled up as tightly as possible and sleeps.

He is a LOT of dog. But he's a really FUN dog. He loves to run and play and learn. And he's smart as a whip. You can teach him something new consistently in a day. He gets along really well with every dog he's ever met, even my grouchy arthritic 12 year old dog with guarding issues. He's a sweetheart and lovely once he knows you. He doesn't even lick, just climbs onto your lap and presses his head under your face for attention. He backs down immediately when told to. He's a Good Dog. (But aren't they all?)

So I would say that they're a joy to own but they are a HANDFUL and you had best be ready for it and have things for them to do! Or you will be playing fetch absent mindedly at your computer for four+ hours a day.

Our last border collie constantly shoved the ball into you lap. My older Aussie would do that too. It's something I don't mind.

You have the active busy border combined with the bull headed affectionate Aussie. That's a good mix. Once he matures he should be a great boy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I didn't know about the dysplasia. It's been a few years since I have read up on them. I was a bit surprised to see merle coloring in them has become popular lately. They used to be a fairly healthy breed here. I know they have become more popular since we had ours, which unfortunately seems to attract poor breeding in any breed. I'm hoping to find a good working farm dog line, but we will see.

The farm/working lines are best I think. I’ve heard they have a better off switch. Or rather actually have one lol some of the show line ones I’ve heard have been a bit neurotic and crazy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I currently have what we believe to be a BC/aussie mix. (Picture's a few months old now. He's grown up a bit since this!)
View attachment 1983493

He came to us wildly under-socialized, under trained and terrified of everything. His previous owners had no idea what they were doing and kept him in an apartment all day every weekday and then gave him up when he started breaking things. He's also a puppy still, about 8-9 months now. He's gotten much better but is not over it so take my report with a grain of salt knowing that.

Surprisingly he's our noisiest dog, he whines a lot, barks at other dogs just walking past and needs a lot to occupy him. He chewed a literal hole in one of our walls in his first two weeks here. He wants to play fetch almost constantly. Even outdoors he will fetch, running hard, for literally hours before stopping for anything but water if you let him. He freaks out at other dogs and hides from people. He's broken a lot of toys, soft and hard. He chews through everything so much his canine teeth have worn down (he tries to chew on rocks sometimes that's how much he chews). He wants to chase chase chase the chickens (we're working on turning that into herding but it's slow) and the rabbits. He likes to climb on things more than any dog I've met and he panics when we take the other dogs out to pee without him and cries at the door even if someone else is inside with him. He eats SO MUCH, as much as dogs half again his size, and refuses to gain an ounce of fat.

On the other hand he crate trained very fast and despite his anxiety about being alone he doesn't cry much in his crate. He's deeply loving, wagging his nubby tail every time he sees us, aroo-ing with joy and bouncing around. He learned so many tricks so quickly despite having no training almost at all in the first four months. He bell trained in two days. He responds dramatically to body language compared to words. He learns from example very quickly. And at the end of the day he curls up pressed as close to you on the couch as possible, curled up as tightly as possible and sleeps.

He is a LOT of dog. But he's a really FUN dog. He loves to run and play and learn. And he's smart as a whip. You can teach him something new consistently in a day. He gets along really well with every dog he's ever met, even my grouchy arthritic 12 year old dog with guarding issues. He's a sweetheart and lovely once he knows you. He doesn't even lick, just climbs onto your lap and presses his head under your face for attention. He backs down immediately when told to. He's a Good Dog. (But aren't they all?)

So I would say that they're a joy to own but they are a HANDFUL and you had best be ready for it and have things for them to do! Or you will be playing fetch absent mindedly at your computer for four+ hours a day.

He seems like a great dog!! Thank you for helping him.

 

[Folly's place]

Also epilepsy and eye problems, and less common ailments. Like every breed, issues can happen. Try to screen carefully unless you are getting a rescue or mix, then it's 'hope for the best'.
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Also epilepsy and eye problems, and less common ailments. Like every breed, issues can happen. Try to screen carefully unless you are getting a rescue or mix, then it's 'hope for the best'.
Mary

I know like Aussies they are sensitive to ivomec. Do you know if there's a gene test like there is in Aussies? Is it the same MDR1 gene in border collies? I would assume it is?

 

[Folly's place]

It's the same possible problem, and avoiding Ivermectin is best! Probably the same test would work though, I'm not sure. I do know that some of the collie people have it run, and it's a good idea anyway.
I suspect that it's so common in the breed, avoiding other issues will make more sense. Like HD, genetic eyeball anomalies, and epilepsy, which would interfere with an active lifestyle.
Mary

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Our last border collie constantly shoved the ball into you lap. My older Aussie would do that too. It's something I don't mind.

You have the active busy border combined with the bull headed affectionate Aussie. That's a good mix. Once he matures he should be a great boy.

He's a sweetheart and I love him but he's trouble. Like bell training was an adventure in him learning it, then ringing constantly, then figuring out he needed to pee outside or we'd march him right back in and not take him right back out so he starting to pretend to pee, then when we started not taking him out except every so many (2ish) hours after his last trip so he started to deliberately pee on the floor and THEN ring the bell.... Suddenly the idea of "if they pee on the floor just say no and take them out to pee! Don't punish or else!" was useless. So we had to go back to square one but if he peed on the floor we couldn't take him outdoors, so we started scolding him then shutting him in his crate when he peed on the floor, cleaning it up and THEN taking him out...

It's been about a month since his last accident. And he's using his bells consistently and properly right now. So knock on wood. Right now things are going MUCH better. But that's kind of how training everything is with him. He's smart enough to manipulate and cause trouble. So you gotta be one step ahead - or at least ready to react!

Oh, also it is the MDR1/2 that causes the sensitivity so same test.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Here is a good write up on it. Apparently it is not very common in Border Collies and is more common in Aussies, MAS, and regular Collies. Can occur in some other breeds though.

http://www.ashgi.org/home-page/genetics-info/faq/mdr1-faqs

 

[Folly's place]

MUST be smarter than dog!!!
Very difficult sometimes...
Mary