Do Border Collies Like Water? They are widely popular as a working dog and are frequently used by farmers, shepherds and ranchers. This doesnt mean its The best way is to just dive right in! Some collies are fine with three 20 minute walks a day, while some need as much as a 6+ miles a day. While their past says they should be working dogs on farms, border collies have slowly made the shift into homes. For first-time dog owners, which is best, female or male Border Collie? The Shiba Inu Border Collie Mix Poodles. Rough collies require at least two hours of off-leash exercise every single day and lots of daily training and mental stimulation to prevent compulsive or destructive behaviors. In this article, were going to look at exactly what it takes to look after a collie, and what type of person a collie is suitable for. Your Border Collie will be a part of your family, and it will be a top priority to keep it safe and healthy. Although the Border Collie was bred along the border between Scotland and England, they do not come from either a Scottish or English breed. The most common issue is hip dysplasia, which can lead to arthritis. The Border Collie has large ears that sit flat against the dogs head. If you neglect to give your Border Collie the proper space, exercise, and stimulation that they need, they will seek it in destructive ways. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'trainingbuster_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',141,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-leader-1-0');So, if you are a first-time dog owner, these are some specific things to look out for in the breed. If this happens, they can become destructive and anxious. Pets provide a number of benefits to any household such as improving their familys overall fitness, lowering stress levels and helping to provide company that can combat loneliness and improves general mental well-being. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'trainingbuster_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',142,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');If you are an aspiring Border Collie owner, look into these games. Lets exclude the possibility that they will spend days being couch potatoes. Because they are so smart Border Collies can be highly reactive and sensitive. They are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and trainability. Without providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation a collie will cause chaos and wreak havoc in your life. Having a smart dog isnt a bad thing, but you have to make sure that you are smarter! In addition to all of that, rough collies have a long coat that can be quite tough to maintain and might be more work than an inexperienced dog owner would expect. First things first, yes Border Collies are easy to house train. As stated, this breed requires patience and skill, which not many people have. But if you are the type of person who gets frustrated easily or wants a low-maintenance dog, we would not recommend getting one! I am not exercise person but i do cycling. Border Collies are herding dogs built to run, work hard, and perform demanding jobs for their pet parents. Collies are built to run miles a day on a farm, so if they dont fulfill this urge, they can become distressed and frustrated. The positive in all this is that if a border collie gets the proper exercise/training, they can be beyond wonderful household dogs. You should consider all these conditions beforehand. They also have nipping tendencies, and although this is not intended to cause harm, it may end up hurting someone. Well, the biggest reason. Are Border Collies Good For First Time Owners? Now that you know a little about border collies and what they need to live their best lives, the decision is yours. Before your visit to your Border Collie breeder, you will generally want to ask questions that are going to help you understand what to expect during the visit. So a 3-month puppy needs 15 minutes of exercise up to twice a day. If you do not want to spend a minimum hour per day simply maintaining a dogs coat, then its best to stay clear of rough collies. The result is a pricey trip tot he vet. Knowing about their temperament, behavior, grooming and training requirements, and overall care requirements can help you decide if this breed fits into your lifestyle and if you can provide the best care for it. Dog Breeds That Get Along With Cats The Truth about Attachment and Loyalty in Border Collies! Any aggressiveness in collies is usually caused by fear, as collies can be skittish and take a long time to trust new people in their lives. Search our database of over 12348 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Many people love Border Collies cheerful natures and will choose this breed as their pet. For the average person, Border Collies are probably not a good first dog. Are Border Collies Good Apartment Dogs? Read More Here! Lets take a look at this: For centuries, Border Collies have been bred as sheepdogs who spend their days out in the elements rounding up flock after flock and herd after the herd. But my nephew has one and when i visit him she just comes and sits next to me. A couple of these include nipping and motion sensitivity which are commonly seen in border collies. They can also provide each other with much of their daily exercise as long as they are of a similar size. Read more about me on the about page, or check out the categories below. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Border Collies are known to be highly active canines. Golden retrievers are loving and sweet-natured, adaptable, and outgoing. Two border collies are great company for each other when you cannot be with them. Border Collies were a popular breed as they proved very effective due to their high energy levels and intelligence making them very fast, agile and able to follow commands. No, inexperienced owners might find it too much of a challenging breed. Collies require a specific positive training approach and they can suffer from traits that are difficult to train out of them without in depth knowledge of the breed, such as chasing cars and nipping. Yes . Collies are not a great choice for people who have never had a dog before. In an active family context, this means they need a good amount of mental stimulation, plenty of attention and enough physical activity and daily exercise outdoors. Do Ferrets Need Vaccination Shots? While there is no cut-and-dried rule for the maximum amount of time you can leave your collie alone at home, you must not leave your dog for 10 or 12 hours. For new dog owners it may be a shock to learn just how much of a commitment a dog requires as you are responsible for their health, happiness and general wellbeing. As much as you can give them. Reproduction without authorization is prohibited.All trademarks are property of their respective owners.Privacy | My brother has taught his Border Collie to find and retrieve antler sheds! They can also become sensitive about their food possibly becoming very picky eaters (link to an article I wrote about how picky Border Collies are). Border Collie puppies tend to have a lot of energy and can exercise for an hour or more a day. Are Border Collies Good For First Time Owners - Gaudog.com Picture the ball going through a barb wire fencenow picture your collie also charging through the fence. Border Collie There are two types of collie: smooth and rough-coated. Are Border Collies Outside Dogs If you are going to have your collie sleep outside make sure to provide them with a sheltered area to escape the elements. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. A Border Collie may be suitable for you if: A Border Collie may not be suitable for you if: Border Collies make amazing pets. Our girl is now a full sized 16 month, brilliant dog. After being bred exclusively to herd for centuries, they are also hard workers who never clock off which can be a problem. Contact, How To Prevent Separation Anxiety in Collies, Can collies be left alone? They are also very intelligent and need much more mental stimulation as well. Border Collies are an extremely intelligent breed requiring both frequent physical exercise and mental stimulation. They have strong and persistent herding instincts; this makes them excellent for farming or shepherding jobs. Like other working dog breeds, border collies have some unwanted characteristics that can be trained out over time. Owning a border collie is not easy. These dogs are bred to work, and if they arent given a lot of exercises, they can become destructive. ), see this article I wrote about eating rocks, dirt, and poop, article I wrote about how picky Border Collies are, Border Collie Hair Care (Complete Grooming Guide! Is Border collie ok with us ? Hopefully, the article about are border collies good for first time owners above meets your needs, everyone has a better idea, please leave a comment below, all your suggestions help us create better and better articles for everyone. Generally, these dogs are very obedient, and they need their owners command and acknowledgment most of the time. Are Caucasian Shepherd good for first time owners. Whether you are looking for a canine companion, a playmate for the kids, or an adventure buddy, there is a lot to consider before committing to a puppy. WebBorder Collies are not usually recommended for first-time dog owners. Hi! If you have a lot of other responsibilities or you are gone at work for a significant portion of your day it could be very difficult to find the time you need to keep your Border Collie occupied. Theyre intelligent, trainable and have many useful qualities as a family pet or working animal. They have been a popular breed throughout history with Queen Victoria having a smooth collie among her many canine companions. Maybe they are not as high energy as Im being led to believe? If you are willing to invest a lot of time learning about the breed, how to keep it properly stimulated, and take classes on how to train and care for your Border Collie then they can be a great dog for you. Border Collies are working dogs, they need a job to do! Not only is this proven by massive numbers of Border Collies in show business, but a British Columbia neuropsychologist named Stanley Coren did research and wrote a book called The Intelligence of Dogs He uses trainability and execution of commands to measure intelligence and as many predicted Border Collies came out on top as the most intelligent! If youre thinking about getting a collie for your first dog, its important to consider their high requirement for mental stimulation and physical exercise and ask yourself honestly if you have the time to look after them. Border Collies were originally bred to herd sheep. Border Collies are loyal, love to work hard and will give you hours of entertainment you will have to come up with plenty of new tricks to keep your Border Collie happy at home. They come from the region around the border between Scotland and England. And its good manners extend to cats as well as people. Because of these traits, they are highly prized by professional dog trainers for their easy trainability. Border collies can be great for first-time owners who have a lot of time to devote to their dog! First The shepherds who use these dogs will find them to be excellent helpers in their work. With intense herding instincts (they were developed to gather and control sheep), they are best for active families who head outside often. Even if they dont want to relax with you, theyll want to interact with you a lot of the time. Im thinking of getting a border collie as a first time dog but have worries about the horror experiences. Think 30 minutes walking in the pouring rain is bad? With proper training by an experienced owner, they can make a good family pet. Urinary tract infections, cystitis (bladder inflammation), bladder stones, kidney disease, or arthritis or age-related incontinence could all be causes of house soiling in dogs. ), How to Teach your Collie to Dance (Walk on Two Legs), How to Teach your Collie to Cover Their Eyes (Peekaboo! So, if you are a first-time owner, then this is probably not the breed for you. They are a large, boisterous, and playful dog with the energy to keep going all day long. Here is a list of jobs that other owners have given their Border Collies. Some people believe that border collies are good candidates for first-time owners because of their easy-going nature and trainability. (The Dog Tired Truth Revealed! If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission. Theyre not hurtling around the yard or dropping balls at my feet demanding a game. However, if you have the time, temperament and resources then there is no reason you could not bring a Border Collie home from your local shelter. Collies need fun and interactive training sessions that will keep them on their toes and will work their brains. Questions to Ask when Buying a Border Collie Puppy If you arent willing to invest the time and cost into learning how to train and teach your Border Collie, then this isnt the right breed for you.