Border Collies, anyone have one?
I adopted a three month old female border collie from a local rescue group. She is very intelligent, but her herding instincts are kicking in. When my wife and I are in the back yard with her, she starts running around like a crazy dog, biting at the backs of our legs, like she is trying to herd us back into the house! Is there any way to correct this ingrained behaviour? I have heard from a few people that to hit a border collie is the worst thing one could do as they are very sensitive and have long memories. I thought maybe a spray bottle of water, when she attacks, give her a spray in the face? She is not trying to bite, she is just trying to get us moving in the direction she wants us to go. She is still a puppy and her teeth are tiny, but when she gets bigger and stronger, the nipping may become more serious. Any ideas? Was I wrong to adopt this type of dog as a family pet?
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Perfect Dog Gretchen is a 50/50 Border Collie/Rhodesian Ridgeback - she does exhibit the herding instinct from time to time, but it's more like a nose nudge than a nip.
Border Collies are wonderful Family Dogs.
Doug0 -
If you don't have time to actively engage her in working activity (ie, agility training, rally training, etc) for long periods of time on a daily basis, buy her 10 fenced acres and some sheep. Seriously. Border Collies are very intelligent, high-energy dogs. They need to be worked.
Agility and rally is fun. You can build weave poles and jumps with PVC pipe to set up a backyard course.
Here is an exercise we do regularly with our dogs that tuckers them out for a while: tie a squirrel tail to the end of a 6'-8' horse lunge. Use it like a giant cat toy. Dogs love it. Be sure to let them catch it regularly, or they will get bored.
<edit> Clicker training also works very well with intelligent, active dogs. Make sure she understands that she DOES NOT herd you. And be sure to correct the behavior while she is a pup. You may also want to start spending some time on border collie or dog agility discussion boards. All pets require a commitment on the owners part - a very smart & energetic dog requires a rather serious commitment. Border Collies are great dogs and great family dogs, provided they have enough activity and training. They are not Basset Hounds (which can also be great family dogs).0 -
Our dog is half border collie, half blue healer. By far the most wonderful dog I have ever known. Great dog, I wish I had two more just like her! 
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I love that picture!!!! 0 -
family use to raise them.
intelligent dogs.
check for ticks daily.
tumors common.
arthuritis(sp) will be first sign of old age. they wont run as fast.
very faithful dogs.0 -
..I have one and she is the best! Such a natural herder it is unreal. She was a rescue also. The family raised "show" not field...BC's and she did not meet the correct ttemplate for a show BC; they were going to put her down ([:0]) their loss our gain, she is wonderful.
...Gun broke in a matter of hrs. A natural hunter also. She is the most amazing best friend I have ever had. It is almost scary sometimes of how she knows things. She is skittish around my grandkids, if they crowd her, she gets out of their way, does not attack/bite them.
...Very active, she works and plays hard everyday, and needs to. She has jaws from hell. I found her once trotting around with a 4' bois'darc post in her mouth like a small stick, not dragging it, carrying it...had to weigh 30+ pounds! The most apprecitive friend Ive ever had too. Fast too, fastest damn friend Ive ever had. I swear she can probably hit 35 mph+, quick!
She stalks squirrels, and I mean stalks. Like when they "go out" to cattle, she gets in that low crouch, and moves as slow as a chameleon, VERY slow and exact and USES cover and puts it between her and the squirrell shes on! I have NEVER seen THAT behaivor before. She KNOWS when she's behind something that the squirrell can't see her! She has caught several and brought them to me, gotta love it. Of course when I get several I cook 'em and she sits beside me and we share 'em, 50/50...only fair!
I would watch her around kids, they are sensitive,and can be a little skittish/jinky, but no big deal... and they do have long memories. TWEEK is the greatest, very lucky to have her, or maybe she chose us...[;)]
...not a good pic. She's chillin on HER pillow, she always lays on that, get her a new one ever so often. Has worn a bandana since a pup
she has about two dozen...and when you take one off to change it, she goes and sits in front of the drawer where they are kept...waiting on you to open it where SHE reaches in and picks one she likes, I SWEAR!! Love her to death!0
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