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hikerjer 
Group: Members
Posts: 9132
Joined: Apr. 2002
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Posted on: Nov. 19 2012, 11:31 pm |
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Two months ago we had to put down our beloved Sheltie who had been with us for nearly 17 years. It was hard, but it was time. This weekend my wife decided she was ready for another dog so off to the shelter we went. They had an 18 month old female Border Collie mix (who knows what else she has in her) there who seemed to have a pretty mellow desposition (somewhat unusual for a Border Collie, I know). At any rate, we brought her home and I think she's going to work out fine. Really a nice dog. I know the breed is extremely intelligent and hard working. Apparently she comes from a rural setting and we live in the city although we have a fair sized yard. I do have some worries as for her adjusting to her new home. Anybody out there had a Border Collie and do you have any insights or advice as to raising and living with them?
Thanks.
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"Too often I have met men who speak only of how many miles they've traveled and not of what they've seen." - Louis L'Amour
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wildlifenate
Group: Members
Posts: 5830
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 1:19 am |
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My experience with borders is through friends who have had them. They can be VERY intense and single-minded. My friends' borders all seem to have a single-minded obsession with the ball. Who knows how yours will turn out, being a mix. I can, however, attest to the fact that shelter dogs rarely keep the disposition you see when you meet them for the first time. My two both had parasites so they weren't exactly feeling their best. One had Coccidia, and the other (who didn't come from a shelter, but a lady who found him on the side of the road), was full of worms. They both seemed REALLY mellow until we got them the appropriate medications. Then they got to be as energetic as ever.
The one with worms, in fact, earned himself the nickname "monster" because he was such a dominant dog, he would not tolerate being picked up or poked or examined (since my wife is a vet, a dog who behaves for an exam is a necessity). It took a LOT of work (and probably a year or two) before he relaxed. Even still, he won't let my wife trim his toenails (but he's fine with most other people doing it).
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The GPS Geek
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rpcv
Group: Members
Posts: 192
Joined: Aug. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 8:36 am |
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Congratulations! A good friend of mine has a great dog that is likely (rescue) a border collie mix. When she was a young dog, it was critical to burn off her energy and keep her busy. They are smart and energetic and, left to their own devices, will not use their intellect for good  . Long walks, runs, agility, frisbee, teaching tricks, etc all help burn both mental and physical energy. A tired dog is a good dog and has happy owners.
The point about being single-minded is spot-on. Unfortunately, for our friend's dog, it means that she can never be trusted off leash, even in areas where it is permitted. She turns that single-mindedness towards chasing deer and will disappear. She is under pretty good voice control otherwise, but if a deer comes by, all bets are off.
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Silver Spring Wanderer
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cowgiano
Group: Members
Posts: 2135
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 11:38 am |
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Border Collies are working dogs. They need a job. Get some sheep 
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Chuck D
Group: Members
Posts: 7358
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 11:44 am |
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They especially like riding in the sidecar of Harley with no muffler. 
Congrats on the new addition to the family
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Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
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| Post Number: 6
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Echo
Group: Members
Posts: 6375
Joined: May 2008
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 12:35 pm |
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My sister in laws Border was obsessed with fetching, she'd run crazy looking for even the tiniest scrap of paper if someone threw it. I once watched her run around a recliner for almost an hour while my brother-in-law flicked a tube sock from one side of the chair to another.
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If Light is in your heart, you will find your way Home. (Rumi)
The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. Chinese proverb
http://echo-echosvoice.blogspot.com/
http://duffybarkley.blogspot.com/
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RumiDude
Group: Members
Posts: 13641
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 1:24 pm |
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Jer, Jim Fuller might be the person to ask on this. I believe he had two border collies.
Rumi
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“This is my Indian summer ... I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.”
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paula53
Group: Members
Posts: 666
Joined: Feb. 2007
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 1:54 pm |
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I have 2 dogs, both are lab & border collie mix. Dad is a strapping lab, Mom is a border collie. They are very smart,and very loving. We have had the girl pup since she was 6 weeks old. My boy dog was a Christmas present. Brother and sister. They potty trained easily, are obsessed with a tennis ball, and the male likes to watch television! Very smart, train easily, but still tug on the leash early in their walk. The male is quiet, but the female is very vocal. She will walk up to you and start a conversation with you. Both are shy around other people. The male is very clingy, he will follow me around the house, if I sit down, he will place his head in my lap. When I lay on the couch, he will flop down beside me, and lay on my legs.
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JimInMD
Group: Members
Posts: 3112
Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 2:02 pm |
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Very good friends of mine had one for years and I was a frequent visitor to their home throughout the life of the dog. When they got him, he was a rescue who's prior owners couldn't deal with his energy. My friends didn't do much better, until they visited friends that had a pet tortoise. The dog was mesmerized and would lay for hours, watching the tortoise do absolutely nothing. When it would get up and move around, the dog would follow it and then lay back down to wait for it to move again. Being smart folks, they got him his own pet tortoise in short order and the dog would happily spend the hours they were gone "playing" with his pet.
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Checking out for a while, find me on FB.
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TDale
Group: Members
Posts: 13138
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 6:38 pm |
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Good thing we can't her tortoise screams.
Dogs can.
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"Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again...They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."
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no_granola
minor deity
Group: Members
Posts: 12559
Joined: Dec. 2004
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 8:10 pm |
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They're active, but you're retired right?
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The difference between people who think for themselves and those that follow the herd is that thinking people aren't afraid of reality.
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| Post Number: 16
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
