to choose a Border Collie over a German Shepherd?

[PenguinBollard]

In about a year's time I'll finally be able to get a dog, I'm ridiculously excited as it's pretty much top of my life goals

I've always wanted a Border Collie (I've had Collies before) however I've had my head turned slightly as DP really loves German Shepherds*.

I love bigger dogs and we live rurally so I feel that a GS would add the "protection" factor, though of course BC aren't small themselves.

The biggest thing that puts me off German Shepherds is their reduced life span - just 9 years (Collie's average 14 years) as, although inevitable, the loss of a dog would break my heart.

Has anyone had either/both and can offer any insights?

We will be moving to a small holding with plenty of land, I'll be working from home and DP will be PT. We don't yet have any children and mostly likely won't for another few years. I have experience with big, "high maintenance" dogs, and we go hiking every weekend - and the dogs will get a minimum of 2 hours exercise a day. before anyone jumps on me

*DP would be happy with either GS or BC, he has no strong preference.

I second the poster that mentioned lurchers though. I currently have 2 rescues. Laziest dogs on the planet and are 40 mile an hour couch potatoes! .
If you can train them on recall well, they don't even need walked, you can let them off somewhere safe and they will zoom round a field at 40 miles an hour and be shattered after 10 mins.
( I do walk them obviously). Only downside to lurchers is their prey drive. They do chase small furry things like rabbits, squirrels etc,, so you need to be mindful of that. Though ours prefer the sausages in our pocket to rabbits..
Some are great with cats, some not so, but check with the rescue if you have a cat.
But that can apply to any dog...

I'd go with collie, but I'm biased because I've had them nearly all my life.

my current one is a Welsh collie that I got from a rescue when she was 7 months old. she's smooth coated so doesn't shed a lot, she's so chilled too, she lacks at lot of the boarder collie traits (Which I find refreshing) she doesn't crouch or circle and is 'loose eyed' rather than being fixated on one thing.
She's was amazing with the dc growing up.
But she does talk alot she sounds like scooby doo when she wants your attention.

Before I got her I was looking at getting a Springer spaniel. as they seemed to have that spark but maybe less demanding.

I'd search hard for a GSD from a family with good temperament and conformation.

I know a few nice and happy pet Border collies but I don't think they are suited to being non-working pets. I see a lot on farms and I feel that is their true vocation, and any amount of walking and agility is only a pale imitation of their ideal life.

I get the impression that GSDs bond very strongly with their people whereas collies almost see their people as the conduit to the adrenaline rush they crave.

I would caution very strongly against acquiring a dog of either (or any) breed who shows signs of anxiety or whose parents do.

The collies are lovely but need a ton of exercise and mental stimulation

See I just don't get this, all our collies have just been house dogs, not ever worked or done agility/fly ball..... just good walks and plenty of attention at home. when I was growing up all 4 of our dogs came from working farm backgrounds.

What I do see is that it is very easy to over stimulate a collie. Collies need to know it's ok to switch off.

I've had both and I'm team GSD here, honestly they are quite similar but for bad behaviour I'd rather a neurotic GSD over a neurotic collie any day of the week.

GSD all the way! The ones I’ve been raised with and then owned have all lived to 15 with few health problems. We always make sure to choose a breeder carefully, meet both parents etc.
It can actually be easier with 2 dogs, they keep each other company, play together getting excersise when out etc.

Possibly look for a “straight backed” GSD breeder. Or a Shiloh Shepherd ? Though not sure you can get those in the UK. You could keep an eye on GSD rescues - they often have beautiful GSD crosses that wouldn’t have the health issues of sloping backs and over angulation.

Consider a Springer. Outdoorsy, a 'proper' dog, highly trainable, but much less likely to be neurotic / a problem dog.

I would choose a German Shepherd.

Collies are over-bred and need a job of work to do, IMO. Even with two hours walking a day. They need a flock of sheep. they get bored really easily, take on their owners' neuroses ( not saying you have any, but..) and often suffer from epilepsy.

I only really have experience of GSDs (and Golden Retrievers- consider one if you like- they're amazing too!). I grew up with a GSD that was two years older than me but sadly did die at 9. We then had two others- a rescue- who had problems and was quite badly behaved with other dogs but fine around kids and one who we bought as a puppy.

GSDs are lovely dogs. They obviously need the exercise that you've already said you'll give your dog! They're loyal, friendly, care about their owners (e.g. react to emotions) and very intelligent.

On the negative side- other people are sometimes weary of GSDs as they are used to seeing them guard dogs and police dogs. For example with our Golden Retriever everyone assumes she's friendly whereas with our GSD we always had to tell people that ours were friendly.

Also I think (not sure) that if they are attacked by other dogs they're slightly more likely to develop a fear of dogs and then react negatively to other dogs in the future, than some other breeds are but I could be wrong with that.

If was to get another GSD it would definitely be a female as they're less likely to have issues with other dogs and more likely to be well behaved (young male dogs have more behavioural issues and are more likely to fight with other dogs).

Collies, as far as I know from friends, need slightly more exercise than GSDs, get bored and naughty easily (whereas GSDs are happy to rest between walks/attention [that is after age 2- puppyhood for any breed is a time when they never rest except when they're sleeping!!]). If you were interested in taking the Collie to training classes/agility classes though then that probably wouldn't be an issue.

In my limited experience I would choose another GSD over a Collie.

Collies are slightly more intelligent though and can be trained to walk off-lead in towns etc. and if they live longer then that delays the heart ache so they sound good too!

** Oh just to add, I wouldn't get another rescue GSD as they're more likely to have behavioural issues but if you're interested in a puppy then that's different.

Oh I forgot about the negative comments and people always being scared of them. Even this little fluffy one

@greyhorses ...I LOVE your dog...🤩

Q: Shall I get a German Shepherd or a Border Collie? Experienced with both breeds, obviously got the time and space for both breeds.

MN: "Get a rescue lurcher" "Consider a spaniel."

Standard poodle. Second after Border Collie in intelligence. Less highly strung, doesn't moult. Check out the beauties on Facebook Standard Poodle Living, Oddles of Poodles etc.

We have GS, bought abroad. One has the slightest of slope in her back. She is a pedigree.

I would chose a GS over a BC but be careful with choosing a breeder as suggested. I would also avoid a pedigree.

I am a cat lover and would never own a dog. However, if cats did not exist and I was in your shoes it would be a border collie every time.

Thank you @susanneLinder...I have two of them (full sisters) plus a third perhaps a little insane but two of them were accidents. I can confirm all other dog walkers and people give me a very wide berth which is sad as they are the friendliest dogs ever!

@greyhorses- what a gorgeous puppy!

Oh just noticed- beautiful doggles too Movingonup41

Q: Shall I get a German Shepherd or a Border Collie? Experienced with both breeds, obviously got the time and space for both breeds.

MN: "Get a rescue lurcher" "Consider a spaniel

Hahaha, MN thread drift happens again!

😍 Grey

If she was that experienced, why would she need to ask the question?
If she’s not that experienced I would be wary of both.

I have a border collie and two shepherd mixes. The BC is certainly the most excitable, and if we didn’t live in the countryside I think she’d be a real handful. But if you’re moving to a smallholding a BC should be fine. I personally would avoid purebred GSDs because of the health issues.

I've had border collies and they are lovely dogs but you do need space , I had an acre garden completely fenced ( and also a farm attached ) and would open the door as I got up in the morning so unless I went out or it was awful weather they had the freedom to be in or out all day , I did sometimes walk them but they mostly just were happy in the garden playing ball etc
They all had different personalities and temperaments , some were highly energetic and some were lazy , all were very intelligent, and some were highly strung and others really chilled out
I think they vary quite a bit
One thing I would say is they are very loyal and prefer just one or two people and whilst friendly can be very guarding of their human