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 have the best of both worlds, Moll. She is a GSD/BC cross, she is very very bright far too bright for her own good and my sanity but brain games and good daily walks keep her entertained as does her sprocker housemate. She also goes to agility but we do it for fun not for competition.

I've just read my post back and it sounds like mine were just chucked out in the garden all day opps - some actively worked sheep and cattle and later when we no longer had livestock We did obedience classes and competitions , we often went to the beach for an early morning walk ( and swim ) and they sometimes came around the stable yard if horses were not being moved around , or a just walk up the farm to check fences and stock

AdoraBell

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

With no knowledge of how closely the parents were related? Without hip and elbow scores and haemophilia tests? With no details on epilepsy in the lines?

Then I'm sorry, but you would be a wee bit daft ...

@Haber this is mine of the same cross. Interestingly they sound the same personality wise. I would say both the purebred Shepherd girls are much easier than the cross despite this one being 10 years older

I had a border collie crossed with a gsd. Best of both worlds. He was am amazing, gentle, intelligent dog who lived to 18 years. In all those years, the only time he needed vet treatment was his yearly check up and injections, and at the end when he was pts.

What about a white GS? My friend has always kept these and she says they are a more mellow temperament. Plus they’re so pretty.

(Although she always gives hers deliberately daft names for a pure white dog; the current one is Copper...!)

Whitney what do you mean?

Not trying pick a fight.

I had collies, and would consider two to entertain each other. Walking wasn’t enough for them. I used to walk them and then let them charge round our field for an hour after. We also had geese which they liked to round up occaisio slly ( not sure the geese were happy about that) and took them to agility. We also had cats which they used to spend hours staring lovingly at hoping they would deign to let them sit with them ( they did on occasion). I adore them but wouldn’t consider without substantial land and time on my hands.

Biased about gsds as I was chased by one as a child.

Agree that a something like a springer spaniel might be a good option is you are short on time or think you might be in the future.

I have a collie and vote GSD.

My collie is mental. She's calmed down slightly now she's older but she's just not chilled enough to be a proper companion dog.

My parents had a farm for a while and had Border Collies as working dogs. Lovely, lovely dogs. They do love playing ''ball'' though and you'll get bored long before they do.

AdoraBell, there are many health issues in GSD. Anyone who buys one without taking all possible steps to buy a healthy one is rather naive, I think.

Many unregistered lines (and definitely many lines of whites) are rife with epilepsy and poor hips. The OP has already expressed a concern about life expectancy in the breed, so why wouldn't she do her best to make sure that she minimises any risk?

Border collies win every time they aren't just the most intelligent dog they are the most intelligent dog by a country mile but they belong on farms not in houses

Okay, you are right about the potential health issues with the breed, but I am not the only one who suggested GS rather than BC. So why am I more daft than other pp?

Purely because you said you would 'avoid a pedigree', AdoraBell.

Oh, and point about people being naive- yes, my DH is totally naive about dogs which is why we have a pedigree. And why once our dogs are no longer with us we won’t have another one. Unless I chose a dog over DH, that might happen.

My parents had a rescue GS before they had me. It had apparently been mistreated. Some people said they were mad having me and said GS. GS adopted me like I was a puppy. Loved that dog and was devastated when we lost him. At the incredible age of 16.

Had another GS then. Soppiest thing on earth. Lived until 12. Parents had another GS after that one but only lived 9 years. So the age thing is often wider than you think.

Neighbours had collies. All mad, all barked a lot, huge amount of energy needed a lot more walking/tiring out than the GSs.

Maybe I should clarify, I would avoid a pedigree dog in any breed because there is a potentially smaller gene pool. That can result in problems even without people breeding them to a certain shape.

Which ever breed If you want a good well breed one next year you need to be applying to be on peoples waiting lists with health tested parents etc. I would pick a gs over a bc.

I would avoid a pedigree dog in any breed because there is a potentially smaller gene pool

LOL, sorry, it's not you personally, AdoraBell, I just can't resist such misconceptions ...

Your logic is flawed. By restricting choice of dogs to unregistered (rather than 'pedigree'), you are starting with the same stock anyway or it wouldn't look like its breed. Mind you, many from unregistered litters don't really anyway, as there are all sorts of crosses in some, at which point you might as well not pay for a 'pedigree' puppy anyway and go to a rescue.

By choosing unregistered, you actually have no clue if you're buying a litter from a mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister. Just because someone tells you they're not, it doesn't mean it's true.

Breeders of any litter, registered or unregistered, can be very wily. The only way you can stack the odds in your favour is by choosing a breeder with a reputation to lose, and with a documented history of health testing.

Haven't rtft. House mate has a border collie who is lovely, pretty chilled (he's currently fast asleep and I haven't walked him yet) but he's really skittish. We had to take him to the vets for a sudden skin issue and we muzzled him. The vet asked what his issue was I.e. people or dogs or both and we explained he was generally friendly but skittish and she said they expect it with border collies and German shepherds. She said vets expect they will try to eat them, she said she doesn't blame the dogs is traits humans have bred into them. That alone would put me off a both plus the utter bad breeding that GSD now have with so many structural issues I wouldn't want to perpetuate that.

I have both an Aussie and a Border Collie. Both are from either show or 'pet' background rather than working. They are both quite the little couch potatoes. Don't get me wrong, they LOVE their walks, running about and playing but aren't interested in causing havoc by digging holes, barking, chewing up things etc. A friend has 2 herding dogs also, but both from working background (ie pups straight off a farm) they are both a bit mental tbh (think destroying things, barking constantly etc) dont know if its just coincidence... but I think looking at the background of the parentage can help if its a concern. Most of this boils down to meeting a dogs energy needs.

I have 2 GSD, they are 10 now with no health issues at all. I got them from a breeder that had a young family and both my dogs are straight backed. Personality wise they are chalk and cheese, one is perfect...the other has every issue going, hates strangers, barks at everything, basically hates life away from me so I've come home from work to loads of things torn to shreds many many times.

Gs all the way. Am biased though as was brought up with them. Parents have had dog that lived to 14. Unfortunately our last 2 only lived to 6 dieing within 6 months of each other... was devastating. Have found out since 4 out of the litter of 8 died young prior to ours. We were unlucky but really shows you need to do your research on the breeder. We knew the dad but the mum was a newer dog to the breeder. She was also very highly strung as our girl was which the breeder hadnt really let on. We figured the dad being a solid dog would mean no issues with pup and trusted the breeder who was friend of the dads owners, funnily enough they are no longer fiends.
We spent a lot of time researching for our current 2 and found a breeder who looked for health and a good temperament (which was especially important to us as we have 2 kids including a newborn at the time). We actally ended up going with a breeder quite a way from where we live. The better breeders tend to have a bit of waiting list too.
Our 2 are lovely big softies who love everyone but people tend to be wary of them which is good as we are rural so act as a deterrent
Have best of both worlds, great dogs who work as a guard dog appearence wise but are actually great soft lumps, although now our boy is 2 have noticed him following kids round when outside in watch and guard mode. Just be prepared for people giving you wide berth, our daughter gets a bit upset as a couple of her friends are scared of dogs and because they are big wont come to ours for playdates 😯.

I've had both. The lifestyle you describe will suit both OP. I found both easy to train. My BC needed more exercise and stimulation than my GSD. Both were very loyal and prone to guarding me, which meant they were pretty much one person dogs. The GSD was more prone to this so was a great burglar deterrent! If you want to do fly ball or agility competitively get a BC, they beat other breeds 90 per cent of the time.
My B.C. lived until she was 14. My GSD was 10 when he died. Obviously you need to do your research if buying from a breeder, and accept that you'll probably pay more for a quality pup, but that's the same for any breed.
I would have either again but ironically I visited a rescue centre with a friend who was looking to adopt and ended up adopting a greyhound and a lurcher! Both are fabulous but crap at fly ball!

It was very late (in Australia) when I wrote last night about all the GSD health issues, and I was too tired to think about suggesting the white shepherd (Sometimes also known as Swiss Shepherd). They are GORGEOUS! Much more stable temperaments, fewer health issues. Very chilled doggies. Like the old-style GSD’s. I’m contemplating getting one as a friend for my batshit, anxious Shiloh Shepherd once we get settled. (In a few years time, assuming the doggie Prozac actually works.)