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Original poster

Border collie

35 replies

Blubell46 · 24/08/2020 06:30

Hi all,

Please help...

My dc aged 13 and 15 would like to get a border collie.

We have just put down a deposit and am now having second thoughts. Border collies need mental and physical stimulation

Kids said they will walk the dogs morning and nightplus teach her new tricks. Not sure if this job will soon come to me!

I walk 4 days and have fridays off. Leaving at 6:30 but home by 3pm

My dh works from home but is on calls all day so most exercise will be done mornings and evenings

My son will be in his final year of gcse and with everything going on and missing so much of school and I worried also that the dog will be a distraction.

I understand our lives will change and just wanderinf if we are making the right decision?

Please any advise will be grateful- thank you

OP posts:
Nonestopcaberet · 24/08/2020 06:39

No! No! No!
My border collie needs at least 2 hours walk in a morning. He normally gets three hours. Most of that is off lead on the moors where he can run free. He also gets a ‘short’ walk at night.
We got him as a rescue from a family who took him for short walks twice a day, always on a lead. He has issues now relating to that.
Kids walking a border collie before school and teaching it tricks, will lead to one very upset dog.
You need to think of another breed imo.

Celticdawn5 · 24/08/2020 06:40

That’s a no from me too.
Border collies need a ton of exercise and stimulation.

HeronLanyon · 24/08/2020 06:45

Not a border collie ! There are other breeds which need less exercise freedom to have good mental health.

Collies need a huge amount of exercise/stimulation.
Good luck op.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 24/08/2020 06:46

As a keeper on my 3rd collie I would also say no. You just don't have the time for a working breed like a collie. A short morning walk from a teenager won't even touch the sides of what a collie would need before they would settle for a while.

If you still really want a collie, try the rescues and see if you can find an older dog who is looking for a home. My 10yr old boy has 3 shorter walks per day now as he has some arthritis. He's still out for well over an hour in total and would love more, but he does settle for a good part of the day.

TheQueenOfTheNight · 24/08/2020 06:47

At their ages any pet must be your choice. A puppy could live until they're late twenties. They can't know what they're agreeing to. Don't do it unless you're willing to take on the responsibility during exams, illness, times they're invited out with their friends, jobs, studying, and all the life changes that you can expect in the next ten years or so.
As an aside I have a lapdog who enjoys being walked for 2-3 hours a day. I would not take on a working breed like a collie, springer spaniel etc as it'd be too much for me. Working breeds seem happy living the outdoors life, being outside for most of the day, with a strong purpose. While some individuals may be happy pets I really think they're best in experienced homes.

TokyoSushi · 24/08/2020 06:48

Oh goodness no, not a collie! Beautiful dogs, but working dogs really who need a tonne of exercise. Sounds like you need something much smaller.

Lonecatwithkitten · 24/08/2020 06:48

Border Collies are full on working dogs needs exercise and brain stimulation through out the day. Underemployed Border collies will go self employed rounding up humans or 'managing' other pets.

MrsZ19 · 24/08/2020 06:49

Hiya I’m Not trying to be a Debbie downer but it seem like you already know the right answer to this question.
Border collies are one of the smartest dogs and need so much stimulation it’s unbelievable, and it seem like right now your home is a really busy home with not much time to spare.
It’s all good to walk them twice a day but they still need to be played with throughout the day. For their own sanity but also so they don’t destroy your home through boredom.
I have a rottie and honestly she needs so much attention, I walk her twice a day For no less than an hour each time, but I still give her attention during the day.
it’s not fair to get a dog and just leave them all day.
I’m sure when the dog is still a puppy everyone will want to chip in I mean who wouldn’t puppies are cute, but when the novelty wears off And the dog gets bigger it sounds like it will fall on you.
If you feel like your home has the time and energy to put into such a big And smart dog then go for it because getting a dog was the best decision We have ever made.
But if you don’t then I would rethink getting a dog or at least rethink getting such a smart working dog and go for something smaller, smaller dogs will still need a lot of attention but not such hard core as a working dog
Hope this helps sorry if I came across negative it’s because I wish people would have let me know what i was in for when we got our dog

Chaotic45 · 24/08/2020 06:50

OP I honestly think a border collie is not an ideal dog for your situation.

The stock phrase for this breed is 'give a collie a job to do, or it will find one to do itself'. They need a job or mental stimulation throughout the day. They Ali’s need a lot of exercise and are not at all ideal for leaving alone for long periods.

I walk dogs for a living so I do know what I'm talking about and I know a lot of collies.

Of course there will be exceptions to every rule, but in all likelihood you will end up with an unhappy dog.

Also, training a dog (especially one with a high drive and high intelligence), is not an easy task. It takes time, skill and huge amounts of patience. It's not a job to be left to kids, even older ones. I would never recommend a collie to a first time dog owner unless they were planning on learning a lot about dog training and investing in the support of an experienced trainer.

Bored, unhappy collies can develop really tricky and unhealthy habits (as can all breeds), they often become very snappy and no one wants a house dog with thee type of issues.

ReturnofSaturn · 24/08/2020 06:57

There's no way your kids are going to keep up that walking regime Grin

No, I would not do it OP.

GCAcademic · 24/08/2020 06:58

Put it this way, we have had a succession of very full-on working spaniels, and would love a border collie. But we will only get one once my husband retires and is able to devote his full attention to it.

minnieok · 24/08/2020 08:08

I would suggest doing more research. Border collies once adults make good wfh dogs as they like being around their master even if just sleeping, mine sleeps under the desk. They need exercise but mental stimulation is key so chatting and interacting periodically throughout the day, short walk 20-30 mins in the am, proper walk (an hour at least half of which off lead) is the minimum. A large garden helps (we have 1/3 acre).

They don't actually need more exercise than other breeds of their size particularly but they bore easy.

Absolutelylush · 24/08/2020 08:12

They are really hard work. Our border collie was quite aggressive too and didn’t like children.

missmouse101 · 24/08/2020 08:30

I'm not convinced that a puppy of any breed would be good. You have said your husband can't devote time to it during the day. You can't ignore a dog all day long. A Border Collie would be utter madness. I think an older rescue dog would fit so much better in your household.

Lou573 · 24/08/2020 08:35

No! They’re my favourite dogs ever but I couldn’t get one as I couldn’t exercise it enough. 2 kids in the rain and cold? Not going to happen.

userxx · 24/08/2020 08:37

Absolutely not.

Original poster
Blubell46 · 24/08/2020 11:05

Thank you for all your advice, you have all really helped me.

We have spoken to the kids and said the breed is not a right fit for our family.

They were upset with tears and I think with time they will understand. In my heart I do believe this is the right decision. The advice given was probably what I was worried about.

Thank you for all being kind.

Today kids are upset and annoyed with me but am hoping that will pass in time.

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 24/08/2020 11:16

I understand the tears because they are spectacular fun intelligent wonderful dogs. Good decision op.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 24/08/2020 14:49

As a young teenager, I walked a neighbour's Border Collie and I loved him. He was beautifully obedient and really cool dog to be seen with. I wanted one ever since but the time wasn't right until I was the grand old age of 37!

userxx · 24/08/2020 15:24

You are so doing the right thing, they are beautiful dogs but a lot of hard work.

Borderstotheleftofme · 26/08/2020 19:53

I am disappointed but not surprised by the comments on here.

As a collie owner I have been truly shocked by the level of both negativity and misunderstanding that surrounds this breed.

While I agree that they aren’t always a wise choice for a first time owner or a busy family home with young children because of their herding instinct and the fact that some poorly bred ones can be very nervous/high strung/neurotic I truly feel they are one of the most misunderstood breeds out there.

None of the collies I know, including my own, need anything close to what people think they do.

I would suggest you go out and speak to actual owners and breeders, meet some collies and assess from there

HeronLanyon · 26/08/2020 21:14

Many Comments were from owners of collies ! I
Am an ex owner of a beautiful loved collie (badger) and my comment was meant and remains meant.

Borderstotheleftofme · 26/08/2020 21:21

Only three specified having or had one!
Plus one positive post and my own.

I’m like a broken record on every border collie thread but I absolutely 100% vehemently believe the notion of them requiring vast amounts of exercise and mental stimulation to be false.
That’s not to say I think they are easy dogs necessarily but I truly think the breed is misunderstood.

Pegase · 26/08/2020 21:39

I had a beloved border collie as a teen. The best family dog you could wish for, eventually. Loving and the dog of a lifetime. He didn't have hours and hours of walks a day although ran off the lead when we did take him.

But he absolutely did find a job to do / become self employed as he wasn't mentally stimulated enough- herding a family member. Never snappy with it, or ever in fact but was not ideal!

I would 💯 get one again but only when I had lots and lots of time to dedicate to it. Probably post working life tbh with our jobs.

HeronLanyon · 26/08/2020 22:11

Ok border I think we just disagree which is ok.
As for misunderstood - that sounds as though you think they are being hard done by ?! I couldn’t love them more.

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