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Original poster

Border Collies - I am just thinking aloud really

40 replies

hereidrawtheline · 01/08/2009 12:53

I saw an advert in town yesterday for 2 female border collies, 10 months old, free to a good home. Which is quite unusual.

Some of you may know I had a puppy several months ago and had to rehome him because of his constant biting my DS's winky and due to DS's SN I couldnt train DS on how to train the dog if that makes sense. It broke my heart because I had researched for months and done all the right things and the dog was really for me. I wanted a companion for myself.

Anyway I have written off getting a dog until DS is much older but yesterday I saw this advert and it is playing on my mind. Partly because a lot of people said at the time things would have been easier if I had 2 puppies instead of just one because they would have had each other to play with. And partly because B.C. are supposed to be much better to train than Tibetan Terriers. So I must admit my personal longing for a companion for me has been brought back up again. It probably doesnt matter because surely even if I phoned the dogs will have already found a home but I just feel like I cant totally ignore it.

To put it bluntly, I wont ever have any more children. And I am 30 and have so much maternal love to give and I want company from an animal. So I sort of wanted a dog of my own to love. We have 2 10 year old cats who are brilliant but being cats they mainly sleep in the towel cupboard all day long. We also have 4 rabbits in a large enclosure in the garden but being rabbits they just want me to feed them then bugger off.

So... talk to me. Not sure about what just talk to me.

OP posts:

kormachameleon · 02/08/2009 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bella21 · 02/08/2009 13:08

See - I knew I was right!

foreverchanges · 02/08/2009 13:22

hello have nt read all thread ,just wanted you to know , that we had two puppies (given back to breeder ) before we found the right one. all dogs /puppies are hard work ,border colllies lovely but are v.intellegent an need a lot of stimulation .i have had a puppy for 2 months (a purebred staffie) she is 8 months now and i wouldnt part with her for the world ,even tho weve had the odd difficult week !

she had a genuine reason for rehoming (owner starting full time work ) check the dog you want dog has genuine reason for rehoming

think an older puppy is a good idea because it should be mostly toilet trained but still young enough for you to train your way

sure it will make a great dog if youre prepared to put in the love and time

let us all know what you decide .....

foreverchanges · 02/08/2009 13:24

i wouldnt take on 2 the same age though twice the work !

foreverchanges · 02/08/2009 13:30

on the good with children point ,i am wary of borders with children as they can be highly strung and nervy (sometimes)
i have a staffy and not many people know they are recommended by the kennel club to have with children (says on the page for staffs especially affectionate with children )

bella21 · 02/08/2009 14:20

I agree FC - staffies very misunderstood imho

minimu · 02/08/2009 15:26

Hereidraw Please think really carefully about this. I am a professional dog trainer with children and still would not have a border collie. Only because they are working dogs and need constant stimulation. They will need more than just a long walk a day. They will need a job to do, either large amounts of training, working trials, agility and that is a hug commitment for anyone let alone someone with young kids. Also Border collies do have that herding instinct if your little children run, a collie will herd and nip unless trained really early not to. The reasons you gave for rehoming your other dog where sensible and with a border collie you will have the same problems with bells on.

Also never ever ever get two dogs from the same litter unless you have hours and hours to spare. What will happen is that they will form a pack and take little notice of you and will be doubley hard to control.

The fantastic things about dogs is that there are a huge variety and there is usually one out there to suit your situation and I don't mean to preach but your life would be very hard with a border collie for the next 14 or so years!

fairimum · 02/08/2009 15:50

We have collies and then need lots of exercise and more importantly mental stimulation - if you have time to do flyball, agility, hide and seek games etc to keep a collie brain busy then great (we ar at flyball training/comps - camping in fields every weekend and we love it!) - but if you dont keep their brains busy they will find things to - open doors/cupboards/bags/chew walls etc etc and not just puppies!

2 dogs are sometimes easier but generally recommended not to get 2 dogs from the same litter- i know i would never do this as have the potential to have big problems - heard recently to 2 litter mates fighting over a toy while their owners were out and one being hurt to the extent it had to be put to sleep (obviously could happen if not litter mates too, but generally not advised).

Also collies and children are not generally considered an ideal mix and many many collie are rehomed for herding children and can be very nippy (after all are bredd for herding sheep and nipping at them to get them where they should be!) - not saying it can't be done as we do, but dogs are never ever left alone with the children and are very much our dogs and not the childrens!

Also need to think why these are free to a good home - if owner desperate to get rid of them likely they wont tell the truth.

OH wondered where you were as we know lots of flyball/agility people who rehome/take on collies to train up!

Original poster

hereidrawtheline · 02/08/2009 16:29

dont worry minimu I already decided to pass on them for all these very sensible reasons!

I was still thinking of getting a dog, from a rescue, around a year+ so I would be able to really get to know its personality and make sure it fitted my family. DH isnt keen so its backburner for now but I am open to thinking.

OP posts:

Spidermama · 02/08/2009 16:34

I had a border collie cross. He was the best dog in the world ever. Easily. We lived in London and he was so well trained we never needed a lead. He would trot along the pavement in front of us and wait at the next road for the command to cross. Fantastic!

I love that you have to take them out for long walks every day because they get you out, walking, in the fresh air every day in every weather and that's a wonderful thing to do. I really miss dog walks.

My dog used to get us out of London regularly too for full days in the woods or by the river.

Border collies are bright and easy to train, but they can be neurotic if they are very pure bred so perhaps get a collie cross.

I'm desperate for another dog, can you tell.

madusa · 02/08/2009 17:19

i have 3 children and a border collie.

She is lovely but exhausting! The only way I can get her to have a rest/sleep is to put her in her crate.

If she is out (most of the day), she is busy. She chases the cats but is brilliant with the children. If you're sitting or standing - you're deemed "play" material and she will bring you balls and will expect you to carry on playing long after your arm feels like dropping off! She is the same with the children.

She is very friendly around other dogs but does seem to "pester" them to play aswell.

She even drops balls for the cats to throw for her

I can take her out for a 3 hour walk and when we get home she is back to finding a ball for me to throw.

She just doesn't tire

foreverchanges · 02/08/2009 17:27

hi bella 21 staffies very misunderstood they are great dogs if brought up right my children have been brought up with them and ive never heard ne growl. i think the bad press lies in the facy they do have potential to do harm (as do a lot of dogs ) and a lot of people think they have a staff and they re dog is not one.pure breds are best for temprament ,i would nt have any other dog with my kids but mine has an exeptionally good temprament !

bella21 · 02/08/2009 18:41

FC - yes, it makes me sad when I see how many languish in shelters because people wouldn't trust them.

They're known as nanny dogs, aren't they?

everythingistaken · 02/08/2009 19:50

omg two border collies!! i have one and she's enough. free?? that's not good, can you imagine what they are like??? nightmares.
the owner is probly just trying to palm them of on someone else.

swineofthetimes · 02/08/2009 20:01

Do definitely consider having a dog hereidrawtheline, but I'm glad you're deciding to bypass on these two BCs. We have a BC x and she is extremely neurotic - she has always been far harder work than any other dog I have owned. Lovely as she is I would never have a BC or BC x ever again. Even at 14 she needs 3 miles a day to be happy! You can imagine what it was like when she was younger....

Good luck on choosing the right dog for you and your family . If you want a rescue dog the best thing to do would be to go to a decent rescue centre, where they have lots of experience matching the right dogs with the right people.

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