Border collie?

[PrettyCandles]

Would a border collie be the right sort of dog for us?

I grew up with pets, dh didn't. Our dc (9, 7, 3) would like a pet, dh is unconvinced. If we had a dog, it would have to be a very trainable, fairly well-behaved, non-dribbly, non-smelly, and not too shed-y. I think dh would also have difficulty looking beyond the reputation of a breed. For example, I like Rottweilers, and have known good-natured ones, but dh would not feel comfortable.

We have a house with a garden, and plenty of opportunities for walking.

So, what do you think?

border collies usually need to be busy. they need to do something. It may not be happy just being a pet although lots are. They are also often a bit nippy as they tend to round things up, a fast moving toddler would probably wind it up.
I love Border Collies, I have one myself but TBH I wouldn't recommend them as just a family pet.

They are lovely, but so intelligent that if you can't walk them enough/entertain them enough, they will be a bit naughty, just out of boredom. I wouldn't have one personally, just because it wouldn't be right for us.

Have you considered old english sheepdog? My pil's have one, they have had about 4 over the years, he's so lovely! No shedding, they partly have that breed because bil is allergic to dog hair, but for some reason old english's don't set it off. Very trainable, non-dribbly, and he certainly doesn't smell (although that may be clean freak mil for you). Only thing to watch out for is dodgy hips, there is a test they can do on the parents (can't remember name of it right now) to see if there's a tendancy for it.

We had a border collie when I was growing up and it was not a suitable family pet for us at all. My dad used to take it running with him - not just walking - and it was still full of energy and excitement. It needed so much exercise we just couldn't keep up with it, and we were a family who walked, camped, hill walking - the works.

That's not to say all are like that but I would never consider one as a family pet again based on personal experience.

You're keen, your DH isn't. Guess who's going to be the one who walks the dog most... in the winter, with the DCs when he's not there for whatever reason, when he's poorly (and when you are, knowing what men are like!)? I'd just say be VERY careful about the idea of a Border. They need a lot of exercise and a hell of a lot of stimulation, lovely dogs in the right hands but miserable, potentially difficult ones when bored.

The "oh my god you can't have that near a child" brigade will faint at this, but I'd rather a Rott in your circumstances, or a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Oh WE had a lovely rescue border collie called Oscar as kids. We called him ozzie for short. He was a lovely dog and it had put me off getting another because nothing would be as good as him.

He was lovely.... we could play with him, he loved his walks but spent most of his time basking in the sun in the garden or chasing flies.
He was very affectionate and protective of us and when my dad died he really looked after us. I know that sounds rediculous but he really did. He would go and get in my dads side of the bed bless him.

I think he was the prefect choice for a pet but others have obviously not had such good experiances.

I too have a Border Collie, and yes I'll hold my hands up and say yes he is a lot of work.

He does tend to herd the kids (10 and 6 ) and feeds off their energy a lot of the time.

If you want a not-too-sheddy dog don't go for a Border- ours moults twice a year- they have double coats so you get lots of hair clumps, despite brushing ours every day I still have to hoover daily.

Oscar gets plenty of exercise- he comes on the school run every morning, then a 40 min run straight after. Dp takes him out for an hour in the evening too. At weekends he gets extra runs- we like walking.

We took him for a good long walk last weekend, we ended up walking 9 miles there and back, all of us humans were dead on our feet, Oscar laid down for 10 mins when we got home, then was ready for more, lol.

Having said all that - we wouldn't be without him, he is, as I type sitting laid out at my feet, and he's incredibly loyal. He's great fun, has a great personality.

He adores my son, and is his best friend, last weekend we had a BBQ and Ds fell asleep on a garden lounger we covered him with a blanket and Oscar sat by him all evening with his head on my sons lap watching him sleep.

I would yes get a dog but if your Dh is unconvinced do some research and find the right breed for your family. Border Collies are not ideal first time dogs.

I'm sure others will come long and give you some breed ideas.

spooky we have a Oscar , who also loves sunbathing in our garden

The kennel club have a page to help you find the right breed of dog here which may be helpful.

Fair enough, not a border collie in that case. Shame, because I find them very attractive both in looks and personality. But then I've not had to look after one (I had a mad but lovely boxer).

I'd not thought about an OES. They're lovely, too. But perhaps a bit big?

I'm going to start a new thread.

We have had Border Collies - we have one now. Our first 2 were older when we got them 3 and 4, both rescue dogs. They were great, the older one used to go running for miles with DH and she was very intelligent. The otehr less so because she'd been badly treated.

Then tey got put down due to old age.
Anyway we got our current one when he was a pup,a dn we had some problems with him chewing , but now he's great, he gets walked 3 miles to and from school int eh morning, 2 miles int eh mid afternoon, 3 miles to adn from school in teh afternoon and then again after dinner. He is fab with the DCs (mine are older though)and is a big softy.
he does go against the grain a bit though as he does tire out and loves to sprawl ont eh sofa. I would recommend them, but that's purely on my own experiences

I have border collies and have a 13 week old collie pup now. They are very full on dogs and not great for a first time dog owner (your DH). They do need exercise but the most important thing is that they need a job to do and need to be kept mentally busy.

You would have to train daily and involve them in brain exercises often throughout the day. Some collies can nip and the fast movement of children can encourage them to chase so you would have to be super vigilant with this. They require consistent, firm, but gentle handling and if they do not get this they can give you a run for your money!

I love them but I am up at 6.00 every morning sorting them out for first walk, they are trained throughout the day, walked for about 3 hours most days, we go to agility 4 times a week and a competition obedience class once a week- they still have energy for more -I am knackered!!

I have found that collies being very bright also need a lot of careful socialising in the early months so my time at the moment is pretty much full up with getting the puppy used to everything possible and trying to give him a new experience everyday so that needs to be mapped in the time they will take initially.

You would have fun with a collie but you may prefer a slightly less full time dog if you want to do anything other than doggy activities!

Depends how big your house is really? He is big i must admit, very happy at their house (large 3 bed detached) but at ours (2 bed terrace) he get a bit restless because he can't bound around as much as he wants.

I would say 3 is too young for a collie pup.

We are on to our 3 collie now, and all of them are pretty calm as far as collies go, and none of them would have coped very well with any of my kids at the 3 year old stage.

My youngest was 5 when we had a collie pup and it wasn't ideal (fine now 2.5 years on).

A lab or a retriever might be a better option - or waiting for a couple of years.

I wouldnt get a Border Collie unless it is able ot be exercised /occupied ALL day.

We had one, she was lovely and everything but she had soooooooooooo much energy and was also a bit nippy.

moonmother it is a good name

in my experience mental stimulation is at least as important as physical activity with a border collie.

Another alternative might be a bearded collie - similar character but not so demanding.

I was told by the lady who ran my dog training classes that Border Collies are really a working breed and it is very hard to keep them happy in a "pet" home. She said if you had one really you needed to walk it a lot and maybe do something like dog agility to keep them entertained. My neighbours have 2 and are always walking miles with them but they are bit nippy. My latest dogs have been a Golden Retriever and a German Shepherd, lovely dogs but both shed fur by the bucket load and German Shepherds are quite demanding and in my opinion not suitable as a first dog. I think something small like a Cavalier King Charles might be a good option for you.

I know people who have had BC and it hasn't really worked out.They are much more a working dog than a pet.Bearded collies are much more docile and easy going.

For not too much walking and good with kids I would suggest either a Cocker Spaniel or King Charles Spaniel.

Neither moult too much - especially if you get them proefssionally groomed and they both have very good temperaments.

Rotties are fab, and I would love one, but my DH is the same as yours, so they're out for us.

We have a 'mutt' - Probably collie cross springer or pointer and she is great, v intelligent, daft as a brush and loving towards DD, but hell she needs a lot of walks - we've never seen her tired yet!!

Got our mutt from the Many Tears Rescue Shelter - please could you think about doing the same - so many dogs need homing, rescue shelters are bursting at the seams

I have Border Collies, 2 small children and live in London. My dogs are fantastic with children and other dogs. However, they are collies with mostly show lines. I would NEVER contemplate a border collie from a working line unless I was able to work it or spend a lot of time doing agility/ flyball with it.

Even though my collies are calmer than working collies, it is still relative. Hand on heart, my collies as puppies were harder work than any of my children. You need to have a lot of time and energy to keep them mentally stimulated and physically exercised. If you are able to do that, they are the best dogs in the world - not that I am biased or anything!!

As for dog hair, border collies come in a variety of coats (short, medium and double coated). Our male collie is double coated and sheds constantly. Mud also clings to his coat and drops off in piles of fine dirt when it dries. He is absolutely gorgeous - think Brad Pitt in doggie world - but the filth he generates is mind boggling. Our gorgeous collie bitch whom we lost ten days ago, had a medium coat and didn't shed very much.

If you don't think a BC is for you, how about a flat-coated retriever - gorgeous to look at, marvellous temperments and I believe easy to train.