Border collie, yes or no?

[CandyApple1995]

Do border collies make good family pets, yes or no? Would love to hear from people who own this breed, and why you would, or wouldn't recommend. Thanks 😊

Well I’m a massive fan. Got ours last year and he is AMAZING. He is from a show line however which I think is important as he is more chilled out

Your collie is so beautiful 😍

And I do agree that ‘low drive’ collies are often easier pets but personally, I do worry about the deliberate breeding of low drive working dogs.

If you look at many of the most popular working dog breeds; Golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and Setters for example there is such a huge divide now in both their looks and their temperament they could arguably be classed as different breeds.

In some, the ‘original’ working type dog has become so rare that people no longer recognise it as that breed and they are very difficult to find if you want to buy one as a pet.
Basset hounds and clumber spaniels for example.

I wouldn’t want the Border collie to go the same way and I am sorry to say that I think you can already start to see a noticeable difference in type to many of the ‘original’ collies.

I’m seeing a lot of show collies with a very heavy, luxurious coat that wouldn’t be ideal for working, a stockier shape which again isn’t ideal for working and a bigger, ‘blockier’ head for example.

I would hate to see the Kennel Club ruin yet another lovely working breed.

Oh my goodness, all of your dogs are just adorable. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for showing me everyone! And thanks for the further advice, I really do appreciate it. I'm sure there will be other people watching this thread who are finding it just as interesting!

@CollieDug, thankyou for your post!!! I knew there would be at least one person with a really positive response X

We have a rescue border collie, who is the most relaxed, chilled dog ever! He is great with our kids and other dogs, and very low maintenance. He does love a tennis ball! He is the second one we have had, the first was a more typical collie behaviour wise (postman obsession, barking at and lunging at cyclists etc but was also a wonderful dog. He taught our kids how to behave around dogs from a young age. I can't imagine not having a collie in my life!

If you look at many of the most popular working dog breeds; Golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and Setters for example there is such a huge divide now in both their looks and their temperament they could arguably be classed as different breeds.
I 100% agree with you there. I'd add labradors and springers to your list. I don't particularly have a problem with people developing a pet line of a breed, because that way you should end up with dogs with temperaments more suited to the lives they will lead, but I do wish they'd change the name... Show-line cockers were not developed to search for and flush game, they were developed to look cute and trot round a ring.

I

knew there would be at least one person with a really positive response

Mmm, I know in some ways I’ve probably painted the breed in a somewhat negative light, as have some other posters, what with talk of being ‘High strung’ and possible nervousness and noise sensitivity and high prey drive and other dogs being nervous of them and herding drive being problematic, obsessive behaviour etc but as another PP pointed out, rescues are heaving with collies, collies (and staffs and greys/lurchers) are some of the most common breeds to find there and it is often because people didn’t expect traits like the above to crop up and can’t cope when/if they do.

I love this breed and I love my dog.
The poor perception of them from other dogs is the main reason why I probably wouldn’t have another as it’s too stressful for me but they certainly are lovely, sweet, sensitive, beautiful clever dogs.

I didn’t mean to make them out to be horrors necessarily but It’s really important to be aware of the potential negatives of a breed as well as the positives.

Also, and please don’t think I am trying to be rude or offensive here because I am really really not, but there is often a noticeable difference in temperament between show line and working so colliedugs experience of their collie is likely a little different to most other owners experiences.

I would agree on the lab front, @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman & @frostedviolets. I have a working type and he is a world away from show types, in terms of conformation.

FWIW, my limited experience of collies (meeting them and owners in the park) is that they are very ‘owner’ and ball focused. They aren’t interested in making doggy friends at all. Reading this thread, that seems to be quite a common trait.

@frostedviolets

I totally agree regarding difference between show and working. I also think our beautiful boy is possibly not typical (that said, it was because of positive experiences previously with colies that we considered one)

When we met his parents (and granny!) they were all really friendly and not hyper. The dad was especially chilled out and the breeder said he was the most laid back collie she’d had- so that was also very encouraging.

But I do think we made a huge effort with him. I am very used to dogs and think I am quite reassuring to them (I’m autistic and find animals much easier than humans)

So yes - huge difference between work and show and for a Family pet I’d get show-line.

(I was also told by the breeder that males tend to be more laid back than females ; obviously a generalisation but that was her experience).

I also think our beautiful boy is possibly not typical
I think he probably is typical for a show line collie.
But perhaps not a traditional worker, for example, in your post you said about him being ‘loving everyone’ but the breed is usually aloof and disinterested in others and I certainly find that to be the case with mine and other collies of working heritage I know.

When we met his parents (and granny!) they were all really friendly and not hyper. The dad was especially chilled out and the breeder said he was the most laid back collie she’d had- so that was also very encouraging
His family sound adorable 😍

So yes - huge difference between work and show and for a Family pet I’d get show-line
I do agree with you in that lower working drive is often more suited for family life.

I just personally worry about the same divide reaching the collie and the working collie becoming unusual as has happened in certain other breeds.

(I was also told by the breeder that males tend to be more laid back than females ; obviously a generalisation but that was her experience)
I have heard this also.

My show line collie is obvioulsy the most handsome collie there is BUT he is the most highly strung dog I have ever owned. I have spent hours and hours on his behaviour and getting him happy to cope with normal living. He will always be "special"

However the working line dogs have an off switch and are much easier to live with. Working line dogs can not be neurotic they need to be confident to work. A confident dog is way easier to live with than a worried dog

Totally disagree with the sex of the breed affecting temperament - that is just ancedotal.

The divide is already there in working and show collie. Look at crufts next week. The show collies will have shorter legs and muzzles and a wider chest.

However the working line dogs have an off switch and are much easier to live with. Working line dogs can not be neurotic they need to be confident to work. A confident dog is way easier to live with than a worried dog
If my (working line) gets lots of high adrenaline exercise like agility, ball throwing etc and lots of mental stimulation, which is what the majority of people seem to think collies need, she is a nightmare

But treated like an ‘average pet’, nice long, calm walks, the occasional bit of trick training or occasional game of tug or tennis ball and she is a delight.

So, so placid and lazy.
Yes she is always willing to get up and go for however long you want her to, but if we’re in the house, she’s snoozing

A few posters have mentioned getting a collie from a rescue, but in my area the rescue centres won't let you have a collie unless you've got experience with collies. Just something to be aware of

Totally disagree with the sex of the breed affecting temperament - that is just ancedotal*

I agree it’s anecdotal (as I said it was a generalisation) but breeder has been breeding Collies for past 40 years hence why I thought she probably had enough collective anecdotes to make a generalisation (but not, obviously a statistically meaningful and scientifically sound hypothesis).

@Lazydaisydaydream

in my area the rescue centres won't let you have a collie unless you've got experience with collies

That's incredibly sad and I suspect either means they only have 'tricky' collies or don't have much collie experience themselves. There are plenty of breed specific rescues who will not take this attitude.

That's incredibly sad and I suspect either means they only have 'tricky' collies or don't have much collie experience themselves. There are plenty of breed specific rescues who will not take this attitude

The second I suspect.
I too, have seen quite a few collies advertised with a requirement of previous collie experience

My collie x is my soul dog, no idea what he’s crossed with though as he’s a rescue, but have had him since he was 9 weeks, came over from Ireland with his mum (failed farm dog) and siblings.

He’s very very clever, noise reactive which has been a bit of a pain, also doesn’t like hot air balloons due to the noise they make. Has got a high prey drive, can’t let our chickens free range or he’d kill them, although absolutely fine with our cat who he grew up with. Doesn’t have the herding instinct thankfully, that can be a pain to train. He’s great with the kids, was always brilliant with food but is a pain in the arse with it now (he’s 14 and a half and ruled by his belly!). He’s my dog, likes everyone else but if I leave a room he waits by the door until I come back, doesn’t matter who else is there with him. When I was pregnant and we saw other people on walks he’d always make sure he was between me and them.

I adore him and will be devastated when he dies.

I’m not sure I could have another collie though as 1)I’ll always compare them to him and that wouldn’t be far 2)I don’t have the time that I had when I got him, I was 23 and he was my baby, now I have young children I don’t think I’d have the time he had put into him in regards to training etc, may re think this when the boys are grown up.

In terms of what dog breeds I would consider, we also have a border terrier, honestly one of the easiest dogs in the world, he isn’t a massive fan of labradors as they scare the shit out of him but he’s great in the house and walks on the lead like a dream, small enough that you can take him most places without people minding and not particularly happy for a small dog, again lives happily with our cat and I could trust him around the chickens if they were free ranging, brilliant with the children and very gentle. I’d also like a working cocker spaniel or a working golden retriever.

happy for a small dog = yappy for a small dog

@frostedviolets what i meant was that I knew there were bound to be people out there who owned collies who'd had great experiences with them as family pets, I should have elaborated on that in my reply! Of course I wouldn't want to go ahead and get one based on just one persons positive experience, I did want to hear about all the ups and downs so I could make a properly informed decision. I posted that in a hurry and then regreted it as it sounded like I wasn't taking any other advice into consideration!

Do you think it's safe to get a rescue if the dog would be living with children? Just worried about not knowing the dogs history etc. But it's definitely something I would look into.

Our BC is a failed sheepdog and definitely has an off switch. He has 3 good walks a day and some running around in the garden, but otherwise is happy to chill and crash out on the sofa. Like @frostedviolets dog, he gets a bit hyper with too much high adrenaline activity so we keep crazy ball chasing down. He's very affectionate indeed!

We still have some issues with him wanting to chase cyclists and runners, but he has stopped veering at cars thankfully. He is absolutely fine with other dogs but can be nervous of people if they are too in his face.

As a breed, I'd say they are more neurotic than average and need a lot of training input to work on some of these neuroses. Our dog has made huge progress since we got him as an under-socialised ex-farm dog - it is not a breed for someone who doesn't have a lot of time. Rescues often come with a lot of problems sadly - lots of BCs available in rescue centres across the country due to how easy it is to mess them up.

dartmoor
We have a cat and I had ruled out a border terrier as I thought all terriers chased cats! I will think again.

I’m the 14 years I’ve had dogs I’ve met many breeds and I can honestly say I’ve never met a dodgy Golden Retriever. They seem like the perfect family dog, good natured, energetic, playful but gentle and laid back.

I can’t say the same for Border Collies to be honest or even Labs. I’ve met a few horrible Labs.

Do you think it's safe to get a rescue if the dog would be living with children? Just worried about not knowing the dogs history etc. But it's definitely something I would look into
Me personally, and this only my personal opinion, if the children are young, as in less than 10, I would not get a rescue dog of any breed because I think a lot of dogs naturally find young children a bit intense and I think that dogs who have grown up with children are often a little more tolerant of their own.

Not that you should let children pester any dog of course, but I do think you have to be careful with adult dogs and kids.

If you do go down that route, i think it is important to get a fostered rescue collie rather than one in kennels.

That way, you have a far better idea of the dogs temperament.

Re collies and children specifically.
Sorry to be a bit potentially negative again

Collies are typically quite controlling and ‘bossy’, they like structure and order and peace and quiet generally speaking.

Some collies, like mine, quite like children but others are intensely stressed by perfectly normal child behaviour like running about, screaming, shouting etc and can get very upset and either go a bit shut down or try to calm things down themselves which can be dangerous because by ‘calm things down’ I mean cut in front of said child/ren and stare, chase them, nip them or even grab a hold of clothes, arms or legs.
Herd them in other words.

@frostedviolets thankyou. I do appreciate the honesty, it really helps x

@PelicanPie I think with the majority of dogs if the cat is there first and the dog isn’t allowed to chase the cat they coexist quite happily.

As a collie rescue recommendation I ❤️❤️ Wiccaweys they’re awesome