Please tell me good things about collies!

[Sparkle79]

I'm getting so much negativity from people making me think I've made a terrible mistake. Please give me hope that the biting and the herding will get better and he will be lovely one day.

@Sparkle79 Kelpie ears! He is 3/4 border collie and 1/4 kelpie.

@Flamerouge he's gorgeous. From reading your other posts our pups sound very similar, needing enforced naps, chasing cars etc We are our pup's 3rd home

@Sparkle79 ah, they sound very similar! So sad to hear he has had such an unsettling time but you sound like you are doing a good job. I’ve found this board so helpful and it really helps knowing it’s not just you out there battling through it all. We’ll get there.

The friendliest, most popular dog in the village is a Collie. He's always smiling and all the local dogs seem to love him, including my 3. We call him Mr Popular.

@Blondiney 😆 I can’t wait for mine to become Mr Popular! At the moment he is Mr Scarily over-reactive!

@Miffyliffy

My mother has a collie after my step dad had find memories of his childhood dog being a collie.

My mother lives in a courtyard house, the dog is in a crate most of the time.

When they let it out it goes crazy and digs so as a consequence they crate it.

The vers only know what my parents tell them and they certainly don't tell vet they crate it 22 hours a day, vet has recommended valium and a dog whisperer. Vet compared the dog to a child with autism as the dog wants only to fetch. No interest in food or anything else, it cannot tolerate a collar or leash and goes crazy.

Everyone advised them not to get it, especially as my parents are the biggest homebodies and don't do any exercise or walks etc (morbidly obese).

I think they're a next level commitment with the stimulation they need, perfect for someone that can offer them that.

Keeping any dog in a crate for long periods is cruel but a collie is even worse it must be going out of its mind they should rehome it

Border collies are my favourite breed. I grew up with one and he was the most clever and loyal friend. I have had one since of my own and being honest I found it very hard work ! The level of energy they have is very hard to satisfy even if you walk all day off lead. I have realised collies are really meant to be in a home with land and lots of space. Not saying it can't work if you are really dedicated but it's bloody hard. I never felt our collie was content no matter how long I'd walked him for The nipping all stopped after about six months and he really settled down a lot but it's just the energy and the mental stimulation they need can be overwhelming when you have a family and everything else to do. As much as I loved him and was devestated when he died I wouldn't have another Not unless I was retired and had loads of fields around me

Best dogs in the world - but so much work. You really have to do long walks - a quick spin around the block just won't cut it.

I wouldn't have one unless I had a really, really big garden AND the time to take it on long walks outside.

We had a cross between a collie and a border collie and he was the best dog, very caring and friendly. He did chase the sheep over the fields so we kept him on a lead or went to the fields where there weren't live stock.

beautiful intelligent dogs, but only get one if youve got plenty of time for it and things for it to do, otherwise they can go neurotic

@miffyliffy, please can you intervene? I can't bear to think of the distress that poor, poor dog is in. You urgently need to do something, please.

@Miffyliffy Oh my god, that poor dog must be in absolute hell. Please report them or take it off them.

@Miffyliffy this is so sad. Poor dog 💔

Is there any agility/fly ball classes in your area?
Collies are fantastic dogs, very intelligent, loyal and extremely eager to please but in my opinion only in the right hands and right setting.
They need lots of physical and mental stimulation and are best suited to homes where they are working or have some sort of purpose, i personally wouldn't have a collie if you're just looking for a family pet.

@Merrz would you say that about collies specifically (not being family pets) or would you say the same of any working dog?

[quote Flamerouge]@Blondiney 😆 I can’t wait for mine to become Mr Popular! At the moment he is Mr Scarily over-reactive![/quote]
Oh dear! 😂

I have one that used to be a bit like that, a stubborn little scent hound though not a Collie. We got there in the end, after a lot of treats every time we so much as saw another dog across the street. Then I'd get her to sit when we saw another dog and eventually to sit and give paw.... It helped to distract her from the other dog and also to associate other dogs with nice things ie. tasty treats.

She still not very sociable but I'll take indifference over reactive hell hound any day.

Miffyliffy - your parents are abusive arseholes. That poor dog is living a life of absolute hell.

I cannot bare to think about a dog being crated for 22 hrs per day. What the fuck is wrong with them?

Read Chaser, the dog who knew 1000 words. Amazing dog and utterly inspirational

@Merrz in one sense, I agree with you. But, you'll see from my thread that my boy is ten months old and on his fourth home. @Sparkle79's pup is on his third. I doubt that a herd of sheep farmers are going to appear over the horizon and give these dogs the 'jobs' they need. These pups exist, and they need homes - so we are doing the very best we can to give them the homes they need. My irritation is reserved for the people that keep breeding puppies - of whatever breed - when there are already so many dogs in need of homes. Breeding working dogs like collies should really make people think twice, or twenty-five times, about the homes they might go to. But that doesn't happen, and this is the result.

@Blondiney ah, I'm glad your perseverance paid off! My boy is a work in progress, but we're all much happier now we've dialled back on things and are taking things at his pace.

Honestly, unless they are coming from people who have had collies before (I find negative comments are usually from those who haven’t had one) I’d ignore any negative comments.

We’ve had loads of nasty comments over the years but our collie is a wonderful, tolerant, happy family pet.

Gorgeous dogs, intelligent, loyal.

Need a lot of time and exercise. We did 7+ miles a day between us with ours. Weekends more. She herded us everywhere, but she was working stock and it was innate. Nobody was allowed to lag behind on the fells!

Responded to training, if you can do flyball or similar then definitely do it. We did lots of obedience and agility, she loved it.

Amazing dogs, will give you so, so much as long as you will accommodate their need for miles and brain exercise.

We have a 6 month old collie - she’s lovely. Only issue at the moment is that she’s too friendly! She was doing really well at recall but has suddenly decided to ignore us and race up to random strangers and jump up at them for a cuddle. Back to the lead for a bit more reinforcement! She’s lying on my feet this minute at the end of the bed. Our house is fairly chaotic - 2 primary age kids and 3 cats, which she’s doing pretty well with. There’s always someone to play with, and she’s learning that she is not allowed to police the cats.

I have a 14 year old border collie and I can only think we struck very lucky going by the comments on here .
Ours is pretty chilled ,although we got him when our kids were young so I’m sure they would have helped to keep him constantly active .