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.

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar I hear you on the cat herding! Luckily our feline is bombproof, but he will wave a paw/hiss if it gets too much.

@BigWolfLittleWolf interesting to hear about the negative comments. It’s so nice to hear from other collie owners; so often I feel marooned in a sea of cockerpoos/poodle crosses (all lovely dogs, just not my thing) with people telling me how much work a collie needs. I know. He does. I’m doing all I can.

interesting to hear about the negative comments. It’s so nice to hear from other collie owners; so often I feel marooned in a sea of cockerpoos/poodle crosses (all lovely dogs, just not my thing) with people telling me how much work a collie needs. I know. He does. I’m doing all I can
Smile and ignore. Honestly.
I’m not for one minute saying they are ‘easy’ dogs, they aren’t, they have breed specific quirks, a lot are quite badly bred as they are so popular but I truly do think the reputation they have is largely undeserved.

The thing that irritates me the most is the whole ‘that’s not a pet, it should be working’ thing.

You don’t say that to cockerpoo owners despite cocker spaniels being gundogs and still widely bred as working gundogs and poodles being gundogs too though admittedly virtually never worked now.
It isn’t said to owners of goldens or labradors either despite working lines being popular as pets as well as working gundogs.
It isn’t said to owners of jacks and patterdales either despite them still being widely bred for working.

@BigWolfLittleWolf exactly - this is what I don't understand. Why do collies get singled out when so many other dog breeds are "meant" to work too? Which was why I asked @Merrz if his comment was specific to collies. Just trying to understand because it's something I never came across until I owned a collie and it makes me feel quite foolish and naive for not having done enough research.

Thanks for all the positivity everyone, you have made me feel much better. Aside from the biting and the car chasing he really is such a lovely dog.

And we're a busy outdoorsy family who walk a lot so we can definitely give him plenty of exercise etc. In fact we're all itching for the days when we don't have to limit his walks to 20 minutes!

[quote Flamerouge]@TooExtraImmatureCheddar I hear you on the cat herding! Luckily our feline is bombproof, but he will wave a paw/hiss if it gets too much.

@BigWolfLittleWolf interesting to hear about the negative comments. It’s so nice to hear from other collie owners; so often I feel marooned in a sea of cockerpoos/poodle crosses (all lovely dogs, just not my thing) with people telling me how much work a collie needs. I know. He does. I’m doing all I can.[/quote]
She’s not exactly herding - she’s guarding the dinner table from him! He jumps up, and she barks at him, so we’ve taken to shutting the cat outside at meal times (when we remember!). Last night she was blocking him from getting to the table and chasing him away, which I don’t want to encourage, so DH told her off firmly and the cat was put outside. I don’t want her to think that she can chase him for any reason!

She’s not exactly herding - she’s guarding the dinner table from him! He jumps up, and she barks at him, so we’ve taken to shutting the cat outside at meal times (when we remember!). Last night she was blocking him from getting to the table and chasing him away, which I don’t want to encourage, so DH told her off firmly and the cat was put outside. I don’t want her to think that she can chase him for any reason!
Is the cat actually allowed on the table..?

Collies often have a strong sense of right and wrong and try to enforce the house rules.

When we had a cat ours was forever trying to force her to behave.
She would body slam/muzzle punch her if she bit anyone, she used to guard the bed at night because the cat was a horror for scratching it, only once she knew the cat was outside would she retire to her actual bed.
She would police people’s dinners as the cat had form for swiping food off the unobservant.

Cat is not supposed to be on the table but he’s being territorial over food since puppy arrived. Yes to policing dinners - kids are not always very observant and the cat is lurking trying to swipe some.

Reading the discussion about working dogs - I completely agree. My sister has a working cocker and he needs loads of stimulation and exercise. My dad has a Patterdale cross that actually was a working dog on his farm until a year ago - spent his days hunting rats around the buildings, always with Dad. He’s a wiry ball of energy, although he’s now about 10. They all need a lot of attention and exercise!

Cat is not supposed to be on the table but he’s being territorial over food since puppy arrived. Yes to policing dinners - kids are not always very observant and the cat is lurking trying to swipe some
In theory the dog needs to be taught to ignore the cat, whatever the cat is doing, but in practice, in my experience anyway, collies will enforce the rules so if the collie thinks you don’t want the cat up there they absolutely will do whatever they can to enforce your wishes.
If the cat can’t be trusted to get up there I agree it’s best to lock him out

I have working cockers as well as collies and they are waaaaaaaaay harder work than the collies. (they are breed to be scent working dogs though so are high energy but boy do they have energy!)

@Miffyliffy can't you intervene somehow. My heart breaks for that poor dog

Has anyone got a Boomer ball? Any good? And which size 6" or 8" (4 month old collie Cross)

@Flamerouge yes totally agree, I guess me saying just don't get one isn't very helpful. I've just read all your posts and massive hats off to you for all the effort you're putting in to give your dog the best life. I think too many people just don't understand the needs of collies and then unfortunately it doesn't work out for them or the dog.
@Sparkle79 I am speaking specifically about Border Collies, really because I've had them all my life and don't have personal experience with other working breeds, I think all working breeds probably need more exercise and mental stimulation but I don't think any other breeds have that same neurotic drive as a lot of collies. I think also the natural trails of other working breeds fit more easily into 'normal' family life where the natural working trails of collies aren't really acceptable in a family home.

@Merrz I think we actually probably have the same point of view on this topic! And thank you - I have so much to learn, but I really want to learn from everyone. I know collies are a challenge but I’m definitely up for it.

Our lovely collie-heading dog cross was hard work as a pup but pretty chilled now. Came from a farm but the farmer accurately spotted that she wouldn't be much good as a working dog. She's very good at rounding up waves, but dropped her ball at the feet of sheep recently in hope of a game...

We try to teach her tricks, and get her to hunt for specific toys by name. She's such a sweetheart and so snuggly... I was brought up with collies, then had a rescue cocker, and now this lovely collie x. Best dogs ever.

Doesn't heard cars or bikes any more (!!) but unfortunately likes to chase scooters and skateboards. We're still working on this... she's nearly three!!

Sorry I'm late to the party.

My Collie is the best! He's such a happy go lucky fella, very placid and chill. Loves all people, other dogs, and cats. Is fantastic with the children. He has been a dream to train. However, I appreciate he isn't really typical of the breed.

I've put a lot of hard work into his training since day 1 and it's really paid off. I think the key is mental stimulation. Working dogs need a job, or they will go 'self employed' and start being a real nuisance, and become bored and destructive. Collies are not the sort of dog you can take for a plod around the block twice a day and expect them to be happy with it. Also, depending on the hair length they can need a lot of grooming. Mine has long hair which constantly needs brushing, and he is always getting absolutely filthy when we are in the woods, so needs regular baths, so be prepared for that. He's such a softy, a right cuddle bug. Now that I have a Collie I dont think I could have any other breed!

I have working cockers as well as collies and they are waaaaaaaaay harder work than the collies.

Also I agree with this fully. Pre lockdown I looked after my friends cocker twice a week while she was at work, and he was much harder work than my collie! We would come home from a 4 mile walk, my dog would go straight to sleep, the cocker would be like 'Ok, whats next?!?!?!'

@Miffyliffy please try and get that poor dog removed. Collies are very intelligent, he'll go insane being crated for that length of time not to mention what it will do to his posture and growth long term!

Cons:

• Ours likes to chase only our neighbour's vehicle even though it's on the road and she is in the house. She hears it coming from miles away, rushes to the front window, charges to the back and opens the door, then charges up the garden to shout at it from the top of the garden. In reverse, she hears our neighbour's door shut, so rushes up the garden to do it all in reverse.
• known to drink sea water = bad effects at both ends That's all I can think of.

Pros -

• Snuggly and affectionate
• Loyal
• Hilarious
• Easy to teach

- Communicative (not barking - an amazing amount can be conveyed by body positioning and ears )

• Great with kids
• Great with other dogs (other than, specifically, miniature schnauzers)

I'm sure there are more. They are such fabulous dogs, but do need to be trained!! Mind you, so do other dogs. Or other owners . Wouldn't have any other breed now.

@Cauterize

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?

This exactly. @Miffyliffy you have to do something as this is extreme cruelty

Thanks for the herding ball suggestions. We got him a Boomer ball but we're not sure he likes it as he'll play with it but whines the whole time like it's really frustrating him!

So good to hear everyone's positive experiences, you've really put my mind at rest

My collie is 8 now and he is a joy. He does like to herd. Especially the fire pit when we go camping but other than that he is the most perfect dog. When he was a pup he used to bite and try and chash cars and bikes but with a little correction he soon grew out of it. I wouldn't have another breed. He was off a working farm as well.

@Sparkle79 late to the party, but I have a boomer ball. I have a 2yo Aussie, so not a collie (although everyone thinks he is!), but still a smart, high energy herder. The fact it's hard plastic makes me wince a bit because he uses his mouth a lot and apparently they can cause some bad dental issues when the smooth surface becomes rough, but he's managed to puncture every softer/inflatable ball we've bought him. We're on the look out for a soft one that he can't puncture, and for now we're only using the boomer ball in our garden or the local field which is all maintained grass, so fewer issues with stones to damage it. We also restrict how often we get it out.

He absolutely loves it though. We tend to do things like roll it out for him to chase so he gets a good sprint, and also make him wait while we roll it out for impulse control and then send him after it to push it back so he's using his brain. If we just leave him with the ball to play he goes mad and tries to play football with it, barks loads, and trips himself up very cute but the neighbours must hate it, so we try and use a bit of structure. It also makes him focus more on using his nose/paws rather than mouth to push it around.

@PollyRoulson have been trying your click and treat suggestion for the cars. Just as an idea, how soon would you expect this to start working?