Personality from puppy to grown up dog

[Whattodo121]

Hi, first time dog owner here, although DH has had dogs before. We have a 16 week old border collie pup who is completely full of beans, and very friendly. The biting is settling down (as soon as I wrote that she nibbled me obviously 🙄) but is generally very sweet natured, loves meeting new people and goes to doggy daycare and plays with lots of other dogs there very happily. I’ve read a lot about border collies being unfriendly/aloof as adult dogs etc and was just wondering whether her personality will change when she’s no longer a puppy?

Tbh it's impossible to tell. There's breed traits then there's individual dogs.

Cockers are usually known for being super friendly, one of mine was as a puppy but as she got older just started not doing.

Never aggressive, but if dogs greet her she sniffs them and then starts to walk in another direction.

No real reason for it. The only dogs she is vaguely interested in is our other 2. And even then she can take it or leave it. Same at day care or when she goes to the home boarder. Not bothered about her dog at all.

All my other cockers have been really sociable.

This cocker, is also lazy and would quite happily skip a walk. I am convinced she isn't really a cocker. Just masquerading as one.

Haha that’s interesting - we will just have to wait and see! Am hoping that the socialising that we’re doing will help, but as you say there are traits - it’s not solely nurture is it? But so far so good - she is lovely so let’s hope she stays that way ❤️

Our pups personality changed quite significantly through his adolescence. He became quite fear reactive towards certain things. With training this has improved a lot. He was also loved to play with other dogs when he was a puppy but now, at 2 he really isn't interested.

@Whattodo121

Haha that’s interesting - we will just have to wait and see! Am hoping that the socialising that we’re doing will help, but as you say there are traits - it’s not solely nurture is it? But so far so good - she is lovely so let’s hope she stays that way ❤️

I think it may help. Our lazy/unsociable comer was an only for 4 years. Day care and home boarding was only occasionally.

My other 2 are 2 and 12 weeks. So grown (or growing) up, with at least one other dog.

But dog 2 was a puppy Foster that we decided to adopt in December 2019. So, wasn't very old when lockdown hit. Luckily we have fab neighbours who helped us socialise her with other dogs between lockdowns.

Again, older one not in the slightest bothered and used to go lay down in the shade 🤣

I have a border collie. Her personality sounds much like yours as a pup.

She's 2.5 now and is the Best Dog Ever (fact, not opinion). She's energetic but also friendly to both people and dogs. We don't have kids but all the kids in the park know her. She loves playing with bubbles which amuses children and often when I'm playing with her, children join in and chase bubbles with her. I keep threatening to pack in my job and start Maggie's Playgroup. Me and Maggie will entertain your child in the park while you go for a jog or play tennis.

We had a border collie from puppy who lived to 16 years. He was adorable and very friendly with people but not so good with other dogs. That said, we never took him to doggy day care as there wasn’t such a thing back then! It really does depend on the individual dog.

Shamelessly spamming pictures of the lovely Maggie
I have some with kids but don't have their parents permission to post.

And here she is on Gotcha day. I love this dog.

She loves playing with bubbles which amuses children and often when I'm playing with her, children join in and chase bubbles with her.

Our dpup LOVES bubbles, they are her absolute favourite thing to play with ❤️ she ran around my sisters garden for an hour yesterday whilst my dog-nervous-nieces blew bubbles for her - was a great slightly distanced way for them to get to know each other

We will just keep doing what we’re doing and hope for the best-she will be going to dog nursery two to three days a week ago once I'm back at work and has settled in well so far so hopefully that will help

Omg maggie is gorgeous! Here’s our one!

@Whattodo121
Gorgeous!
Bubbles seem to be like Marmite for dogs. They either love them or are completely disinterested. Maggie will never not live bubbles I think. She gets a terrific workout from them, running and jumping round the park

Love not live

Good question. My pup adores people and dogs and I'm wondering if that will change.

I think it's a bit like DC. Some personality traits are pretty much set (and how they develop can depend on upbringing eg a child who likes to get things right can, when put under academic pressure, become obsessive) - and some of those traits will have been bred for (eg biddability), or will be a feature if the breed that isn't necessarily either bred for or selected against (handler softness in Vizslas, for example).

And then, again like DC, they grow up. They become less playful, they learn better manners, their outlook can be influenced by their experiences. When they hit maturity, at about 2 or 3, they become more considered about what they do, and some of them will take charge in social interactions: whereas before they'd just play, now they'll signal to other dogs that some things aren't acceptable.

IME some traits are fairly stable. One of my dogs has always been attentive, the other much less so. One is bold with people and dogs but more cautious in new environments, while the other eyes up crowds with suspicion, but will jump into confined spaces and push through brambles to get what she wants, and always has done.

Maggie used to love all dogs, now she is much more choosy who she’ll interact with. She definitely has ‘mates’ the dog with her on the pic above is her best friend Roxy, but even Roxy gets shunned at times if there’s something more exciting going on.

In my experience, border collies are aloof as adults, especially where other dogs are concerned.

I have met plenty of adult collies friendly enough towards people but to date have not met an adult collie that was friendly to other dogs.

They range from disinterested, completely ignoring other dogs to aggressive if other dogs approach them in my experience.

And by adult I mean 2 and a half to 3.
I’ve met a number of 1 year olds that like other dogs but once they hit about 2 onwards they start to become selective and unless they know the other dog don’t tend to want to interact anymore.

Course, there probably are collies out there who are not the ‘norm’ and are friendly to other dogs all their lives, but I haven’t encountered any

Maggie is 2.5 and she is definitely more selective with other dogs. She used to approach all dogs. Now tends to approach her mates and sometimes will play with others but definitely less than say a year ago. She's rarely aggressive though....sometimes will bare her teeth but usually if the other dog has annoyed her first.

Maybe she's been listening to advice on social distancing!

@Powertothepetal

In my experience, border collies are aloof as adults, especially where other dogs are concerned.

I have met plenty of adult collies friendly enough towards people but to date have not met an adult collie that was friendly to other dogs.

They range from disinterested, completely ignoring other dogs to aggressive if other dogs approach them in my experience.

Yes, that's my experience too.

I only know one collie who will happily interact with new dogs as an adult - the others will happily play and socialise with the ones they've known from puppyhood, but are reluctant to meet others.Their behaviour towards new dogs ranges from totally indifference to outright aggression.

As a dog walker I have had success in introducing these dogs to others (eg. on group walks) but it was hard and required constant vigilance on my part, and I always needed an extra pair of hands at first!

Good question. I have been wondering this too as I have a border collie puppy.

It’s strange how most google searches seem to say that border collies are friendly and good with other dogs. But talk on forums suggest the opposite 🤷‍♀️

I actually wondered about spaying before first season to try and preserve puppy friendliness !

@Tuppity

Good question. I have been wondering this too as I have a border collie puppy.

It’s strange how most google searches seem to say that border collies are friendly and good with other dogs. But talk on forums suggest the opposite 🤷‍♀️

I always take what I read on generic breed information websites with a huge pinch of salt.

The information is rarely accurate in my experience - the best thing to do is speak to owners of the breed and to join breed specific groups or forums so you get genuine, real life experiences.