Enough exercise for a collie?

[Sparkle79]

Is 3 walks a day (morning, lunch, evening) 30 minutes per walk or thereabouts, on-lead but at dogs pace with lots of sniffing... enough physical exercise for a 2 year old border collie?

You didn't say that was on top of mental stimulation you just said 3 walks plus run of the garden.

Collie aren't keen on leads. They like to "work" fetching balls is my ddog's "job" he also fetches people who are dawdling and has rounded up miscellaneous dogs whose owners couldn't catch them

All dogs should have off lead time, ok very small ones or elderly perhaps it's not needed but they enjoy being free. Train them then you won't have a problem

That is true. I was trying to keep my post succinct. But I thought by saying "enough physical exercise" it would be clear that I was talking about physical exercise... As opposed to mental exercise...

Collies need to run. Our collie cross had a leg injury so needed to stay on the lead for a few weeks on vets orders. We felt so bad! He usually runs and returns, runs and returns and is very fast! We could walk on the lead for hours and it just wouldn’t compare to how far he must run with all the sprinting.
You need to find a space where you can let it off the lead.

Why us it on lead only?

I think it depends on the collie. One of mine would have been fine with that amount of physical exercise at the age of two. As you've said the dog will have enrichment activities to keep his mind active. Depending on the individual, he may not need more physical activity (though equally he may well need more!).

I had a very scary experience whilst walking off lead which I won't go into here but it's more about me getting over my own fears and what to do about walks whilst I do that.

Collie owner of 40 years.

With respect just walking collies and not living with the 24/7 does not give the full picture of life with collies.

Also the point I am making is that collies need and want more exercise than 3 x 30 mins short sessions. They may have to put up with that but that is not what they want or need. It is also not fair in my opinion to make them cope with less. Give the dogs a full life and that is not 30mins stroll if you are a collie. Being left to roam in a garden is also not really stimulating enough for a collie. They will bark at the birds, hedge chase at any sound. This is not a happy contented collie.

The point I am making is that noone makes you have a collie but if you do have one it is only fair to give them what they want not. If it does not suit your lifestyle dont get a collie.

Collies are amazing dogs and deserve a better life than just the bare minimum.

I would probably survive on 3 x 30 mins walks a day but I would feel way better physically and mentally with way more than that same for the collies

I’d say no… but every collie is different

use a long line if you don’t want to physically let off the lead

Can you use a long line (not a retractable lead) so that ddog gets a bit more freedom.
What about hiring a private field for an hour, that would help you with recall and maybe help to build your confidence?

Our collie gets a variety of activities depending on what we are doing. She had a 6 mile off lead hike with DH and DS this morning and has had free range of the garden all afternoon. They’ll probably take her down to the field for a run about/frisbee/ball chase after dinner. She goes to day care twice a week and has a dog Walker on our other working days. She’s not hugely keen on being on the lead, is happiest trotting alongside us and RUNNING AS FAST AS SHE CAN in open spaces.

Poppit, similar here. I had my first border collie as a child.25 years ago, first as an adult, but we've always had 2 dogs together. We lived on the edge of a village, quarter acre garden, huge fields at the back. Friend who bred dogs recommended this guy who was an RAFdog trainer 35 years then return. I worked night DH days.she was left just about 90 minutes a week when we went shopping. Trainer said borders would entertain themselves and it would be something you dislike. She chewed the wood kitchen units while we shopped,then started on the plaster walls. She was 2....crated and lived to 17

Not really clear, no, physical exercise is mental exercise, even more so if he's off in a field. They aren't mutually exclusive, though mental is often more tiring. I don't think you can separate the two.

You posted for advice I offered some based on what you wrote.

Can you find a field where you can practice fetch and recall as this will mentally stimulate the dog and increase your confidence, using a training lead as others have suggested?

Collies really do need off lead, my 18 month one must cover about 5 times the distance I do when we go off lead trail walks/runs.Its a joy to see them do their big sweeping circular runs, it's what they are built for.They are very responsive, the collie watchful gaze, so off lead training should be straightforward, mines done this instinctively from a puppy- more to do with his intelligence, rather than my training!

Gosh I am amazed so many seem to think they need hours and hours of exercise. Mine gets about 45 mins off lead where she doesnt really run much anyway as stays right by my side. Then a couple of walks round the block later in the day. She seems very happy with this. They need to learn an off switch and get plenty rest.

Yes maybe hire a field or pay a walker who can let your dog really run full pelt every day

Collies really do need off lead, my 18 month one must cover about 5 times the distance I do when we go off lead trail walks/runs.Its a joy to see them do their big sweeping circular runs, it's what they are built for.

Just 5? I took mine on a run once in a closed field, I was doing laps so thought he could just potter around and do his thing as I ran. I managed about 10, I’m sure my dog must have run the equivalent of 200 in that time as he ran fast circles around me - never been made to feel so unfit 😂
Their energy is incredible so I really can’t see how walking at a persons pace on a lead, even if you went on walking for hours, would be enough exercise. But as PP have said there are always exceptions.

No, he needs to go off lead.

Collies are working dogs, this is what they are bred for.
They can get bored very easily and can get destructive if their energy isn't channelled into having things to do.
I see so many people posting about their BC's destructiveness or videos of them just racing round and around in their back gardens and it's because the dog is bored.

If you can take your collie to an agility class or fly ball, as well as double the amount of time you walk it, play fetch with a ball or a tuggie rope also.

You will know by how they settle on an evening whether they've had enough exercise/ stimulation for throughout the day. As they age, they will slow/ calm down abit.

Hope you find the right balance for your BC. OP

I can only echo what others have said - collies are bred to be working dogs and need to be working. Without sufficient stimulation a lot (obviously not all) will suffer in some way.

When we had collies they would be active all day on the farm, following us around off lead, being involved and having a job to do. This is the life that suits them, anything less is a compromise and I think three short walks a day on a lead is a compromise too far.

How big is your garden? Can you add toys or agility type stuff to play with and entertain the collie out there. I had one rescue collie who would throw and catch empty plastic flowerpots for hours on end to amuse himself. They can become very neurotic dogs if not given enough stimulation.

I'm so pleased you posted this. My eyes nearly popped out with the 200 miles /7 hours per day comments. Ddog would keep going all day but we have taught an off switch and he sometimes seems relieved when we tell him to go to his bed because he can switch off.

Thanks for replies.

I probably should of been more specific regarding the amount of mental stimulation we do on top of the walks.

I realise it might of sounded like I whizz round the block 3 times a day and then nothing the rest of the day. Which is far from the case.

Recall is not the issue so long line won't work but the consensus seems that off lead is essential so I will look into a dog walker while I work on myself.

Collie needs to be off lead every day