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Crazy to get a border collie?

119 replies

Byfleet · 05/11/2022 18:43

I have wanted a border collie all my life but held off because I have been incredibly busy most of my adult life with kids, work and caring for elderly DM. DM has now passed away, kids left home and I am semi retired. However, I have read so many threads here about how border collies are particularly demanding. Would it be sensible? Here are pros and cons.

Pros

  • sorry to blow my own trumpet but I am very fit and active and really love walking (and running). I am a lecturer and love teaching/training
  • I am semi retired. We have a big garden and a couple of parks nearby
  • DCs live nearby, love dogs, and claim they would contribute to works/dog sitting etc.
Cons
  • I am very fit (marathons etc)but I am 60 and need more rest than I used to
  • DH is not very fit and doesn’t really enjoy outdoor exercise
  • we live in London. We have parks nearby but I am wary of letting any dog off the lead. There are some scary dogs (and owners) around.
  • We have a biggish garden but I am a little precious about it ie. don’t really want dug up lawn and flower beds
  • I am a little precious about the house too ie. Not keen on scratched or chewed furniture.

Any collie owners out there? Am I a good fit?

OP posts:
nannybeach · 06/11/2022 18:30

On my 4th border collie,she's 7she still digs especially where you have just dug/planted.large garden Sussex village near sea.shes a second dog,we had 2 borders before. They won't be happy with the large London park/field. If you don't want furniture damage etc then no puppy is an option

2bazookas · 06/11/2022 18:36

After a lifetime of collies, all very busy and active well into their midteens, we decided we were to old to start a new one , unsure if we'd be fit enough for that level of excercise in our dotage.. We got a greyhound instead.

I suggest you think about a retired racing greyhound .
They don't seek long energetic walks, are used to walking on lead,
so well adapted to park and city walks, are very relaxed and easy going in the house, intelligent affectionate charming companions. Battersea dogs home always has a selection available.

Rollingaroundinmud · 07/11/2022 00:01

thelobsterquadrille · 06/11/2022 12:25

As you say you are an active person then a collie should suit you well.

Did you read the OP? She said she doesn't want to let the dog off the lead - that's really not the kind of lifestyle for a collie.

I did mention in an earlier post a dog park she could take it to. I think she is over thinking it. Most puppies are destructive in the beginning maybe she should consider a chihuahua.

SorchaB · 07/11/2022 00:18

I have a collie. A collie only walked on a lead is almost cruel , just my opinion , they shouldn’t be limited to that being the amazing dogs that they are ❤️

ElephantInTheKitchen · 07/11/2022 01:02

When I lived in London, I well remember meeting the owner of a lovely collie who had to be muzzled because it had an unwelcome habit of trying to herd small children, nipping at their ankles to make them hurry up, just as it would with sheep... unsurprisingly parents in Zone 2 weren't particularly understanding.

I can never understand some people's horror about keeping dogs in London though - I had access to far more dog walking spaces within walking distance of my London flat than I ever had since moving to Wales! It's an extraordinarily dog friendly city, though I do think it helps if you get a dog that's small enough to pick up, so you can take it down a tube escalator. Few stations have lifts and the 120 steps at my local station was unappealing.

I mentioned being wary of off lead walking because of the reputation of some other dogs here locally. I would make sure I tried to go at very quiet times eg very early in the morning or take the dog to quieter parks or the countryside.

Honestly, don't do this. Go to the busiest parks at the busiest times. The logic is that the owners of dogs with interdog issues will avoid the busier times / parks and go for the quieter options, simply because it's more trouble than its worth otherwise. Your plan will bring you, disproportionately, into contact with those dogs you're trying to avoid.

Hampstead Heath was absolutely fantastic, especially around Parliament Hill; full of dogs who were all dog social because they'd either grown up walking there and were well practiced at dog interactions, or the self selecting process had weeded them out. The dogs with serious issues got either street walks or quieter spots like Highgate Wood.

To be blunt though, the sort of dogs you may be trying to avoid - the type where the younger male owners have bought them to try and look tough - almost never seem to show up in the local parks. The owners aren't the type to don wellies and a raincoat. They're either not walked, or are only taken out on errands.

pumpkinelvis · 07/11/2022 01:25

I've a cocker and he would go crazy if he couldn't have proper off lead walk at beach/ field or secure dog park. I think a collie would feel similar.

thelobsterquadrille · 07/11/2022 08:11

I did mention in an earlier post a dog park she could take it to.

Collies are not great with other dogs (especially as adults) so relying on an enclosed dog park for off-lead exercise is not a good idea long-term.

It's also not really enough exercise - collies are bred to run for miles across farms and fields, not to live a life cooped up in a city on a lead.

JennyForeigner · 07/11/2022 08:22

I recognise most collies are not for you, but would add that every so often you might find one that is. I rescued a collie who had been in a terrible living situation with a very aggressive big dog. She was used as a kind of calming presence as she was as soft and submissive as butter.

All she wanted for the rest of her long and happy life was to love everyone around her, snuggle in a warm place and trot round you in a perfect rectangle for an hour or so a day 💖

Rollingaroundinmud · 07/11/2022 10:42

You decide what you want to do all dogs deserve a loving home who will love and take care of them. My collie loves socialising with other dogs and playing. Not all collies are the same it’s all about how you train them.

thelobsterquadrille · 07/11/2022 11:17

Rollingaroundinmud · 07/11/2022 10:42

You decide what you want to do all dogs deserve a loving home who will love and take care of them. My collie loves socialising with other dogs and playing. Not all collies are the same it’s all about how you train them.

You can't train a herding instinct out of a collie much like you can't train the retrieval instinct out of a Labrador.

Yes - OP may get lucky and end up with a chilled collie that loves other dogs and has zero desire to herd or chase cars, but the flip side is she could end up with a neurotic working dog who lunges at traffic and is snappy and aggressive with other dogs.

People need to get dogs that fit their lifestyles, not the other way around.

tonyhawks23 · 07/11/2022 11:25

Please don't take a collie on the tube as pp mentions!that's even crueler than keeping one on the lead.

Rollingaroundinmud · 07/11/2022 12:43

Op how you treat your dog is very important I have seen well behaved collies. The ones who can’t keep themselves still is more down to the owner than the dog.

nannybeach · 07/11/2022 13:40

There are a lot of unfriendly collies round our way, ours likes most dogs, but we've always had 2 dogs,at the same time,used to be 3,so they were socialized with other dogs.

Rollingaroundinmud · 07/11/2022 17:57

nannybeach · 07/11/2022 13:40

There are a lot of unfriendly collies round our way, ours likes most dogs, but we've always had 2 dogs,at the same time,used to be 3,so they were socialized with other dogs.

Are you trying to persuade people not to buy collies. I get there will be people on here who are for or against people owning a collie but your post sounds over the top and ridiculous. All collies in your area are unfriendly if that’s true then I wonder what type of area you live in the people who own them are probably unfriendly themselves.

viques · 07/11/2022 18:03

Changingplace · 05/11/2022 21:07

2/3 hours a day of running /activities in a large local park

But you said originally you’d be worried about letting the dog off lead in the park?

2/3 hours of running / activities .How fast can you run OP? As fast as an off lead collie, or only as fast as a colllie on a lead because the collie on a lead can only run as fast as you can.

ElephantInTheKitchen · 07/11/2022 18:18

tonyhawks23 · 07/11/2022 11:25

Please don't take a collie on the tube as pp mentions!that's even crueler than keeping one on the lead.

Tell me you've not a Londoner without telling me you're not a Londoner.

Truly one of the more batshit things I've heard on MN in a while. So long as you avoid the escalators (or carry) the dog on the escalators, and avoid the very worst of rush hour, dogs on tubes are absolutely fine.

As you're clearly not a Londoner, I will point out that tubes are only packed at rush hour, you'll almost always get a seat within a stop or two of getting on, and the danger of paws getting stepped out outside of those times is very low; nil if your dog learns to sit on your lap.

We moved away years ago, but to this day ddog prefers a train over the car, with the exception of jumping over the gap, which he only became funny about when we stopped using trains frequently.

CoffeandTiaMaria · 07/11/2022 19:28

thelobsterquadrille · 07/11/2022 08:11

I did mention in an earlier post a dog park she could take it to.

Collies are not great with other dogs (especially as adults) so relying on an enclosed dog park for off-lead exercise is not a good idea long-term.

It's also not really enough exercise - collies are bred to run for miles across farms and fields, not to live a life cooped up in a city on a lead.

It’s interesting, I live in the countryside and I know at least 5 collies of various ages. Only one is reliable off lead - he’s walked miles, does agility etc, very aloof. Only one will make any effort to greet my dog, the others are definitely one man dogs. Three are car chasers, dragging their owners along the road, all go to regular training or behaviour classes.
I love dogs, have had them all my life but a collie is one of the breeds I would not consider having.

Fladdermus · 07/11/2022 19:37

We've had collies as we live in the countryside. They are wonderful, intelligent dogs but absolutely not suited to living in a city, and definitely not suited to being kept on a lead. Our dogs would run and run and run and you could never tire them out. They kept up with us on all day bike rides, running along beside us. Then collapse once we got home, until 5 minutes later they heard the rattle of the lead or someone mentioned rabbits and they'd be up and ready to go again.

MissHavershamReturns · 07/11/2022 20:01

@ElephantInTheKitchen I notice border collies a lot as we have family with collies in the rural area I’m from and I also lived in London in the 90s/00. I certainly hardly ever saw a collie on the tube in all that time. I wouldn’t say there were large numbers of dogs on the tube full stop. Maybe depends on exactly where you live?

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 07/11/2022 20:02

I've had two collies and am about to get another. The first was an older rescue the second was a puppy. The only time I regretted getting one was when the pup was about six months old and chewing the furniture, but this phase did pass and she was a fantastic dog. I would therefore suggest getting an older dog so you are past that awkward stage.

dustofneptune · 07/11/2022 20:35

OP - could you look into fostering for a Collie rescue to start with?

It might give you a chance to see for yourself whether it's going to work out, while also giving you the opportunity to possibly foster then adopt an older, housetrained, ready to go on long walks, Collie.

The house proud bit is the part you'll probably struggle with - but that's not to say you wouldn't relax about it once you actually have a puppy/dog of your own. I'm pretty house proud, really into things looking beautiful - but getting my dog has just chilled me out on it. It's not the end of the world, and I'd rather have my dog and have a few scratches and chew marks than to have a pristine home and no dog.

ShouldIknowthisalready · 07/11/2022 20:49

@dustofneptune I have loads of dogs including 6 collies at the moment and my house is beautiful Smile

However it will be very very hard to find a collie rescue that would be willing to let the OP foster i the situation they have described.

Although I did have a client who rehomed a collie from Battersea and they lived in Putney - it did not end well

nannybeach · 08/11/2022 00:10

Rollingaroundinthemud. I didn't say all the border collies in my area are unfriendly, over the top and ridiculous, other posters have put that collies don't like other dogs. I put that my collie likes most other dogs. What sort of area do I live in, the outskirts of a village, pretty rural, farms 2 roads away. I've had 4 borders, plenty of other people on here are trying to dissuade the poster from getting one. I have a theory when I walk the dogs, I can usually tell, how "friendly" the owner is going to be,by the handling of the animal.

ElephantInTheKitchen · 08/11/2022 08:19

MissHavershamReturns · 07/11/2022 20:01

@ElephantInTheKitchen I notice border collies a lot as we have family with collies in the rural area I’m from and I also lived in London in the 90s/00. I certainly hardly ever saw a collie on the tube in all that time. I wouldn’t say there were large numbers of dogs on the tube full stop. Maybe depends on exactly where you live?

There's never been large numbers of dogs on the tube, probably because most dogs live a life walking between home and the local park, and tubes are for longer distances.

Still, I think most London dogs are taken on the tube from time to time. It certainly would have been very inconvenient if I couldn't take him on the tube; sometimes I'd want to get him on a long distance train to visit my family, or to Hyde Park etc for a bit of variety.

A dog that's social with humans and loves a bit of a fuss, will enjoy a tube journey for the simple fact that they attract a bit of attention and people want to say hello to the dog (seemingly, this is the one time it's acceptable to talk to strangers on the tube). Weirdly the same dog on the bus or street will attract zero attention - I never worked that one out!

The idea, however, that half an hour on the tube for a collie is somehow cruel, and especially more cruel than never letting them off lead, is ludicrous.

MissHavershamReturns · 08/11/2022 08:25

Have you had a collie @ElephantInTheKitchen? They can be very reactive and want to herd. There is no way our family collies could have managed the tube.

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