Border collie puppies!

[OneDayIWillLearn]

Looking for feedback from anyone who has had a BC from a pup.

We are due to be getting a border collie puppy in the new year. We’ve been talking about it for a long time and decided the time is right, and we have a quiet few months at the start of the year when the new puppy can be my main focus. I’m just trying to mentally and physically prepare myself now though!

We are on a farm and the puppy will eventually be trained to work with stock, but though the idea is for the pup to be a working dog, it’ll also live with us in the house and be part of the family as a pet too. We already have a border terrier (aged 2) which we had from a 8 week puppy. Looking back, I think he was a fairly easy puppy though so I want to set my expectations realistically!!

So just interested to hear what was the level of night waking/ chewing/ exercise needs / general mania etc that you experienced in the early months? Any other tips for Bc puppyhood survival?

It’s a breed I know pretty well and I’ve long wanted one but I haven’t ever really known any well as puppies!

I’ve had a BC pup but in a non working environment (I wouldn’t do so again though he was lovely he should have been a worker).

Anyway if you’re farming and plan to work your pup, wouldn’t it be best to take pre pup arrival guidance from someone in farming who raises working BCs and can guide you? I imagine that raising and training a BC is a fine tuned and careful project.

Night waking and chewing wasn’t anything that stood out as an unexpected amount. It’s the exercise and general chaos - and my BC would spend large parts of the day outside when I was puttering around the stables or would join me when out riding.

BC are probably happiest as working days as they need so much exercise and continuous mental stimulation. You might find it’s best to start to incorporate the working training as early as possible.

A lovely breed though and so smart.

Before everyone starts piling in with "collies are best as working dogs not pets" I have some peripheral experience to offer.

My aunt and uncle (farmers) had border collies primarily as pets but able to do work when required (mostly with sheep - collies not ideal for cattle as they go in to nip at the animals' heels and therefore they're in danger of being kicked). I knew 5 of the dogs over a 40 year period and they were delightful pets. (Although there was another puppy that was PTS because it went for a lamb.)

I don't know what the secret of finding a suitable pet/working dog combo is - maybe my uncle was just very good at selecting them. He did choose bitches though, as dogs (ie male) tend to get loose and go off exploring the local neighbourhood.

I don't know at what age they got the puppies, but they always set up a fenced area next to the house with a kennel inside. A bit like a giant play pen for a toddler. So the puppy could be put in there for a while and not get under anyone's feet in the house. They slept in the kennel overnight too.

I don't know much about the puppy stage as I was only there for holidays but I guess whatever is normal for any breed.

Longer term the dogs were able to potter around the house or go in and out freely (being a farm the back door could be left open in warm weather). There were always people in the house so the dogs didn't spend a lot of time by themselves. But they still had a kennel outside and would be left there if nobody was home.

I think they had the ideal set up: large house, safe outdoor space, an active household of people coming and going, and of course their own land for walking the dogs off lead.

I have a 2 year old Border Collie. He was from excellent working lines, but he was kicked off the farm pretty sharpish as apparently he didn't have it in him to be a worker.
Toilet training was easy and he rarely chewed anything. They do need a lot of stimulation and need to be with you for the majority of the day. Mine is lovely, but isn't hugely interested in being around other dogs.
We are very lucky that he doesn't have a strong herding instinct, but there is a Border in our town who absolutely should have been a worker and lunges after cars, bikes and children. That may not be an issue for you if you live on a farm and the dog has a quieter life, but definitely something to bear in mind.
They are a fantastic breed and (yes I'm biased) quite superior to other dogs (I'll run for cover!) When we go out there is a big difference between how he thinks and behaves, versus other dogs. They certainly keep you on your toes!

Me!
He is a pet not working dog but we do live fairly rurally so he is out in the countryside a lot and DH hikes & runs with him.

Good points are, quick to learn, want to please you, not prone to running away and naturally good at recall as they want to be near you. Hardly ever barks, well behaved in cafes etc. Generally friendly with people and other dogs (although doesn’t like some very bouncy/yappy dogs). Learns routines and commands easily.

Bad points probably energy levels and needing stimulation and not switching off. Needs “a job”
if not working so for ours it is fetching his toys which he would do endlessly to the point of exhaustion. Get plenty of different toys and plenty of games and attention. Soft toys will probably be destroyed. Also do a “nap time” where they go in a crate and are left alone otherwise they keep going and get overstimulated.

Also specific training may be needed around herding instinct- ours has never been too bothered about sheep or other animals but we did have to work on training him out of trying to chase cars.

Border collies make brilliant pets as long as the environment is right for them.

You need to establish who is the boss you or the dog.

Yes I have spoken to lots of people working their dogs for advice and have a trainer lined up. But most people have a bit of a different set up to ours I.e. have multiple working dogs and have them outside in kennels rather than in the house (maybe I should do that too but rightly or wrongly want it in the house with us!)

Ok that’s reassuring. I’m often working around the yard at least a few hours a day so was imagining the BC would join me…though my lovely Border Terrier could absolutely not be trusted on his own around the yard until
he was getting on for 12 months, not sure if a BC will learn quicker!!

I had mine from 9 weeks. They learn ridiculously fast, good and bad! He slept alone through the night from the day he came home, chewed anything wooden until 10 months old and the odd shoe but stopped by 10 months. Exercise is important but not over exercise as they can have joint issues later in life if you over exercise, more important is mental stimulation. Expose to all things they need to be accepting of young because they form firm likes and dislikes, you can’t then change these.

Aw thanks for the reply and yours sounds lovely! Those are some very good qualities you have mentioned!

Oh and mine was recalled trained in under a week

Thanks for the advice! How much exercise did you give yours as a puppy?

Wow!!

We have a 7 year old Border Collie who was bred on a farm, but he’s a family pet to us. He was easy to toilet train, chewing and destruction was bad for around 6 months, so he slept in a crate for his own good. I’m glad you are going to train your puppy to help out on your farm as the one thing we are sure, is our boy would like, is to be kept busy with a routine, we do lots with him, playing, various different walks/runs. He loves nothing more than laying outside of an evening, doesn't like the heat, if we had a barn, I’m sure he would rather sleep there, he isn’t a cuddly dog, but will sit next to me. The breeder asked us a lot of questions to make sure we were suited to a Border Collie and had the time to give him.

@OneDayIWillLearn. With hindsight too much, ended up with joint issues.

We’ve had our BC since a puppy, she’s 4 1/2 now. Was recall trained and potty trained very quickly indeed, and has the loveliest temperament with ‘her people’ but is nervous of strangers and quite aloof. She’s a bit bossy with other dogs and likes to show her teeth to them if they are ‘rude’ and run at her or try to get her to play with them. We always joke that she’s like a school prefect, wants to tell off other dogs who are not behaving! She’s 100% trustworthy around other animals, cats/chickens/sheep etc and totally ball obsessed. She would never run away, she needs to be able to see one of us at all times. We stayed in a little cabin in the woods in the summer and it had no front gate. She didn’t run out of sight at any point all weekend She can get a bit angsty around the house if she’s not had enough running about (barking at passersby etc) but she doesn’t get separation anxiety and can be happily left for a few hours on her own. She is currently asleep on my feet and has been for the last three hours. She sleeps all evening, once the chickens have gone to bed. She is the best dog in the world and I love her very much.

I'm by no means an expert on BCs, but IM (very limited) E the ones who are going to work start being trained in puppyhood.

In your shoes I'd ask the breeders for their advice, and for any contacts they'd be happy to share with you. That way you'll get advice tailored to a dog who is going into work.

I have working collies which are also pet collies .

Collies are the easiest pups ever! All of mine slept through from pretty early on. 11.00-6.00. Ensure they have the right stuff to chew and they will choose that. (athough they are not all mad chewers)

Biggest issue is encouraging down time as they will happily potter with you all day in the yard and then become manic! Calm quiet time is vital for collie puppies.

If they are not just going to be working on the farm then get the out and about watching life. They tend not to be very social dogs with other dogs and that is fine but being iniffferent to other dogs is important.

Watch for the 12 week mark when they suddenly over night become herders! The shouders drop and anything that moves will be herded. You need to encourage this as a working dog but have it controlled to cue.

Work a lot on focus on you in different situations.

Enjoy a fun year ahead of you

I had a BC/german shepherd cross and actually found them the easiest puppy I’ve had because they were so clever.

the Yorkshire terrier puppy, in comparison, nearly had me committed to somewhere with padded walls.

appropriately exercised and stimulated with the right toys, I think you’ll be fine

My border collie is now 10 and we have had him since he was a puppy. He isn't a working dog but has lots of energy even now. He was a typical puppy, liked to chew but toilet training was pretty good. He loves to play and be outside in the garden. Training was really important.