FAQ: BORDER COLLIES

Border Collies are admired for their intelligence and athleticism but individual dogs in the breed vary greatly in other ways.  The following FAQ’s may help you in further determining if the Border Collie is right for you.  

 

Is a Border Collie easy to train? 

Border Collies in general are highly intelligent and also biddable.  It’s their biddability that sometimes makes them appear easy to train.  They learn fast, and in general have a high focus on their owner.  However they do need a strong definitive leader.  When not given rules to follow, a Border Collie may make up its own “rules”.  They are sensitive, and don’t do well with an overbearing trainer or harsh training.  When the dog and owner are well matched in personality, they are easy to train.  When not well matched, they can seem difficult.  

 

Are they good with other animals?  

The Border Collie generally has a high level of prey drive, noticing other animals quickly and often willing to chase, herd or otherwise control other creatures.  That said, our Border Collies have always lived with other animals including cats, sheep, goats, horses and we find that when raised well, with rules and guidance, and early exposure, they do just fine with a variety of animals.  If you wish them to be good around prey animals such as horses and goats, you must instill a good foundation of training at a young age. We never allow our dogs to chase or herd without our permission.  

 

Are Border Collies good with kids/Good family dogs? 

I have owned and bred Border Collies since my kids were very young.  In general I don’t recommend the breed for homes with kids under the age of 6, but with the right owner it can work out.  Keep in mind that a Border Collie can be inclined to chasing kids, a behavior that should never be allowed.  A Border Collie also doesn’t always appreciate strangers coming into the home unless raised at a young age to accept them.  Its important when raising a Border Collie, to keep these things in mind.  If you live in a place where neighborhood kids frequently run in and out of your home/yard, you may want to consider another breed.  But for older kids who enjoy playing ball, running agility, or training the family dog, the Border Collie can be a fantastic companion.  

 

How much exercise does a Border Collie need? 

I always tell anyone who asks about exercise, that the average dog should have 10-20 min. Of good cardio style exercise a day, and a minimum of 45 min of basic exercise (walking) per day.  There is a misnomer that Border Collies need lots of exercise.  This is not necessarily true.  While a young dog will need slightly more, and an untrained dog will seem like it needs more, in reality what a Border Collie only needs about the same as the average dog.  However it also needs “mental” exercise aka a “job” to do, and good leadership.  Remember as a breed, the Border Collie was bred for short spurts of energy when needed to gather up a rogue sheep, or bring them back home.  The rest of the time, the dog would lay relaxing and keeping watch while the livestock grazed. A Border Collie will crave work and direction from its Handler, this is not necessarily the same as needing to go for a 5 mile run every day.  That said, a well exercised dog is generally a happy and healthy dog.  Plan to provide your dog with the minimum of 45 min. Exercise daily, combined with some sort of training/work.  

 

What kind of grooming does a Border Collie need/Do they shed a lot? 

The Border Collie is a double coated dog.  It is the soft undercoat on any breed that is responsible for “shedding”.  Most double coated breeds will blow their coat twice a year. A correct Border Collie coat is of a hard texture that resists dirt and tangling.  Although the soft fur in the pants of the dog, or behind the ears may tend to mat more easily.  A Border Collie should be brushed weekly.  They need their nails clipped every other week in general, and a bath once a mos.  They do not need professional grooming, however the hair around the feet should be trimmed and many prefer to also keep the hair under the tail and on the belly trimmed for “cleanliness”.  A Border Collie should never have its coat Shaved, this can ruin the coat and make the dog more susceptible to overheating.  Shaving a double coated dog will not decrease shedding, in fact it may cause the dog to seemingly shed more over time.  Shedding is directly related to coat quality, stress, nutrition, exercise, and how often the dog is brushed.  

 

Can a Border Collie stay home alone, or should I enroll my dog in a Daycare program if I work long hours?  

Any dog can stay home alone, if raised with that goal in mind.  We recommend all puppies be raised in a manner that will enable them to handle changes in lifestyle.  This includes teaching them to be alone for stretches of time, even at a young age.  However with its relationship and exercise needs, the Border Collie is not in general, a good choice for a home where its owners are gone more than 8-9 hours a day unless the home is certain it will have the time to devote to the dogs needs.  For example an active outdoorsman who plans to take the dog with him whenever he’s not working, may do well even if he works 9 hours a day.  Whereas a homebody who prefers to watch TV or Read when not working, will have more difficulty keeping their Border Collie healthy and happy.  Keep in mind while certain individual Border Collies may do great in a Daycare program that is well run, in general the breed does not enjoy running in a large group of other dogs.  They are not, in general, good “dog park” dogs either. As the dog worlds “organizers” they too often take it upon themselves to police other dogs in a group setting if their behavior is deemed too crazy/active or out of line by the Border Collie.  

 

Is the Border Collie a healthy breed/how long do they generally live?  

This is a question a prospective Border Collie owner should ask of any breeder they may potentially acquire a puppy from as the answers may vary.  In general the breed is very healthy and known to live well into their teens.  Most of the health issues associated with the breed are no longer devastating and many have DNA tests now available to help breeders avoid them.  The minimum health testing required for a Border Collie is hip X-ray to check for hip dysplasia, DNA testing for CEA, CL and TNS.  There’s a myriad of other tests also available.  The scariest disease in Border Collies is Epilepsy and sadly there is no genetic test to help breeders avoid it.  Be certain to ask any breeder if there are any direct incidences of Epilepsy in the line.  Our Border Collies tend to live to be 12-15 years of age.  

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