Is A Border Collie For Me?

[New Fur-mumma]

Hi everyone

I am considering a Border Collie as a family pet and have run into some quite conflicting information as to whether this beautiful breed is the right dog for us. I've done a heap of research online and read Aus/US forums (BTW the DOL Breed 101 questionnaire that owners/breeders posted was invaluable…thank you!!)

and I plan to talk to several breeders once I have opinions from here. I've heard a lot of stuff that scares me (2+hours walking required, destructive/overly anxious behaviour, biting) but then a lot of forum info, particularly from owners, contradicts this - if the dog is mentally stimulated and trained well.

I love dogs too much to get it wrong so basically I want to ask the experts (owners) - are we the right human family for a BC and is a BC the right fur-child for us?

Our Circumstances

We are a family of four who live in suburban Sydney with a well fenced medium sized back yard with swimming pool. My husband works from home and I am a stay-at-home Mum so there are only a few hours in the day when no one is around. My daughters are 5 (who I think must be part Border Collie, she does not stop) and 4. I have owned a Beagle when younger and we are all avid dog lovers, this dog would be an inside dog and part of our family.

We can commit to 30mins-1 hour walk per day and/or 30mins-1 hour of chucky ball/frisbee/swim in the backyard, with a few long romps at the dog park/beach a week. I plan on doing puppy training and then obedience training with the dog. Given that we are home quite a lot and have kids, the dog will get lots of attention and games (5pm tag around the dining room table is a family sport). We dog-sit my sister's 5 year old lab occasionally and have no problems with his exercise/mental needs.

My Questions

1. Is a BC the right breed for us given our circumstances?

2. If so, are they safe enough with younger kids if trained correctly? I don't want them biting my daughters if they are not being good 'sheep'.

3. Is there any significant temperment differences between the sexes? (my daughters desperately want a girl but I would prefer we get what's best for us)

4. I've read that show bred dogs are calmer and more suited as family pets as opposed to working bred dogs, is this the case? If so, does anyone know of any good responsible breeders in NSW/ACT that specialise in show bred dogs?

Thank you so much for any words of wisdom you can provide - it would end weeks of internal confusion!

[persephone]

welcome :)

I think, provided you commit to daily training ..and treating the dog as a dog , not a "child", a BC could love your family and home .

there will be others along with more current info than I - welcome ,and well done on doing your research on getting a new pup.!

[mixeduppup]

the key with any high energy breed is consistency and commitment in training and exercise as well as family time. Get a good breeder who gets to know your family so they can choose the right puppy for you. A recognised obedience school with proven track record and good reviews. Go to a few meets without the dog first to see if you like what you see. Same with puppy school. Borders can be wonderful dogs with great direction and training and they can be absolute nightmares without so as long as you're dedicated and committed. I wouldn't see why this couldn't work.

[piper]

The right border collie could fit into your circumstances, others may not. But the same could be said of many breeds.

Be prepared to take time to bold a relationship with a breeder and be honest about your circumstances and what you want/need and work with them and they should help to select the right puppies from the litter for you or be honest if they did not have any in the litter they felt would suit the environment.

I will put it this way - had I received that enquiry, I would have been happy to talk more, meet you, meet the kids and see where it went from there.

Good luck :)

[kelpiecuddles]

I have a kelpie who was raised in much the same environment and household situation who has thrived and been an amazing family dog. Start by finding a breeder who's dogs often go to family homes rather than working homes and who do well in that sort of environment and then discuss your situation further with the breeder so that they can look out for a calm, biddable puppy for you. The breeders advice will be really valuable to you here and I would encourage you to go in with an open mind as far as what colour/sex you want and let the breeder show you which ones they think may best suit you out of the litter.

[Tassie]

What Piper said. :D. People tend to think Border Collies need non stop action and exercise. IMHO the most important thing in living happily with a Border Collie is to have lots of time to spend doing 'stuff' with the dog, with as much of the stuff being mental as physical. These dogs have good off switches, but they may need to be helped to find out how to operate them ????.

It would be important to spend quite a bit of time teaching the children how to act round the dog too .. lots of calm, not too much hyper, but they can enjoy helping with the training.

You've started with great questions. Hope you can connect with some great breeders. It might be worth sending dancinbcs a PM, in case she doesn't see this.

[sheena]

Our border collies get 2 x 45 minute walks a day including some agility training & a swim. They also get mental training with the clicker & teaching them tricks etc. 5 minutes of mental stimulation could be just as good as a 30 minute walk. I agree with the others...get to know some breeders & ask them to pick out a suitable pup. Probably a show breeder would be preferred over a performance breeder unless you are considering doing dog sports like agility, but even then, if it's your first BC I would start off with a quieter one. You will need a pretty high fence as BC's can jump a 7 ft fence if they learn how. Would you maybe consider an adult dog from a show breeder who's temperament is proven??

[cowanbree]

You could also look at an Australian Shepherd which has a similar look to a Border but in my experience can be a little less intense.

[sheena]

You could also look at an Australian Shepherd which has a similar look to a Border but in my experience can be a little less intense.

I have heard that Australian Shepherds may not have a high tolerance level...that's just what I have heard, that they can be a little temperamental.

[Simply Grand]

What is it that makes you want a Border Collie?

As others have said, it could definitely work but it really depends what you are looking for in a dog.

I think an Aussie Shepherd could also work, I don't believe they are any more temperamental than any other breed and in my experience are pretty tolerant.

My girl looooves kids and is very tolerant physically, happy to be laid on, poked, picked up, kissed etc etc. Only issue is she's very boisterous around kids because she doesn't have much exposure to them so they are super exciting.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Simply Grand

[*kirty*]

Definitely go for a show lines dog and a breeder who can pick out a more laid back pup for you. Yes they can be awesome family dogs but some are very demanding. I have worked with BC Rescue for many years so unfortunately I see the dogs that don't work out.

[dancinbcs]

A show line Border Collie could be a perfect fit but as they vary so much in temperament, you need the right puppy from any litter. This may mean waiting on a litter and finding there is no suitable puppy in that litter and having to wait on another one - but it is worth the wait for the right one. Either sex could be fine but a male will tend to be more devoted to the one person who trains them, whereas the girls tend to share themselves around more. I always warn buyers with children to lock the dog up if the children are playing chasing games as the dog will join in and may nip with excitement but it is rare for them to do more than a nip. Apart from that the middle of the road, unflappable ones are perfect with kids. My only concern would be your lack of experience with a very quick to learn dog. They are very different to most breeds in that they learn things in just one or two lessons so you have to make sure you get it right first go. Unteaching something you didn't get right can be a lot of work. If you are committed to learning how to train a dog right from the start then you should be fine.

[benshiva]

I disagree that an Australian Shepherd is a better match. They most certainly are not easier or less active than a Border Collie. Having spent a LOT of time with both breeds, I always get a shock when people make these comments. I would describe Aussies as more clown like in behaviour.

To the OP, the key to a settled, happy Border Collie isn't just in the amount of exercise it gets. Make it a part of your family, include it in your daily activities, training and a walk every day and it will fit in beautifully with your family. They are definitely not a breed that thrives being left in a backyard with little interaction with their owners.

I agree with others who say speak to some show breeders. A good breeder will be able to match the correct temperament to your family. I insist on a basic obedience corse for my first time Border Collie owners. Our breed is very clever and a knowledge of even basic obedience is better than nothing. A bored Border Collie will always find something to amuse itself and it is usually something that the owner wishes it hadn't done!

Good luck with your search, I hope the perfect puppy finds its way to you

[aussielover]

In my experience Aussies are less "serious" than BCs but both can have similar problems if not managed correctly.

I disagree with those saying only go for show line BCs. Working dogs have to have an off switch too. In my experience the working lines actually seem to have a better off switch but that may also be influenced by the type of people who own them (generally experienced dog sport people).

Be careful about the breeder you select, ideally visit and see at least one of the parents. Tell the breeder you are after a more laid back dog.

[Purdie]

If you are fine with your sisters Labrador why not consider a Labrador for your family.

Herding breeds can be nipping at the feet of young children particularly when pups.You would need to train them not to do it..

[piper]

All puppies have to be taught not to bite regardless of the breed.

I can't say I have had a problem with any of my bcs nipping at heels as puppies - trying to play tug with shoe laces and trouser bottoms, yes. But when I instructed puppy preschool that question would be asked pretty much with every group and from owners of a wide variety of breeds.

[BlaznHotAussies]

I think the right Border Collie would suit you and your family, I've known a BC who would lay in the lounge room and not move a muscle for hours, have also known a couple (working dogs mind you!!) who are pretty much neurotic when not working sheep I think you'd be safe with a dog with show lines

Sheena they're wrong!! My Aussie was brought up around a toddler and he loves kids. Even now the toddler (2yo) will basically be jumping on him and he'll be jumping on her and they have a ball

[Loving my Oldies]

The photo Scootaloo. Exquisite

[LisaCC]

You could also look at an Australian Shepherd which has a similar look to a Border but in my experience can be a little less intense.

I have heard that Australian Shepherds may not have a high tolerance level...that's just what I have heard, that they can be a little temperamental.

Yes I wouldn't recommend an Aussie with small kids in general. Some would be fine though, but in general.

I don't know why people recommend them as "easier than a border".

[JulesP]

I would recommend a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a good dog for your family :)