Twice a year they shed, even more, when they blow their coats (change coats for the seasons). A Border Collie is perfect for a family, but with older children who can play properly with such a large dog and who are physically capable of handling a dog who will pull on the lead. A Border Collie may be suitable for you if: A Border Collie may not be suitable for you if: Border Collies make amazing pets. For more information about Border Collie shedding and grooming, you can read the article below. Continue reading to find out if getting a Border Collie as your first dog is right for you! Border collies require a lot of training but with this training they really can be perfect companions. Is Border collie ok with us ? Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. If you want to adopt a border collie, and you are confused if the two of you will make a good match or not, you are in the right place. If you take the time to introduce them properly over a few weeks, then they will be perfectly fine together. At Muddy Noses you'll find articles covering care, training, exercise, puppies, first time owners and breed information. With that being said, the amount of exercise requiredreally depends on the dog. Alex Walker is a passionate animal lover with a special fondness for Border Collies. Staring is often used as a method to get something they want from you; such as some leftover food, to initiate play, or to get your attention. Border collies are very demanding, sensitive, and active dogs. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. If youre looking to get into agility training or just want a reliable and intelligent dog that will Collies need to keep their minds busy and occupied or else they will find other (often destructive) ways to entertain themselves. After being bred exclusively to herd for centuries, they are also hard workers who never clock off which can be a problem. Its more work than you think, even for older collies! Border Collies will undoubtedly form a close bond with their owner, and while this is special and so rewarding, a first-time owner needs to know that this may cause them to be intolerant of being away from you. We want to train the BC to do some tricks and simple commands but we dont know if the BC would like the smaller house we live in? This is because they often do not realize the Border Collie Hair Care (Complete Grooming Guide!). Is Having a Puppy a lot of work? Their sensitivity also requires specific attention to socializing them when they are young. ), but dont overdo it; going overboard and bathing your dog too frequently can irritate their skin. This means that there are so many options out there for you if you might be thinking a border collie is not for you. However, you will still have success playing modified versions of this casual game with much smaller balls like footballs or tennis balls. My brother has taught his Border Collie to find and retrieve antler sheds! What do you think? If youre willing to put in some time and effort, though, you can have a truly devoted, loving, and fun-to-be-around companion for many years to come. Just coincidentally came across your site and Im glad I did! As we mentioned previously, Collies never clock off. If you dont have the time needed to keep your Border Collie happy you will start to see your Border Collie turn to destructive behaviors to keep themselves occupied. Dogs, in particular, are one of the most popular first animals to keep as they are great companions for people of all ages plus they have a variety of other benefits too. This can be very frustrating for new dog owners who are just learning how to train a dog. They are highly sensitive and intelligent breeds. Collies are highly intelligent and love to learn new commands and tricks. So, if you are a first-time owner, then this is probably not the breed for you. While some Border Collies have great off-switches in the house, others will constantly be looking for a job to do. However, if you are an outdoorsy individual who regularly goes hiking, camping, running or even cycling then a collie could be your perfect first dog. Like with everything, there are some pros and cons, which we will list for you. The average adult dog should be allowed to relieve itself at least 3-5 times per day. This all sounds great until the task in hand is chasing a ball. Border Collies are an extremely intelligent breed Currently, there is no solid scientific evidence on the difference between male and female Border Collie temperament. They can develop separation anxiety or even be destructive. Since they are herding dogs, border collies are full of energy. These vet trips will be costly so you will want to invest in some good insurance for your collie to help cover the costs. They can also get mental stimulation from toys made specifically for this. But their incredible intelligence is also what makes playing with the Borden Collie so enjoyable. Will they be okay indoors? WebHistorically collies, therefore, made good working dogs having strong herding instincts and resilience to the great outdoors. Border collies require a little more care and involvement than other dog breeds. The Border Collie is a popular working animal used by ranchers, farmers, shepherds, hunters, military personnel and many others who need high-level herding dogs. It is usually present at birth and can be detected at 6 weeks. You need to develop good bondage with your furry friend and healthy chemistry to know his expectations from you. 10 Training Tips! A fitness-loving, active first time Border Collie owner who has plenty of stamina will have lots of fun with a Border Collie. This makes collies a challenging breed to own for people who work long or irregular shifts. If you live in a small apartment, townhome, or house without a lot of yard space Border Collies can feel really cooped up and have nowhere to focus releasing their excessive energy. Consider different activities, exercise options, and plenty of mental stimulation to keep your Border Collie happy. Even for a first-time dog owner, Border Collies are incredibly easy to train for herding or just for obedience. 8 Potential Methods, How Do Cats Show Affection? As highly trainable and people-pleasing dogs, most goldens can be taught to live successfully with cats. They are no lapdog theyll never settle down with you on the couch to watch a movie. The average dog has the capability to learn around 165 words and signals. It also means you are a very active With some dedication and thought on your part you can have a well-adjusted, well-behaved, super loyal four-legged best friend. Border collies are happiest when they are working or playing, and will They are perfect for herding dogs. However, if you have the time, temperament and resources then there is no reason you could not bring a Border Collie home from your local shelter. You must ensure you have a few hours spare each day to invest into training your collie so if you work long hours and like to hit the gym or grab a few drinks at a bar after work then a border collie will not be a good first dog for you. They need hours each day just dedicated to them and nothing else. To understand what makes collies tick and whether they may fit into your life, we need to go back in time a few hundred years! Howlingandgrowling.com 2021. Instead, the Border Collie is actually a mix of a Roman herding breed and a Viking Spitz-variety herding breed. Obviously, having some If you are looking for other information about the education and training of a Border Collie, I suggest you visit the official web page of brain training for dogs, an excellent & easy-to-follow online dog training course. Knowing about their temperament, behavior, grooming and training requirements, and overall care requirements can help you decide if this breed fits into your lifestyle and if you can provide the best care for it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. There is no substitute for this opinion, regardless of what you read on our website. Generally, these dogs are very obedient, and they need their owners command and acknowledgment most of the time. Some would say that Border Collies are not suitable for a first-time owner, while others say it is an excellent breed for a first-time owner. Im not saying its impossible to have a well-behaved Border Collie as an apartment dog. Unlike cats where there are less than 75, there are almost 400 breeds of dogs. Border collies are full of energy and need much more daily exercise than most other dog breeds. When Border Collie puppy starts to go potty, praise it for doing its business. Are Border Collies good for first-time owners? With these characteristics, female border collies are easier to train. It goes into depth about grooming care for the Border Collie and has links on how to bathe, brush, and care for your dogs teeth, ears, and paws. If you are able to keep your Border Collie busy your rewards are a super fun, playful, sensitive, extroverted, and intelligent dog! As with most dogs, they will need regular brushing and shampoo; on occasion, their nails will need to be clipped. Whether you're new to the breed or an experienced owner looking for new ideas, this blog is sure to provide the answers you need to keep your canine companion happy and healthy! Maybe they are not as high energy as Im being led to believe? So, are Border Collies good for first-time owners? At least, it should. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. WebWhat many people fail to realize, even long-standing Border Collie owners, is that the herding instinct is simply a modified version of the killing instinct of wolves. Do Border Collies make good house pets? Your Border Collie will be happiest when their day is full. Welcome to Muddy Noses, where Alex and family share their passion for Border Collies. Not all Border Collies bark a lot and you can train them not to bark, but it does take some time and effort. If not, then you may want to consider another, easier breed at first. It is also a good habit to regularly check your dogs ears. If you lead a very active lifestyle that you can incorporate your Border Collie into then this may not be a problem for you. They excel at the task because of their strength, stamina, intelligence, and work ethic. With proper training, exercise, and care, border collies can be the best dog you will ever own. Collies really are not an ideal dog breed for first time dog owners, unless your lifestyle is already suited to a collies requirements. Blu is a relatively small Borgi even by Border Collie Corgi mix standards. Like other working dog breeds, border collies have some unwanted characteristics that can be trained out over time. The best way is to just dive right in! Hi, I would love to get a Border Collie. While 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dog His experiences have given him an intimate understanding of the unique bond between humans and animals, and he's looking forward to sharing his knowledge and insights with readers. The more time you spend with your border collie, the stronger your relationship will become. They are also a very intelligent breed. There are dogs that need hardly any exercise and are happy laying around all day. My border collie mix (BC and red heeler) is very chill. If you think at this point that border collies are not for you, there are so many other kinds of dogs out there that may be for you. If you combine this fact with positive and friendly training approaches, then youll soon see just how easy it is to house train your Border Collie. But they do not make a good apartment dog because they need a vast space to exercise and release their pent-up energy. Some dogs may feel intimidated by their herding behaviors or they just dont like another dog trying to control their movements. Start teaching your pup basic training commands at three to four months old. Dealing with a highly intelligent breed means theyre relatively easy to train. Our girl is now a full sized 16 month, brilliant dog. Affiliate Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. They need to be regularly exposed to new places, etc. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Are you ready to have a dog that can be trained, trained, and trained even more? Highly intelligent and highly trainable, the affectionate and energetic Border Collie almost always comes out on top Border Collies will take a significant amount of time and energy, but the investment you make in time and energy will be greatly rewarded in a loving and loyal dog! The athletic abilities of the Border Collie make it excellent for herding or hunting purposes. There are small breeds, large breeds, medium breeds. In a nutshell, yes, Border Collies can live in apartments. Border If you are thinking about getting a Border Collie as your first dog, you should learn everything you can about them. Collies are some of the most common breeds in animal shelters due in part to new owners not being prepared for the vast amount of time and effort required to look after a collie. While this dog breed tends to herd anything that moves, they are not likely to ever do so with malicious intent. A Border Collie may be challenging for a first-time dog owner, but with adequate training and care, it can become an extraordinary pet. Because of this, Border Collies are not suited for first-time owners who have allergies or are not used to or prepared for grooming and brushing the large dog. ), Samoyed Dog Breed Guide (Quick Links and Information), Require at least 2 hours a day of exercise, fetch things (newspaper, slippers, people), You are a highly active person who loves to exercise with your dog, You have a lot time to invest in learning how to train and care for your dog, You can be creative in coming up with jobs for your dog, You have a desire to teach your dog a lot of cool thing. As soon as your Border Collie puppy finishes eating take it to the toilet spot and use the words go potty. Since theyre also good at guarding, owners can use them for guarding property or livestock from predators, such as coyotes or mountain lions. 10 Essential Training Tips! Without providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation a collie will cause chaos and wreak havoc in your life. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Because Border Collies are so smart they can sometimes turn into little Houdinis, figuring out how to escape any type of containment you may try to enforce on them. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. However, anecdotal evidence does suggest that male Border Collies tend to be easier to handle and are more devoted to their owners. Let me ask you this. Theyre not natural couch potatoes! You will need to spend a lot of time reading about border collies and observing them in order to know their psychological, behavioral, and physiological needs. 1. There are a lot of great qualities that a Border Collie has that can make them an excellent dog, but first-time owners need to know what they are getting into before bringing on the challenge of raising this breed. 14 Ways Cats Show Their Love. But is getting a Border Collie a good idea for a first-time dog owner? But you can never train a Border Collie not to herd. The Border Collie is an incredibly intelligent dog who picks up both good and bad behaviors in an instant. If so maybe I shouldnt be put off getting one on the generalisation of the breeds original purpose? Well, the biggest reason. This will be shown as excessive barking, chewing on things, trying to show dominance, and having a lot of neurotic undesirable behaviors that will be hard to correct. Additionally, Thecollienois.com participates in various other affiliate programs (clickbank, CJ, shareasale, impact radius, partnerize, Chewy), and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. These dogs are bred to work, and if they arent given a lot of exercises, they can become destructive. They are widely popular as a working dog and are frequently used by farmers, shepherds and ranchers. Poodles. Border Collies require at least two hours of off-leash exercise every day and lots of daily mental stimulation to keep their minds healthy and avoid behavioral problems. sometimes they can be too smart for their own good! Yet they need lots of attention. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'trainingbuster_com-box-4','ezslot_3',138,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'trainingbuster_com-box-4','ezslot_4',138,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-138{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}It is possible for a Border Collie to have both a smooth or a rough variety of coats. The border collie is a dog breed that got its start in the United Kingdom. WebBecause they are so intelligent, they need challenges and puzzles. Unless you really do have several spare hours each day and are willing to invest this time into walking, training and grooming then a rough collie is not a good first dog. They need to be taught to have good associations with other people and animals. The dogs fur is typically dark on its body with lighter legs, head, underbelly and border region. Do Border Collies Like Water? Similar to Greyhounds, Whippets are a popular racing and hunting breed. But when you put in the effort, they can be the best dogs you will ever own. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'trainingbuster_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_15',162,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'trainingbuster_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_16',162,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-trainingbuster_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-162{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}But many of the same hazards associated with your Border Collie spending their time outside can be observed indoors, too.