Crazy Border Collie Owners

puppydog

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#21
Yep, I have had a BC in my life for the past 22 years. They are wonderful dogs that most people shouldn't own. I would like to keep it that way!
 

JoeLacy

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#22
People just don't know. Someone asked me at the dog park the other day, what "Mixes" Peyton and Jax were. I responded, "Gin, Vermouth and some Olive".

I agree there are some crazy BC's out there. Made that way by people who won't take the time and effort to properly train them. I saw plenty when I went looking, but then I also found one that was just wonderful. Fine, call me crazy, I've been called worse.
 

Shiba Rawr

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#23
I've never personally owned a Border Collie...
As far as herding dogs go, I've had a Chow Chow/Australian Cattle Dog mix....

However, they are extremely popular in the town near where I live as many people here are ranchers. (Not including myself...as I refuse to eat red meat.)
Border Collies are most popular here followed by Australian Cattle Dogs, and there are a few Australian Shepherds.
So the Borders here get to do the work they were bred to do! The sad thing is, many people here (well not where I LIVE, but in the neighboring town) are as well bad dog owners, which is awful. Many actually kick and beat their dogs and PUPPIES, even the kids do! :mad: I witnessed a boy no older than 9 calling his Border Collie (mix?) puppy towards him and then KICKING her as hard as he could when she approached. I chewed him out.
Not many people there are in this time and age, nor are they very well educated...to say the least.

ANYWAY, Borders are very intelligent dogs! I have always wanted one, or an Australian Shepherd, but we are afraid they'd get out and cause trouble with the livestock near by (a few miles distance)...
 
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#24
A bc needs a lot of mental stimulation. Not a breed to be left alone for long periods of time. To me, the people who make those comments are obviously NOT bc people, know NOTHING about them and until the learn, don't need to get one. They just need some education on the breed.
 

JoeLacy

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#25
A bc needs a lot of mental stimulation. Not a breed to be left alone for long periods of time. To me, the people who make those comments are obviously NOT bc people, know NOTHING about them and until the learn, don't need to get one. They just need some education on the breed.
I agree with this, Aussies too for that matter. BC's are like driving a car. You should have a license to drive one.

Many people get them because they are smart then neglect the very reason they got one and wonder why the dog is not behaving like a stuffed toy. The most active BC in the litter might be fun at first, but that activity will come back to haunt you if you don't do what's required.

I admit to having a laid back BC, and I picked him for that very reason to give me some flexibility down the road. No, he's not a stuffed toy but at times, he's pretty close. :)
 

Lizmo

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#26
A bc needs a lot of mental stimulation. Not a breed to be left alone for long periods of time. To me, the people who make those comments are obviously NOT bc people, know NOTHING about them and until the learn, don't need to get one. They just need some education on the breed.
I must disagree with this statement.

I have a Border Collie from stong working lines (I get that comment all the time from another sheepdog handler that my BC's sire was a very strong dog). My border collie can be left alone for long periods of time without me - in a crate. He doesn't come out 'crazy', he isn't destructive while in his crate, never tears up his blanket, etc. He's 1 year old, for refrence.

While I would agree that Border Collies need alot of mental stimulation, they don't need it ALL THE TIME, like some may think. I'm very bad about doing lots of commands throughout the day - actually unless I'm specifically training with him, we don't do many commands throughout the day beyond the basic no and here.

On thing that a well bred, well trained Border Collie will have is a reliable off switch.
 

elegy

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#27
I must disagree with this statement.

I have a Border Collie from stong working lines (I get that comment all the time from another sheepdog handler that my BC's sire was a very strong dog). My border collie can be left alone for long periods of time without me - in a crate. He doesn't come out 'crazy', he isn't destructive while in his crate, never tears up his blanket, etc. He's 1 year old, for refrence.
steve's crated for 9-9 1/2 hours a day with a break in the middle and i don't have any problems with him, either. yeah, when i'm home he wants to be doing stuff, and a lot of times i'll play with him when he brings me his ball, but if i'm busy and ignore him, he'll go chew a bone or something appropriate on his own. he's 13 months.

he's certainly an energetic dog and always always up for something fun, but i don't find him a particularly difficult dog to live with.
 

~Jessie~

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#28
I must disagree with this statement.

I have a Border Collie from stong working lines (I get that comment all the time from another sheepdog handler that my BC's sire was a very strong dog). My border collie can be left alone for long periods of time without me - in a crate. He doesn't come out 'crazy', he isn't destructive while in his crate, never tears up his blanket, etc. He's 1 year old, for refrence.

While I would agree that Border Collies need alot of mental stimulation, they don't need it ALL THE TIME, like some may think. I'm very bad about doing lots of commands throughout the day - actually unless I'm specifically training with him, we don't do many commands throughout the day beyond the basic no and here.

On thing that a well bred, well trained Border Collie will have is a reliable off switch.
That's how Rory is as well... he has no issues being in his crate, and hasn't destroyed his crate pad or toys thus far.

He's decently easy to live with, all things considering... he's only an 8 month old puppy.
 

colliewog

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#29
I think the reputation just spreads by word of mouth. All BCs are crazy, all Shelties/Collies are noisy fence-runners, all Chihuahuas shiver and all Cockers bite people.

With that said, I think it's better for the breed for people to be afraid of getting one (for whatever reason) ... one less person getting a dog and giving it up. I don't encourage people to get Collies ... if you WANT one, then we'll talk. :)
 

Lizmo

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#30
, all Chihuahuas shiver

With that said, I think it's better for the breed for people to be afraid of getting one (for whatever reason) ... one less person getting a dog and giving it up. I don't encourage people to get Collies ... if you WANT one, then we'll talk. :)
To the bolded part: I thought most Chi's did shiver? I always thought it has something to do with staying warm. I could be wrong though, because I don't know much about Chis.

To the none bolded part: Great post! :hail: It's the reason why I don't usually recommend a Border Collie when people are asking 'what kind of dog is right for me'.
 

~Jessie~

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#31
To the bolded part: I thought most Chi's did shiver? I always thought it has something to do with staying warm. I could be wrong though, because I don't know much about Chis.

To the none bolded part: Great post! :hail: It's the reason why I don't usually recommend a Border Collie when people are asking 'what kind of dog is right for me'.
Chihuahuas shiver because they're so mighty :rofl1:

Actually, even well bred and well socialized chis can shake/shiver. My girls do when they're cold... they even sleep underneath the covers in bed, whereas Tucker can't stand to be covered up.

I think it just has to do with them being so small, they loose body heat quickly.

And yeah, I don't recommend most breeds to people when they ask what the "right" breed is for them.
 

Dekka

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#32
I have to say I get a lot more comments about having JRT than BC..

Sport is an awesome dog. BUT his screaming when he is worked up does help fuel the BC stereotype.

Pretty much any breed can be 'crazy' in the wrong hands
 

Laurelin

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#33
Lol, I get the shaking thing all the time. It's one really common question that I think is so weird. No, papillons don't shiver like chihuahuas do. If your pap is shaking, they're sick, the only time mine shake is when they're about to puke.
 

Lizmo

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#34
Actually, even well bred and well socialized chis can shake/shiver. My girls do when they're cold... they even sleep underneath the covers in bed, whereas Tucker can't stand to be covered up.
Off topic, I know, but is it not normal (or a 'breed thing') for Chis to shake? I never got the impression from the ones I've been around that it has anything to do with being scared. I was around a Chi a couple weekends ago for 4 days and if you picked her up she'd shake, but she loved being picked up. And the couple Chis that my aunt has, also shake when picked up.
 

Zoom

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#35
I think most people go overboard with providing TOO MUCH stimulation to their BC's, especially when young, and they never let the dog learn how to calm down, self-sooth or entertain themselves. It's like kids who only watch TV...take away the TV, you've got a holy terror on your hands, because they don't know what else to do.

Aussies get a lot of the same stereotypes as BC's do as far as being "crazy energy" dogs, with the addition of being known barkers. Sawyer has the world's best off-switch but when he's riled up, good doG does he bark! :rofl1:
 

Lizmo

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#36
I think that is a problem too, Zoom I hear on different forums of people doing this and that with there border collie pups so young and I think geeze, just let them be a pup!
 

Laurelin

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#37
I find it weird that of the bc owners I know, the 'just pet' people seem to consistently have better behaved dogs than the sports people I trained with with a couple exceptions of course.

ETA: That could probably go with what zoom said though. The sports people I know seem to like to build drive and build drive and build drive without much else.

ETA 2: I should point out these are pretty amateur sports people lol
 

Lizmo

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#38
I find it weird that of the bc owners I know, the 'just pet' people seem to consistently have better behaved dogs than the sports people I trained with with a couple exceptions of course.
It's probably because they want there dogs to be hyper and crazy so they go fast in whatever sport they are doing.

What did you see when you went to the sheepdog trial? Most the dogs just hang out in a crate or tied to a fence post while waiting to work. And you rarely see a dog barking, causing a fuss, or jumping around.
 

Laurelin

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#39
It's probably because they want there dogs to be hyper and crazy so they go fast in whatever sport they are doing.

What did you see when you went to the sheepdog trial? Most the dogs just hang out in a crate or tied to a fence post while waiting to work. And you rarely see a dog barking, causing a fuss, or jumping around.
Lol yep. I think it would shock most people who are unfamiliar with working bcs. Totally different animal.

There was ONE puppy who was acting up pretty bad. (He happened to be sitting right in front of me) but then again he was only 8 months old so I forgive him. Plus he was pretty cute. :D
 

Lizmo

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#40
Lol yep. I think it would shock most people who are unfamiliar with working bcs. Totally different animal.

There was ONE puppy who was acting up pretty bad. (He happened to be sitting right in front of me) but then again he was only 8 months old so I forgive him. Plus he was pretty cute. :D
Oh yeah, all the dogs are totally quiet, calm, don't interact with each other much at all, and the owners are in FULL control of there dogs - maybe that's why I like it so much? Lol.

Hehe, Blaze still hasn't learn the 'just chill and watch' thing. But I think that has more to do with the fact that he doesn't handle the pressure of watching other dogs being corrected very well. So, I'm not pushing it on him. I did once, and he didn't do very well after watching for a long period of time.
 

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