Crazy Border Collie Owners

~Jessie~

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#1
Exactly what the title says.

Whenever I go somewhere and mention that I have a Border Collie, most people say things like "I am so sorry for you," "bless your soul," and "why would you ever get one of THOSE dogs?"

Even when I went to the local dog bakery to get food, one of the workers who I see there all the time made a comment about how I'm "crazy" for having a Border Collie.

I mean, it's good that most of the people I've run into are "scared" of owning a BC, though... because they definitely aren't a breed for the typical dog owner who expects their dogs to entertain themselves.

There are so many BC's on Chaz, though, which is strange. I guess it's because most of us on here are "crazy dog people." lol.

I'll definitely admit that Rory has his moments, especially now that he's 8 months old and in that "teenage stage." I've never owned a breed larger than a chi before, so I'm still unsure if it's because he's a larger breed, or because he's a BC. He's really not that bad, though... he definitely doesn't merit anyone "blessing my soul" for having him, lol.

So, BC owners, have you experienced this before?
 

Brattina88

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#2
I mean, it's good that most of the people I've run into are "scared" of owning a BC, though... because they definitely aren't a breed for the typical dog owner who expects their dogs to entertain themselves.
This was me. Honestly.
I've always "heard" about BCs (and seen some crazy ones). That they're hyper, crazy, neroutic, etc...

But I've learned ;) Do I think one will fit my lifestyle right now? Probably not... but I think they're beautiful dogs, especially in the hands of the right owner.
 

~Jessie~

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#3
This was me. Honestly.
I've always "heard" about BCs (and seen some crazy ones). That they're hyper, crazy, neroutic, etc...

But I've learned ;) Do I think one will fit my lifestyle right now? Probably not... but I think they're beautiful dogs, especially in the hands of the right owner.
My best friend in middle school had a BC... it was kept outside 24/7 :mad: Her parents would say "all those dogs ever do is bark!" Well, yeah, it was chained outside to its dog house all day and bored out of its mind. At the time I always just pictured BC's being farm dogs.

It's sad because you usually hear the "bad" about breeds which gives them a bad rep.
 

Laurelin

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#4
On the bc boards they call it the border collie hype. :D

I know they're not the breed for everyone but I'm still not 100% sure how they got labeled 'the hardest breed in existence'. I can think of many other breeds that get labeled 'normal' that I doubt I could handle. I know for a fact I couldn't take most gundog types of energy, for example. (Anyone want a 9 month old lab? Will trade for border collie please... lol) I know so many people with bcs in apartments, or as a first dog and most of them manage pretty well. BCs are really popular here so I see them a lot and see there is a lot of variety in their activity level too. One of my friends has the most laid back sweetheart of a border collie. And if you're on the boards you'll see tons of owners that are city owners, or apartment owners, or pretty casual (no sports) owners....

So yes, the bc hype.
 

xpaeanx

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#5
I think most people have the same problem that I have with JRT.... The ones they have personally known are neurotic, crazy, insane dogs(read: badly bred, and nothing is done with them).

I did try to look up some JRT trials in my area so I could go meet some well bred ones... I really want to see them doing the GTG. I just missed a trial by like a week... and there arent' any in the next few months... but I"m sure once spring rolls around there will be more.
 

Laurelin

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#6
Yeah there are a lot of breed stereotypes you have to deal with. Shelties also tend to get a bad rap for being neurotic and crazy. I'll tell you that they can be but generally they're not. At least not any more than the other herders.

I used to hate border collies. I only knew a few sport bred dogs that really were insane and I thought no way in hell. Didn't like them at all and never even contemplated one.

Then I started working in a shelter and working with quite a few border collies one on one. It was love. Since then I've been around a lot in agility and recently going to a stockdog trial. I think most people that believe that hype would be completely SHOCKED by the trial dogs. They were all so CALM and behaved. We had an arena full of border collies and they all behaved pretty much perfectly. (Okay there was this one puppy who had a hard time sitting still but he's a PUPPY lol) Some of the agility bcs I know are the ones that have given the breed their reputation. THere is one in particular that I trained with that I could not stand. She was a mess and completely neurotic to the point that she couldn't even string two commands together. Part of that I'm sure is breeding but they owned her sister (also sport bred) and she was a very nice little dog. Part I'm sure was handling. She was hyped up and hyped up for flyball and disk dog that when it came time to do anything else she would freak. Anyways, Meekah is crazy and would scare most people off a border collie pretty easily. Luckily most aren't like her. She just further cemented that I'm going with working lines instead of sport. And what's the worst about Meekah is her owner would tell people that that's how they're supposed to be and that she was from 'real working cattle lines'. She was not by far.

My agility instructor's border collie was also one that would scare people off. He was scary amount of DA and liked to try to eat any dog that came near him.

Funny story, one of my friends has a border collie. He's a pound dog but I swear he is mostly if not all BC. He's a smoothie with erect ears and I've been trying to convince her that bcs come in smooth and he is one. Her response "He can't be a border collie, he's not crazy". lol

It took until Mia that I'm completely not worried about the energy level when adding one in the future (it'll probably be a few years unfortunately). Mia puts all my friends' bcs to shame with her energy level so I know I can handle it. The only thing I worry about is adding a larger dog and integrating it well with the girls, but I'm sure that will work out given time. I'll be getting a young working bred puppy when the time comes as I think that will be the best fit for me.

I'm rambling a bit now, lol.
 

AllieMackie

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#7
Welcome to the world of owning a border collie! :D

People get surprised at Finn's good behaviour on leash and his focus whyen we play fetch at the dog park. "Wow, he's so focused... all the ones I know are crazy." Well, do their owners GIVE them something to focus on?

Best you can do is have a well-trained BC that can show off their stuff to change minds. :)
 

BullMastiffMama

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#8
Not a BC owner, but thought I'd pipe in. I've had the opportunity to adopt a BC, and didn't seriously consider it. I'm a mastiff owner because I'm a mastiff person. BCs intimidate the snot out of me. They're great dogs for people who are truly willing to invest the time and energy into them. Sooooo stinkin' smart. (Maybe I'm just afraid to own a dog smarter than myself?) Hell, I don't think I know enough commands to keep a BC busy for more than a month.

I've had the privilege of working with a BC in agility. HOLY CRAP. That dog learned so fast my head was spinning. Everything about Capone is like slow motion compared to her! I don't know if I could ever adjust!
 

Lizmo

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#9
People get surprised at Finn's good behaviour on leash and his focus
I get this all the time from my parents. They always say "Wow, I cant believe you can do that with him!" "Wow, I can't believe he'll do that for you!" Wow, I'm amazed at what he'll let you do with him!"

It's funny, because I couldn't imagine him any other way! :D

Y'know, the more I learn about this breed, the more I'm GLAD people are still reserved about this breed. Maybe it will stay that way.
 

Dogs6

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#10
The people I got Fudge (my BC/GSD X) from had his mother obviously lol and I have never seen a more crazy dog. I was standing petting her and she just took off and ran round the house twice and ran into my dad once :eek: .They just laughrd and said she was just chasing the birds. My mum and dad wre reconsidering a puppy but luckily Fudge wormed his way into their hearts:D. They still can't belive he is so good :rolleyes:. the other day when they were taking me to agility they were talking about it and my mum said she had heard from the owners and that they had kept the pup that we had wanted. The only bitch in the litter. And she was a complete nigtmare. Apparently she is posessive of food rips the house down even when they are there and as a result lives out in the barn. oh and the first time they went to take her out at nearly a year and a half old she went bananas in the car. We just looked at each other an we heard fudge gently snoring in the back :rolleyes: :rofl1:

It is one of the biggest regrets of my life that we couldn't take her and Fudge and give her the life she deserves. They are thinking of rehoming her but I'm not allowed to even train her a little before rehoming her:wall: :dunno:
 

Beanie

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#11
LOL. I was gonna say the same thing as Laurelin, just look how many people (on here even!!) say that shelties are neurotic and crazy and this and that...

Popular perceptions (and misconceptions) of dogs are fun, aren't they? I really don't know what to make of it. The worst part about it is when people buy into that and start producing dogs to those misconceptions. Honestly I think that's how a lot of BCs ended up "crazy" - because oh, they're supposed to be like that, so let's breed this nutso dog to that nutso dog and get nutso puppies!
 

elegy

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#12
Whenever I go somewhere and mention that I have a Border Collie, most people say things like "I am so sorry for you," "bless your soul," and "why would you ever get one of THOSE dogs?"
i have to admit, as somebody who also owns pit bulls, these kind of comments about my bc make me laugh and laugh. one of "those" dogs indeed.

mostly i just have people telling me that border collies need jobs. uh, yeah. so do pretty much all dogs. but hey thanks for the advice! i'll get right on that.

steve is a little neurotic (and shy and reactive) but i'm relatively certain my soul doesn't require any more blessing than it did when luce was this age. erm. or even now that luce is seven.... :rofl1:
 

ihartgonzo

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#13
Honestly... the majority of Border Collies I meet ARE crazy. Only one of the BCs who comes to the hotel is even mildly friendly/polite/sane. The rest are fearful, neurotic, and make me sad beyond words. :( Most of the Border Collies I knew and met before belonged to responsible, dedicated owners who I met through Obedience and dog sports, and most of their dogs were amazing and a blast to work with. It's only now that I see the other side - as in, your typical dog owner - that I realize how forked up this breed really is thanks to inappropriate homes.

I think the difference that Chaz makes is the fact that we educate ourselves, we know what the breed needs, and we don't expect to get a BC puppy, throw it in the backyard and let it train/socialize/stimulate itself because "they are so smart"... most of the Border Collies I meet (in the real world) are either in a state of uncontrollable excitement and energy or a state of complete shut down. It's sad, because these dogs can be so balanced and intuitive and well-mannered if they're given direction.

I get a lot of comments, too. I used to be taken aback, but now I'm just glad that most people have insane, over-the-top assumptions about the breed. :3 Most people should not be allowed to own these dogs. I love when people say "I've never seen a Border Collie do that..." when Gonzo greets children with kisses, or is sitting politely beside me. And when people say "you must be constantly exercising him!" Umm, yeah, no. If by that you mean he naps at my feet 90% of the day and only gets up to follow me from room to room, yes. I do get irritated by people in Obedience/Agility/Flyball/etc who shrug and make excuses about how well he does because "of course it's the Border Collie!" Despite what everyone seems to think, Border Collies are not capable of higher intelligence or mind-reading and cannot magically train themselves (at least not to my knowledge).
 

Scooter

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#15
Zoe is half border collie. She has a ton of energy, but is also the smartest, most affectionate dog I've ever known. She gets scared at loud noises, but other than that, shows no signs of craziness. We adore her and would get another full BC or mix any day!
 

Laurelin

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#16
I just don't get a couple of the people I know who seem to get off on having the most neurotic insane mess of a dog... (drivey according to them). I wish they could see the actual working dogs and compare the two. I think it would shock some of them.
 

elegy

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#17
I just don't get a couple of the people I know who seem to get off on having the most neurotic insane mess of a dog... (drivey according to them). I wish they could see the actual working dogs and compare the two. I think it would shock some of them.
i know somebody with springers who is like that with ugly nasty dogs. they bite her, they bite her husband, and she just keeps acquiring more nasty dogs on purpose. these aren't dogs that she takes in and rehabs. they stay nasty. they are absolutely the stereotype of unstable springer and she exalts in it for some bizarre reason that i cannot fathom.
 
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#18
I just don't get a couple of the people I know who seem to get off on having the most neurotic insane mess of a dog... (drivey according to them). I wish they could see the actual working dogs and compare the two. I think it would shock some of them.
I hate when people use that as an excuse for an out of control dog. Drive is one thing, neurotic is completely different and unacceptable IMO. It's a common misconception that a drivey dog doesnt have an off switch. My GSD has ALOT of drive (and yeah it affects some aspects of OB right now because he can't cap the drive) WHILE "working" but is completely mellow around the house. Doesnt tear things up, plays with my 6# pom (and he's the gentle one of the two, lol), doesnt chase the cats, and 99% of the time he is at my feet sleeping. The beauty of it is that he can turn on in a second and turn it right back off the second after. I dont know about BC's, but in my breed having a dog that cant relax or have an off-switch is NOT a good thing (and those dogs should NEVER be bred, IMO I dont care how good of a worker they are).
 

Laurelin

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#19
i know somebody with springers who is like that with ugly nasty dogs. they bite her, they bite her husband, and she just keeps acquiring more nasty dogs on purpose. these aren't dogs that she takes in and rehabs. they stay nasty. they are absolutely the stereotype of unstable springer and she exalts in it for some bizarre reason that i cannot fathom.
Oh that's exactly him! It's awful and he talks and talks to the other people about 'proper border collies' as his dog is lunging and trying to eat another dog that is running. 'Oh look that's her herding instinct, she's trying to herd that dog! She comes from real cattle lines'

*facepalm*
 

elegy

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#20
'Oh look that's her herding instinct, she's trying to herd that dog! She comes from real cattle lines'
one of my obedience trainer says that about her aussie's incessant barking at other dogs. it's because she's a herding dog. she says that's why steve wants to chase dogs. not not not. steve is not trying to herd them, steve is trying to chase them because he's an overstimulated spaz.
 

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