what would i have to do to keep a border colie happy? what are they like? do they like to play with other dogs? are they friendly? i am thinking about geting a girl border colie puppy. what should i expect?
Answers:
Yes I have a chocolate border collie and I am in a family of four children, me being the eldest. They are extremley intelligent dogs, but can go crazy if not provided with enough stimulation. They need a lot of exercise, both physically and mentally. It works out very well with us as we are an active family on a semi rural property. So as teh above peopel say you really need to have time and dedication to exercise them.
They are very loyal, affectionate and eagar to please, so they definetly have great temperments. They love socialising, and I highly recommend puppy preeschool if getting a puppy. They learn basic commands and social graces, and get to meet all different breeds and types.
Go for it! Keep in mind it is a commitment, and almost lifelong.
You should expect to have your house torn up and be made miserable...if you don't get them a job to do. These are not for beginner or novice owners (especially if you can't spell collie right). They have to be involved in herding, flyball, agility, disc dog, rally, obedience, tracking, dock diving, etc. or they WILL drive you crazy! They were bred to run 50 miles a day herding sheep and if they don't get physical AND mental exercise, it's not a pretty picture. They are usually nice dogs, but I've known some pretty nasty ones if they didn't have a good outlet or proper training. They can be a joy to train as they are so smart, BUT these are not beginner dogs!
I am the proud guardian of a Border Collie/Shelti Mix. I would say that you really ought to do some research on the breed. Check out the Official American Border Collie Association's webpage. http://www.americanbordercollie.org/... Also, do a google search on Border Collie Rescue groups in your local area/state for more information. For example, I'm from Virginia, and our local groups site is: http://www.mabcr.org/
Also, if your heart is set on the Border Collie breed, and you feel like you can handle them, then I would say you really should consider adopting a Border Collie from your Local Border Collie rescue group. Adopting an older dog can save you the hassle/trouble/headache of dealing with all the usual puppy problems like house training, obedience, etc. A BIG plus about adopting an adult dog is that they pretty much come ready to go!!! They are usually housetrained, know basic commands, walk on leads well, and some even have obedience training. I fully believe in adopting an animal at a shelter/rescue because when you purchase a puppy from someone (usually a backyard breeder) you're only adding to the problem of overpopulation. Most border collies end up in shelters or being euthanized because people can't handle them.
I adopted my dog in 2002, when he was about 1 year old, he has truly been the BEST dog EVER. I get compliments on him ALL the time... My sister says it's spooky how well he has done... :)
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