Should I get a border collie?

Question

At last I am at a point in my life where I have a lifestyle suited to sharing with a dog. I have a nice home, garden and am home all day. I have always loved border collies but I do not have a large amount of land, although there is a huge park close by. Would it be cruel to keep a border collie in a town house (with an average sized garden) but take him or her to the park a couple of times a day? Or should I choose a breed which does not require as much exercise? I am very aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with 'adopting' a puppy and want to ensure that I am prepared and able to give my new family member everything he or she needs for a healthy and happy life. Thanks for your help!

Thank you all so much for all your advice and comments. I will consider all of the points raised carefullly before making my decision!

Answer 1

Thank YOU for taking the time to think things over and to research BEFORE getting a dog!

Borders do need a great deal of exercise. They need as much mental exercise as they dog physical, though. Your being home all day is a big plus in this aspect. You will be able to work with your dog, teach it tricks, give it 'jobs' to do.

And Borders NEED jobs! Putting away their toys, fetching slippers/newspapers, etc. Following basic obedience commands. They need to have their minds occupied. Borders also excel in Agility, Flyball, Frisbee Catching competitions...training for these events is mentally and physically stimulating, and the activities turn into 'jobs' for these highly athletic dogs. (And they are fun for you, and you get to meet a whole lot of like-minded people!)

As for having a fenced yard...some people feel that if they put a dog out in a large fenced yard, the dog will exercise himself with no stimulus from anything else.

This is false. The dog will most likely just lay around, unless he is doing something wrong, like running up and down the fenceline, barking at neighbors or their dogs, digging, chewing up things, etc. Your not having a fenced yard can actually be a plus here, too, because you will actively take your dog for walks, toss balls in the park, and so on, therefore truly exercising your dog.

I would suggest you contact Border Collie Rescue. Even if you are looking for a pup, Rescue can help steer you to a responsible breeder. They will also be able to answer any specific questions you have about the breed.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Boder Collies are a fantastic breed of dog,yes they need alot of exercise which you can give with walks but more than anything they need mental stimulation which you can do anywhere no matter what size of garden you have.Also once a dog is adult choose a food to match it's life style too much protein will make a dog full of energy and if this is not used up it will become hyper-active,so check the protein % on foods.
I have done volunteer work in the past at animal sanctuarys and Border Collies/Border Collie X's alway's seem to be available at these places,so maybe if you really feel you have the time and comittment why not try your local sanctuary it's where I got my Border Collie X from and she's fantastic.

Answer 3

I love collies. Your pup could be happy in your home but you need to take it to training and socilaisation classes paying particular attantion to recall training. Your dog will be fine taken to the park a couple of times a day, BUT....... it will HAVE to be allowed off the lead to run fast and hard. Perhaps chasing a ball or frisbee. Collies NEED this hard excersize. It's because of this that you have to ensure that he is reliable and will come back when you call it. The socilisation classes will ensure that it is used to other dogs too since it will meet them in the park and you want a dog who is happy in the company of other dogs and not going to attack them or be afraid.
If you cannot commit to this level of excersize every single day even if it is teeming down with rain or sub zero temperatures, then don't get a collie.
I had a collie until earlier this year. He died from an epilepsy related brain haemmorhage. He loved to run and I had something called a 'fling and fetch' It is a thing which you fit the ball in and can throw it really far to ensure they get a good long run. You need to get a pup from a breeder who makes sure the parents are tested for PRA (collie eye) and are also epilepy free and possible hip scored. Contact the border collie club for lots of good info on what you need to be looking for in a breeder. Lots of people are breeding them without testing the adult stock and the pups, although cheaper, may have health problems like mine did. He also had some hip displaysia. He was a rescue not bought from a breeder. If I was going to get another I would be searching for a responsible breeder who does all the tests. The price difference is about £495 for a properly bred pup from tested parents, KC reg etc. To £150 for a puppy farm one with no testes and no KC reg.

Answer 4

Border collies need plenty of exercise, but if you have the time to invest in your dog, it should not matter how big your garden is, as long as the dog has access to some sort of garden...check the local park out before you go ahead...is there a safe area where the dog can be let off the lead, away from children, so that it can have a good run or would it be lead walks only???They need to be able to run too.Think how long you will be able to walk the dog each day..you say you plan to go to the park a couple of times a day but for how long? You need to be thinking of spending at least 2 hours per day every day regardless of weather or how you feel.. I think whatever dog you decide will be very lucky as you sound just the responsible owner a poooch needs, well done you for thinking BEFORE you get the dog...keep us posted what you finally get, good luck x

Answer 5

I got a Border Collie puppy 6 weeks ago, he is now 14 weeks old and a complete nutter!! I'm soooo glad I got him, he is hard work but at the minute no more than any other breed of dog would be!!

It's brilliant that you will be at home with your dog throughout the day as Border Collie's are very sociable dogs and enjoy companionship.

With regards exercise it sounds like everything would be OK for your dog. Remember that as Border Collie's are so intelligent they do require lots of mental stimulation also. Would you maybe consider Agility training for your dog when he is old enough? As you have time during the day this seems like something you could devote part of your time to!

My pup loves to dig great big holes so I'm making him a 'digging pit' in our garden and I will bury his favourite toys and treats in there to keep him active and entertained while I'm out at work :)

Hope this helps :)

Answer 6

Border collies are very active, very intelligent dogs, and if they get bored by not having enough exercise or varied exercise, they can be very destructive.

If you can commit the time and effort to take the dog to the park and exercise it fully, you should be OK, but maybe try a dog that is more suited to town living. A labrador may be more suitable, though they still need a good deal of exercise (especially to keep the fat off, labradors are terminal greedy guts!) but the best people to advise you would be the local vet or RSPCA centre.

Answer 7

I have a friend who was into dog training etc and her and her boyfriend exercised the collie for a long time every day, but it still had excess energy. Fortunately she moved closer to her parents who had a small farm, so during the day it could be on the go all the time, playing with the other dogs, "supervising" pupils coming for lessons etc etc, and she would take it homewhen she got in from work. Even at 11 years old it is still active. They are a great breed, but you really need to be very active yourself. Glad you are thinking about what type of dog would suit your lifestyle, very sensible and it sounds like whatever dog you decided on it should have a great home.

Answer 8

Border Collies are great dogs, but they do need more than just a "walk". They need a job to do, something that will stimulate them mentally and offer excercise as well. They can get bored easily and this often results in destructive behavior. This is why a "job" is good for them. They are also escape artists, so be sure to make sure your garden is well secured.

We have recently brought a BC puppy into our home, that is now 5 months. We don't have a huge yard, but enough room for a good game of fetch and to set up some agility equipment. Knowing we needed a job, we are persuing agility and obedience for our BC pup. They are so smart and learn so fast.

I definitely consider persuing agilty and/or obedience if you do get a BC. It really is fun for the dog and handler both and a great way to get your BC some excercise physically and mentally. If you think you might want to do this, find a local agility club in your area and ask them for recommendations on trainers in your area. People affiliated with these clubs take this sport seriously and will suggest trainers they know, have used themselves and trust. I also found that the trainer we got referred to is far less expensive than anything I could find in the yellow pages.

Good Luck, they are a wonderful dog, very loyal to their families and a joy to have around! I love mine and am constantly impressed each time we do a training session with how quickly she learns!

Answer 9

I am the very happy but tired owner of a gorgeous 5 month old Border Collie, he needs loads of exercise, he is on the go from 7.30am in the morning until 11pm at night and he has a walk or run for between 1 & 2 hours a day, every day, without his run he is totally HYPER! It is unbelievable how much energy and attention one dog needs but Borders are always full of energy. Think very carefully if you dont think you will have the time to take it out daily as it will soon become bored and they are known to become destructive when bored...

Answer 10

Your situation sounds ideal for an active breed like a border collie.
An average size garden is absolutely fine when you plan to take your dog out for at least 2 walks a day.

A few tips to help you out:
Contact a number of breeders to talk to them about the breed and discuss your concerns. They 'll be more than happy to help you out, plus you can meet adult dogs and get a better idea of their characteristics.
As you are home during the day you will not have trouble house training the pup straight into the garden, removing the fuss of paper training.
Be careful not to allow the pup to follow you around from room to room while you are at home. This will make the pup too dependant on you and it will suffer from anxiety on the occasions that you do have to go out as a family. Instead, use child gates or crate training to help you teach the pup to be happy spending time alone too.

You sound like you are ready for the commitment of a new pup and as you clearly have the required time it will be a fab experience for the whole family. Enjoy!