Dog questions/training...?

Question

I am getting a dog soon from a shelter. I'm looking for a kind, sweet animal that loves to be loved. We will "share" this dog with my special needs daughter (who's very kind) and my mother-in-law who's an invalid and just wants to pet her/him.
Now, I'm looking at a male that's a mix but mostly border collie. He is 18 months but seemed calm. But when I took him out for a walk he was wild....

Was he just a pup that didn't understand the leash or are Border Collies known for being hard to train?
I'm also looking at a full bread (from a shelter) King Spaniel that seems sweet.
Also what an easy dog training book to buy?

Answer 1

Border Collies are very intelligent, they can be trained very easily if you have had some experience training other dogs, but they do require a LOT of exercise and mental stimulation, they are not dogs to have to sit around with. I think the other choice would be better for what you are looking for.

Books that I highly recommend in order:

1- Don't shoot the dog - Karen Pryor (explains very easily they way dogs and other animals, including humans, it'a fun read too!)

2- The Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson ( It has a lot of detailed info on how to train certain behaviors and how to prevent unwanted ones, it's very easy to understand too.)

3- Bones would rain from the sky - Suzzane Clothier (the other previous books tell you more about the techniques but this books talks about the dogs as living things with feelings, the end is a little .... pink? ... but it is a good book, with good advice too...only if you want to keep reading about dogs)

4- On talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals - Turid Rugaas (very short, very easy to read it explains and helps you recognize the body language of dogs, specifically the ones called "calming signals" that dogs display when they are feeling a little overwhelmed or stressed)

Always use training methods that use Positive Reinforcement! and NOT punishment..

Answer 2

I would talk to the personal at the shelter about the dog that you are thinking about getting. It would seem to me that if the dog has been there for any period of time that they would know something about the dog.
Perhaps you can take him on a walk away from the shelter and the noise of the shelter. A shelter is a hard place on a dog as it is not a normal setting that the dog would choose to be in. Another thought is to see if there is some kind of area where you can interact with the dog away from all of the other dogs.
I was wondering if you brought your daughter and mother-in-law with you to the sheler to see how the dog reacts to them?
Some times the best dog is an older dog that is finished going through all of the so called puppy stuff. An older dog is an excellent choice because there personalities are set, if they are house broken then that is one less thing that you have to mess with, and they are more tolerent( depending on how they were raised) of situations. They have probably been through a lot and I personally think that they know that they are special.
You might think about LETTING THE DOG PICK YOU. Take your daughter and mother-in-law with you to the shelter and see how the dog responds TO ALL THREE OF YOU'LL.
If the dog responds well to all three of you'll, then I would very definatly take a look at that dog. It is a process of elimination.
Please don't keep just one breed in mind - there are possibly mixes that have all of the qualifications that you are looking for.
Lots of luck with your search. I know that the right dog is just waiting for you to come.
Another thought is to check aout no-kill shelter and see what they have. Also check out Border Collie Rescue as these dogs are possibly being fostered by a family and are in a family setting. The family can tell you alot about the dog and their likes and dislikes.

Answer 3

A border collie would most definitely be a very poor choice for your situation. These dogs can literally go crazy if they don't get enough exercise as well as mental stimulation. They are not meant to be just pets, they need a job.

Keep looking at shelters - pick a dog that's medium sized (tiny dogs are also not good for your purposes), but not any kind of working/hunting/high energy breed.

There's a totally awesome training book out by Sheila Booth called "Purely Positive Training". The whole book is not applicable to people just training a pet, but if people would read this book, the shelters would be emptier. She goes into detail on how to train a dog to do everything any pet owner could need a dog to do.

Answer 4

Border collies are among the easiest dogs to train. They are extremely intelligent and generally excell in obedience where they usually take titles in the highest levels. Border collies are very high energy though. Without proper exercise, they become bored and will find something to occupy themselves. Daily, long walks are a must! The dog should get obedience training under his belt so that he understands how to walk by your side and to remain quiet on the leash. A good obedience class should be available in your area. Most petsmart's and petco's offer training classes. A good book to read for understanding dog behavior and your role in the pack with you as leader is Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan. If you get National Geographic Channel he has the show The Dog Whisperer. He has a wonderful understanding of dogs and how they interact and will most probably give you a good idea of where to start. I prefer positive reinforcement for training my dogs such as clicker training, but there are many methods out there including the tried and true Koehler Method of dog training which I used to train my first obedience trial dogs.

Answer 5

I think the King Charles Spaniel might be a better choice for your family. They are more of a "companion" animal just ready to hang out with their people, be loved and petted all the time.
Border Collies are working dogs, they are easy to train, but also easy to become destructive. Unless you live a very active lifestyle and are ready to spend time training, excersizing and stimulated your BC they can become problamtic dogs. Sounds like you need more of a companion/lap dog type. Someone who wants to just lay by your side and be loved. A ride-along dog perhaps?
Some of the smaller toy breeds are good for this, older labs (2-4 years), or perhaps a retired racing greyhound. They are more like couch potatoes, just wanted to lay around!
Good luck!

ADDED: In terms of dog books, try "The Dog Whisperer" (not Cesar Millan) by Paul Owens, he does 100% positive dog training that is very easy to do. And believe or not "Dog Training for Dummies" is a great book too. Also look into Patricia McConnell, or Jon Katz. Katz writes about border collies and dog training for the "normal" person--someone without 4 hours a day to train dogs. I don't know what your daughter's needs are, but my cousin has down's syndrome and really enjoys training my dogs when she visits, it seems to be a very theraputic thing for her to do. And the dogs love all the treats!

Answer 6

Might I suggest an older lab 2 to 4 years? Or a lab mix?

Border collies are working dogs and need that stimulation of working or being active. They are herd dogs.

Labs as puppies are usually pretty hyper but usually after the 2nd year they seem to calm down and are extremely loyal loving animals and are also very smart. You might also consider a German Shepherd as they also are extremely smart and loyal dogs. Golden retrievers are also excellent family dogs and are again, very smart dogs.

I would also suggest a medium to large dog and NOT a small dog. Small dogs tend to be nippy to children.

I would also suggest trying to get some help with training if you can afford it. Have you considered looking in your area for service dogs? A service dog could be a great gift to your daughter depending on her special needs.

Answer 7

That is very compassionate of you to get your dog from a shelter.

I don't think a border collie will fit your needs. They are very energetic.

Try an all breed rescue. Most will know the disposition of the dog, if they are house trained, if they are good with kids, other dogs, cats, etc. They will come fully vetted ...

I absolutely don't think a border collie is what your looking for.

Good luck in your search.

Answer 8

Border Collies are one of the most intelligent breeds and are highly trainable.
Just keep in mind that they are a working breed that needs a lot of excercise and stimulation.
They are extremely gentle so it would do great with your child and mother, provided that it is properly excercised.
If you want a dog that just wants to lay around, don't get anything with Border Collie in it. But if you are willing to excercise and mentally challenge the dog, he will be a great companion.

Answer 9

Border collies are a rough kind of dog to fit into your household. They really need a farm to heard sheep and run as much as they want. The right dog for you would be small dog breed such as: yorkshire terrier, border terrier, poodle, bichon frise, lhasa opsa, cocker spaniel, or any other small breed dog. I am really sorry, but this is the truth.

I hope that I helped! Thanks, and good luck!