What you should know before getting a border collie
So you think you want a Border Collie?
Border Collies (and their cousin the NZ Heading Dog who I’m also putting in this category) are among my favourite dogs. Over the years I’ve owned a whole lot of them both as both pets and working dogs, fostered and rehomed a whole bunch more, and as a trainer they’re one of the more common breeds I see. They’re phenomenally capable, fun dogs, but can quickly end up problematic in pet homes unprepared for the realities of collie life. Here’s a few things to keep in mind if you are looking at a collie.
🌟 One collie is not just like any other collie. 🌟
There are extreme variations within border collies, to the extent where the difference between a collie from a true working line and an established pet/show line may as well be different breeds entirely. Don’t just choose the breed as a whole and go pick up the first pup you see. Take the time to realistically think about what you want your particular collie to do and what your living situation is on a day to day basis (not just your weekend hike!), and look for a pup whose parents and other close family members are already thriving in that lifestyle. It’s absolutely not just how they’re raised - getting the right genetics from the start could be the difference between this dog thriving or struggling in your home.
🌟Border Collies are herding dogs. That doesn’t just disappear when they become pets.🌟
This will show up to different degrees in different dogs from different lines, but in general you can expect there to be some desire to control movement through stalking, chasing and sometimes nipping. This is normal - this is what they have been bred for generations to do. Expect to put some time into directing that herding drive into an appropriate outlet and teaching some good control around it so they can be safe, enjoyable and mentally well pets. But don’t expect it to ever disappear entirely.
🌟Collies are capable of extreme amounts of exercise, but what they actually need is WORK and boundaries.🌟
This means they absolutely need to be mentally and physically fulfilled (not just mindless ball chasing at the dog park until their legs give out), but they also need to practice chilling out and doing nothing. It is not healthy for any dog to be on the go all the time and unable to settle, and if the highest drive farm dogs can go in their kennel and have a sleep then your pet dog can absolutely learn to do the same. For work, think trick training, dog sports, obedience practice, scent work, structured walks and structured play with rules in place (with you!), in addition to some general heart pumping exercise. For the chill time, crates, kennels and place bed training are your best friends.
🌟Border Collies are clever and learn quickly - be ready to make sure they’re learning what you actually want them to be learning! 🌟
People often gravitate towards clever or work oriented breeds thinking they’ll be really easy to train. And they are with the right approach, but they can also be quite tough for first time dog owners because your mistakes (which will happen no matter how much you research ahead of time!) will be magnified with how quick they are. Management is key so they’re not having the opportunity to practice things you don’t want them learning, as well as investing in your own training skills so you can effectively reinforce things you want them learning and not what you don’t. These aren’t dogs you leave with free access to everything on the property and hope they don’t get into mischief - they’ll find jobs to do, and it won’t be the jobs you wanted.
🌟Whatever the line, these are working dogs at their core. Expect them to behave like it. 🌟
It’s often a shock to people when their border collie gets into trouble at the dog park or dog daycare upsetting other dogs with their desire to control the high arousal activities, or advocating for their personal space from a more pushy dog. A border collie from any line is still originally derived from working dogs. They were bred to go to work and were expected to get on with the other dogs at the property to an extent, but not for their ability to tolerate nonsense from some random dog being rude or over the top. They were bred to go work with their people, but not to be the instant best mate of whatever random person walks into your house. They were bred to be on alert for any slight movement and to be ready to act to go bring that sheep or cow back into line at a moments notice. If you get that super social easy dog, great. If you stack the genetic deck in your favour by choosing your dogs parents well, excellent choice. But at the end of the day if you’re getting a working breed dog, go into it with the idea that YOU will be the one responsible for fulfilling this dog each day, or at least using care services that fit your dogs personality and needs. Be ready to put the work in.
What advice would you give someone interested in their first border collie?
