border collies

Holly9937

Holly9937

AC Members
Jan 20, 2005
2,695
1
36
45
Michigan
If I remember correctly, a couple of you have border collies. Have you ever tried the obstacle course with them? Like you see on tv? I think it would be fun to set something up for mine, but I'm not really sure he would take to it. We found him on the side of the expressway in Wyoming, literally in the middle of nowhere in January about a year and a half ago. We obviously don't know his story, but he was a strange dog when we first got him, he did not understand how to play, with us or toys and did not take treats. My other 2 dogs have acclimated him to the "good life" though.

Any good BC or dog games you guys play?
 
Just a comment...

Border Collies are very smart. They need lots of space (big yards, etc..). I knew someone that had one and the way it stared at people was a little 'unsettling'. I like most all breeds of dogs, but this breed seems to "demand" too much. That's just what I have experienced. They love to run, them Borders do... ;)
 
austrailian shepard

i have had an austrailian shepard dog for 13 years. they are very similar to Border Collies in the way they look and act. they are very smart and they do like to play, but they do not always demand it(mine is starting to demand wanting to play frisby now that she is getting older and more spoiled). i love haveing my shepard, she is very protective, playful, smart, and dedicated to her owners. they do great with kids, and mine has never bitten anyone. although they do bark alot when someone is out near their terrioty, but their bark is bigger than their bite. as for the obstical course, i think it would work. mine likes the frisby more than anything in the world. my uncle has a border, and he loves to play ball. i think these dogs just like to go and retrieve whatever you throw.

i think it is great that you saved your dog holly, we need more people like that. :thm:
 
I have 3/4 an acre or so fenced in for him and the other 2 dogs. And he is very smart, he just seemed like he didn't know how to be a dog when we got him. we think he was either abused and/or tied up in a yard and never pet or played with. When we would approach him he would roll over on his back very quick and cower, now he nudges me to pet him when I'm not giving him enough attention. We've tried the frisbee and he doesn't seem to interested. However I did let him chew an old one up and he ended up with a hollow ring and walked around wearing it like a necklace, very proud :rolleyes:
 
Oh, and Joe... he does have that stare, at first it was a little creepy, but now it looks more like a look of admiration (maybe its just my ego saying that ;) ). He seems to know what you're thinking, and he can literally learn a new trick in a matter of a minute or two, very eager to please
 
Holly9937 said:
... .... He seems to know what you're thinking, and he can literally learn a new trick in a matter of a minute or two, very eager to please
Click to expand...
That's great!
:thm:
 
Bad topic, maybe I should have asked for dog tricks or something :thud:
 
Holly9937 said:
Bad topic, maybe I should have asked for dog tricks or something :thud:
Click to expand...
Uh.. so why don't you post a 'more detailed subject'?

I'm sure you will get some good replies!


;)
 
Hi Holly,

Sorry I didn't get to this. Busy weekend.

We have an 18 month old BC mix. Not sure what the rest of him is, maybe lab, maybe Bernese mountain dog. I can tell you what we currently do, and what we would like to do. The caveat is that he is not 100% BC, so your results may be different.



We have not tried an obstacle course for him, but you are making me think that it might be fun. What we would really like to do, if our schedules permitted it would be to get both dogs into flyball and/or agility training. To watch Sam sprinting at top speed through the woods, over logs, holes, bogs, debris and whatnot, to chase down another dog (or deer, unfortunately), makes me think he would do great at an obstacle course. Plus, he just naturally seems to want to run on top of logs or climb vertical riverbanks, like he instinctlively wants to take the hard route.

Right now, the dogs just get 2-3 miles in the woods in the morning, usually with a group of 3-5 other dogs. They get another mile or so to a nearby park, plus some catch and tug-of-war with us. Although we were worried that his border collie smarts and energy might be too much for us, he is incredibly mellow and adaptable if he gets enough exercise and social acitvity.

Of course, your dog is new to you, and probably a bit wigged out, so you may not be seeing much of his personality yet. Sam was afraid of anything human for about a month after we got him from the pound.

I hope this helps a little.
 
Based on the behavior you've described, I think it more likely that this was a working dog--they are trained to work, not play. Doesn't mean they can't learn, and to them, work IS a game. There are getting to be more border collies in Wyoming as the sheep population increases.

My mom and sister, as well as many friends, have border collies. My sister and mom have taken their to agility training. One loves it, thinks it's the best thing in the world, the other can take it or leave it. Both are good at it, one just likes it more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom