So You Think You Want A Border Collie??
You are thinking about getting a border collie dog...? Here are 6 questions to ask yourself before you do! This video is all about the border collie breed and the most important things to consider before you bring home a new border collie pup or dog.
Border Collies are special - they are dogs that can require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They are loyal and sensitive dogs who deserve a lifetime commitment.
Good luck on finding the perfect dog for you, whether it is a border collie or another awesome breed. :)
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We had border collies for 40 years. When our last girl died, aged 15, we said no more now. We're older, retired & who needs the hearbreak of loss. We missed our 3 hour walks/swims/hiking. The crazy fun. So what if there would be no more ball, frisby, tug or hide and seek, search and find games - we'd get over it. Besides, we said, it wouldn't be fair at our ages. Then we got a call from Borders without Borders (a BC Rescue Agency) Desperate for experienced owners to adopt a badly abused collie. This traumatised animal was crated and shipped, by some dog rescue centre, across country to a single mum with a 2 yr old son, living in a tiny house, who worked full time!!! She was locked in a tiny room all day. Came out for a quick walk, then at bedtime went back into her room! Within 4 weeks the woman rang Borders without Borders, said she's made a big mistake. Couldn't cope. All the dog did was hide and be terrified of everything. she cried and peed if a man tried to approach her (I'm hearing boyfriend here) Could they rehome her. We told Beatriz (BwB) no. We are not having any more dogs now - very firmly. Beatriz, just like a border collie, wouldn't give up. Then came the back story.... and pictures.... we looked at the fear and dead expression in her eyes. She was totally shutting down. And fell head over heels in love. We knew it was going to be a long haul to bring this frightened, traumatized little dog back to life. Would she ever accept a man in her world? Would she learn how to cope with life in the outside world. The previous owner said she wouldn't even play. We'd never dealt with a 'special care' dog before. But, none of it mattered. We saw her photo and totally loved her already. We were warned it would be 2 - 3 months to gain trust and accpetance. Turned out Lela was living just 15 minutes down the road! We'd just moved. The house was in chaos. The bathroom tiler wouldn't be finished until the weekend. The pool needed covering. We need to get a bed etc,. We figured we would go visit and walk her every day first. Build a bond, try to reduce the fear factor when she moved in. But, it was not to be. Her then owner (a lovely woman who was just totally misguided but had obviously done her best and been kind with Lela) had packed everything and demanded we take her there and then! I sat in the back cuddling a shaking, terrified animal who copiuously drooled all over me all the way home. We had had no time to contruct a sensible game plan. We talked in gentle voices about how we would deal with the situation and came up with the idea of just love bombing her. My heart bled for her when we had to carry her into the house because she was too terrified to walk in. What in her little mind did she think was going to happen. I ran and quickly found a big, thick quilt. And we all sat on the floor. We gently stroked her and told her 'good girl' over and over. She finally stopped shaking about 2 hours later. Snuggled into me and slept. We all slept together (our previous dogs slept in dogbeds) and when we woke up, yes she still ran and hid behind a chair. Chris fed her the new juicy tinned food which she gobbled down. He took for a walk. She was so scared when he put her on the lead. They headed outside with Chris having to carry her at times. Until they go to the fields. Then she realised. Her ears picked up, she started sniffing everything. In 20 minutes they hadn't covered much ground but a little dog came home with a light in her eyes and ran to me. Because border collies are so intelligent, so clever (a bit manipulative too!) and every single tiny step forward was praised, she very quickly cottened on and every single hour of every day her confidence grew in herself and her belief in us. On the 3 rd night with us she woke us up screaming. She was having a very, very bad dream. Do dogs suffer PTSD. We cuddled her in and she slept soundly then till morning. In just 2 weeks our beautiful girl has gone from total terrified wreck into an 'almost' confident dog. Day 4 she did her first zoomies. Day 5 she adopted us and actually was brave enough to bark at someone passing the gate. . Then instead of running terrifed into a corner when she saw the builder coming - she barked at him. Yeahhhh she was beginging to feel empowered. That she had a choice. She now loves Chris, see's him as pack leader and if something scares her - and sadly some things still do - she will run to him too for safety. . She's started to get a little mischievous and is learning how to 'master us.' A paw or nose shove to say stop that and stroke me :-)) she still hasn't cottoned on about toys and fun play. Tennis balls still scare her. But she's started playing tug. Her energy levels are zeroed out on just 2 half hour walks a day but her pads are starting to harden. Best of all she has a sparkle in her eyes and thinks her little world is safe, wonderful and definitely forever. As for us, she has made our retired lives complete.
Chris, thank you for sharing this heartwarming story. I have not doubt that she will continue to blossom into a happy, more confident dog, with all the great care you are giving her!
Such a beautiful story :) You lucky couple, you got yourself a real love project. Nothing better in retirement :)
this put tears in my eyes!! heart warming
Cool story
I wasn't ready to be crying first thing in the morning but I'm very happy your BC found a home with you
This is a good video and I wish I would've seen this before actually getting a BC. This comment will get buried but if someone is reading this PLEASE listen and truly ask yourself the questions listed in this video. You might think to yourself, yes! I'm willing to have a loyal companion who is smart and does tricks. You might look at all the comments under this video and stare in awe at how many people are absolutely in love with their BCs and hope to fill your heart with the same kind of love. What's missing is actually experiencing what it will be like to own this kind of dog. It is non-stop management. You're constantly having to teach them tricks and behaviors (not barking at random noises, not resource guarding, allowing to be picked up, not herding the cat/kids, etc), having to puppy proof the house (almost all of our walls are lined with gates so he won't chew on the corners), and having to monitor them when you're not engaging so that they don't destroy your house. If you leave them outside, they WILL dig or they'll bark...a lot. These dogs are smart as hell and if they get a rise out of you, they'll keep performing that behavior since it makes you engage with them. These dogs are not a pet you can leave alone and just pet/cuddle whenever you feel like it. They're children who need strict schedules, jobs, and attention. if you get this kind of dog you need to understand that training and caring for them needs to be a full time hobby for you. Before getting a BC try sticking to this schedule for a couple of weeks: 7:30am Wake up and take an hour walk 8:30-9:00am: eat breakfast 9-11:30am: free time. 11:30am: take another hour walk 12:30pm-3:30pm: free time 3:30pm: play games with someone for an hour (not video games, something physical ) 4:30pm: free time 8:00pm-8:30pm: play a game (physical) 8:30pm: free time If you can handle this schedule for a couple of weeks you might be able to handle a BC but even that isn't like the actual experience. My dog gets plenty of love, training, and exercise but I regret getting him. I was not prepared and didn't realize what it took to raise this kind of dog. I will never get another BC or dog in general after this experience so please, please do your research before getting one
I never wanted a dog. I found a Border Collie. He’s not really a dog. He’s a best friend and partner. I’m continually amazed by how smart, sensitive and caring he is. Since getting him I’ve lost fat and become a lot stronger just trying to keep up with him. Aeon is more than capable of doing anything and everything I need him to do. Border Collies are the best. You need to be the best to earn the right to have one.
I have had B/C's for 40 years...I agree 100%
I’ve had/have 2 border collies, and they are better than people
@@Bagimations indeed! My guy is 13 and he had a clean vet check yesterday I was so happy, vet was very impressed for his age. Lots of exercise is key to a long life, border collies have the largest heart of any canine...on many levels...my dad passed away suddenly this year and my b/c sat the backdoor for 2 months waiting for him :/ --) kzhead.info/sun/arixfc9qr4RroKM/bejne.html
@@Whiteshell204 l
They are super smart. My dad had 2 of them when I was younger, one of which was abused before he adopted him but we still loved him just as much as the other. The smart one was Murphy, black and white and the abused one was Bear, brownish and white
I feel as though every single border collie was a human in a past life. Lol
Haha, so true!
Agree!
They stepped up in evolution.
Good remark They seem to be persons.
Hmm
Im a 15 year old girl, I have never been very social and dont have a lot of friends, I mostly hang out with my pets. When I was 14 we already had 2 westies when i wanted a border collie. I saw a little clip on the internet of this wonderfull dog doing amazing tricks. I did a little agility with 1 of the westies but he just didnt like it. I wanted a dog who i can work with, a dog who i could learn tricks and play with. Some months before christmas my parents finally agreed on getting a border collie and I went searching for a puppy. Around christmas i got my own border collie puppy. Unless some other people I did a lot of research before getting her, I knew they were high energy dogs, very smart and that they need a lot of walking. Luckily that was excectly what I wanted. My border collie is now 1.5 years old, im doing agility with her. I also frisbee with her, I take her out atleast 2 hours a day. I love animals so i have a lot of em, my border collie absolutely loves my chickens and bunnies, shes actually carefull with em. Also she loves swimming! My dog is actually really good in agility, she watches every move i make. When she is older and more experienced I want to go do competitions with her! I actually fell in love with her! She listens so good and i spend all my day working with her. She absolutly loves everyone and is very social, she loves to play with other dogs. She also loves the 2 westies we have, they're playing a lot with each other even though my border collie is twice as big as them. Also she loves kids a lot (she will sometimes jump on them cause she's so excited, but were working on that). On a field nearby where i always play with her I met a couple children, they absolutely loved her and because of her I became friends with them. She has really helped me with my social skills and if I didn't have her I wouldn't have met these new friends. If ur doubting on getting a border collie, I would say do it. But only if ur a 100% sure u can take care of them and give them the exercise they need. Border collies really are amazing and u create such a special bond with them! And because my dog I'm so much more active. I've trained, socialized and even payed her myself, she's really my dog. I take her out 4-6 times a day, I feed her, i do everything with her. She's really my bestfriend and if it wasnt for her, I would've probably been so depressed right now in lockdown, laying on my bed all day, watching some Netflix and playing some stupid games..
Wow this is so awesome. Friendly dogs are definitely a great way to connect to new people. Thanks for sharing your story. :)
I'm sure your BC will reward you time and time again for all the effort and love your providing ❤
Haha same! I’ve done a lot of research too! I’ve looked at the AKC and lots other! But I don’t only want a border collie, I also want a Australian shepherd!!! I feel like they’ll be best friends, I’m also so glad I’ve found someone who seems to be just like me!
My border collie/Australian shepard pup is best friends with a westie so cute! They are truly amazing, great companions and so smart, my pups have the vocabulary of probably a 5 year old child i love that you have a great relationship with your baby!
Very awesome 🙂. I'm happy for you that you found that kind of bond. I feel the same about my rough collie (mix). Wishing you two a long and happy journey together.
Once you've got that bond with a Border Collie..it's for life.
When I rescued my BC Sally, she initially gave me pause. Her intensely staring at me was disconcerting. If I weren’t so experienced around dogs, I could have been scared…or intimidated. Wait. Ohhh. So I looked back deeply into her eyes and explained, “I’m not a sheep!” She immediately dropped the stare and we began a beautiful life together.
I'm 72 years old and I'm picking up my second Bourder Collie. My first one was when I was 6 years old. Spending my life too busy but now I'm retired and have 40 acres to play in. My neighbor has sheep that he will let me barrow. I still run a backhoe but I hope my Collie will love the buisiness as much as I do. It will be just me my pup and a bunch of mistuff. I have always had dogs but border Collies are my favorite. Dogs are my favorite people. Thank you very much for sharing.
they are my favorite people also. I hope you and your pup are doing well.
How's things going a year later with your new favourite person ?
My border collie made me want a million border collies 😂😂😂 but one is definitely enough. I love his sass and attitude. I love constantly being creeped out by how smart he is. I just love my boy.
They sure are special dogs. :)
All I can say is Borders have love, energy, love, energy, love, energy and I love it.
They do have all of that! :)
Our previous border collie 'Jake' lived to be 17 years old, he passed away 5 years ago. It was like losing a child to my husband and I. We thought that much of him we named our third son after him ❤
I understand that bond. My first dog as an adult also lived to be 17 and he was like my soul mate.
JackBNimble was 17 when he died. His mother, Tess, was 16.2 yrs. My Gypsy Rose Lee-she hated dog clothes too-had a father named Jake and another relative named Little Jake. Her mom's name was Sarah. She and Little Bo Peep came from a farm up in Rising Fawn, Ga. Tess came from a farm in Flowery Branch. Her family herded cows and sheep. Tess wanted to herd me; I too told her she didn't have to herd me, but she kept sniffing and poking me, then pushed me toward my new glucose monitor in my bathroom. She'd seen me use it-I was testing it on me to give to my mother. I tested on me and discovered that my own sugar was high. My mother's wasn't as nearly as high as mine. My dr. told me that my dog was telling me I had Diabetes-"no kidding" I said. She also predicted my sugar was low and herded me to my kitchen pantry. That's what I miss about Tess and that she taught Gypsy how to take over before she died.
I have a border collie and the first thing I taught him was that calm is the way of life we live in. He sleeps a lot compared to other dogs but we channel his energy into Frisbee, fetch and tricks. When its too cold to go outside, the TV makes for an excellent use of mental stimulation and we channel zoomies and games to tire him out. He's unlike any other dog I've met, he's intense in work and in love as well. They're definitely not dogs for everyone but if they are the dog for you, they're unparalleled. Other dogs just don't cut it once you've had a border collie.
Yes, for sure, they can learn to have calm time. It's important that they get exercise and mental stimulation but equally important that they get true relaxation time, and some need to learn this. Border collies are definitely unique dogs. I love the breed, but I don't feel they are for most people. It sounds like you have a great relationship with your dog.
We adopted a senior (13) BC. She was great with the other dogs and played frisbee with me everyday until the day before she left us almost 3 years later. But I know she missed her original person. For all the fun we had there was just that last measure of closeness that was missing.
It sounds like you were a wonderful home for her, and yes some dogs have very deep attachments to certain people. Thanks for taking care of her regardless of her history. Adopting a senior is a really special thing to do.
I went from feeling like I don't have enough energy for border collies to suddenly longing to have one to round up the kids and herd them to bed!!!!
Haha! It could be a great parenting solution. :) :)
I wouldn’t recommend collies with kids. Not to say they can’t be fantastic family dogs, but they are very nippy as puppies and unless you can you are training it properly and taking it’s energy out, it will bite you, kids, animals and absolutely destroy everything. They are very destructive dogs
My family shares our house with a a 13 year old Border Collie. He is just starting to slow down a little. He stills runs 5 miles a day with me but he is starting to jog a little more as opposed to speeding around me for our run. He is incredibly smart and empathic. I wouldn't own any other breed.
Mine have been active throughout their lives as well. Love BCs.
My hubby had Labs & then 2 Red Healers. Myself, horses and cats (3 of each). We retired and hubby's healer - now old died. After retirement no more horses, still had 3 cats, now no dog. Long/short; went to look at BC puppy. Hubby picked out a little female and we brought her home. Adorable dog - even for this cat loving person. We named her Patriot and it seems she picked ME to be HER human. Not being a dog person, this was quite the shock. But truly, I am head-over-heels in LOVE with this dog. Have NEVER known a dog SO FULL of LOVE! She is very cat like in many ways. So, my hubbies dog is now really my dog. Our friends get the biggest kick from all this. Hubby is very happy about all this too. We have been married for over 50 years and this is the first time he has ever seen me love a dog. I have always liked dogs - I like all animals. but cats have always been my true love. Now I have the sweetest dog that I love every bit as much as any of my cats. She is my little shadow, my best friend, my forest walks pal, running by my quad pal, the one that makes me laugh out loud. In my heart - she is the most wonderful dog that has EVER walked this planet. I am Scotch/Irish Highlander in heritage - she fits right into our life in the highlands of the Rocky Mountains. We are blessed by her beautiful, loving BC heart and boundless LOVE. PS: cats are not that thrilled about all this 🤣😂😾
I know how hard it is to lose one of your best friends ever, but when i look back at how much fun and enjoyment this dog gave me over the years, thats what makes me want another on. Could never imagine having a house without a dog.
2:22 it's sad to know my baby is not the only one sleeping with the tongue out lol
It’s so cute when they do that.
My border collie does the same thing😍
Why sad? It’s hilarious. I recommend putting peanut butter on it. That’s even more funny.
I thought she was the only one lol She does that since she was a little baby..
One of my BCs who is 10 years old has done it since he was a baby! Either when is he is sleepy or when he is concentrating. Haha
I have a 1 year old border collie now. By far the smartest dog I've ever had. And not by a little bit, by like an order of magnitude. "Training" is like teaching a human, she learns almost instantaneously, many things she just intuitively knows. We live on a 100ac farm and have woods and a pond for her to swim in so she gets plenty of exercise. One thing that was really amazing is that she herds our chickens! We have a dozen layer hens that we let free range around the farm during the day and then lock up safely in their coop at night. Every evening she herds them back into the coop. We didn't even have to train her to do it, she just started doing it one day.
Driving in the country I came across a couple of these dogs, with owner, pushing a herd of milking cows across the road. Stopping while they did this, I swear these dogs looked at us, then started strutting and posing when we pulled up. They would have spat on the ground if they could. Supreme confidence and supremely happy.
They can be little show offs. Our's is, especially around other dogs!
An old colleague of mine had a collie who could be walked for miles and not get tired. We did a group walk up Snowdon in Wales, UK, and while the rest of us were sore and tired by the end, Blue the collie was prepared for the next mountain!!
They can run circles around most of us! :)
I adopted my Border Collie when he was arround 2 years old. After he was abandoned twice before... I knew since the begining a dog is really hard (but not impossible tho, specially not impossible with Border collies) to educate if you don't have him since he was a puppy. But I just felt in love with him so bad. I went to see him, we were 3 persons, but he did chose me... Since the very first minute we Saw each other, somehow we knew we were meant to be together. He instantly started running at me and jumping and looking for my attention. But he was also so scared of everything, anxious, stressed, and shy. Was a long and hard way. Needed about 3 months to feel confident, safe, and totally happy. But I didn't give Up! First weeks was almost impossible to sleep longer than 2 h in a row, he really suffered of anxiety, while i slept or while i was out of house. But step by step, we worked on It and it was solved. I do agree completely on every point said on video. He is now 12 years old... And even if he started having some age issues, he is still so active, playful, curious and willing to learn new things than when I adopted him long ago. Even some other dog owners i meet on parks or other natural areas where i go with my dog, never believe me when i tell them his age! They are demanding dogs, he demands affection, demands physical activity, demands much much time to play, but they are also extremely sensitive and supportive with "their humans", and at least my dog, he knows when im tired or sad or whatever and he will come to cheer me Up if i need to, or gimme space and time if i need that instead. He Also, always finds the way to let me know what he needs or what he wants on every moment. They are extremely smart and sympathetic. He doesn't stop surprising me yet. I still learn things from him. And he Also still learn things as well even if he is already a grandpa. For me, the best decision of my Life was without a doubt to bring him with me and be partners in crime and Life mates. I love my smart, stubborn, playful, curious, sneaky, rancourous, sensitive, greatful, loyal, funny, rascal, guzzler baby. If you thinking on adopt this kind of dog, please, make sure you Will have the time and patience they need, coz if u do, I can tell you this Will be the best decision of ur Life and the best friend you will ever have!
Thank you for sharing your story. That is heartwarming.
I love this video. I also love how the border collie gets the chair and the human is on the ground 😂 she’s the best owner I love this.
Love to all bordercolliedogs, puppys and grown the best dogs in the world
I have a smooth haired tri colored border collie. She’s a great dog. She’s basically a guard dog at this point, and a very good one.
This is a great way to warn people about what goes into having a border collie, while still being nice about it. I remember when I was a teenager dreaming about getting a border collie when I grew up and asked around for information on a dog forum and ten angry people immediately jumped on me for even thinking about border collies. The same for anyone else considering a border collie.
Border collies are great dogs for the right people. Thanks for watching. :)
my border collie mix was a great dog he passed away last year at the age of 16. He was the sweetest dog ever but you need to have to be ready for their peculiar behaviors. Negatives: My dog you could walk without a leash and he would stay right by your side but if you left the door open he would run out and you'd have to chase him down(I'd recommend a fast bike because he even left my track star sister in the dust). if he was nervous about something he would lick his paw constantly to the point where he'd take the fur off and we'd have to put him in a cone. He wasn't protective of me but was extremely protective of my little sister (they are herd protectors and she was his sheep) he was never aggressive but he always wary of her friends. They are extremely agile my dog used to be able to jump our 6 foot fence no problem and had to be chained up in our back yard (could still jump the fence at 10), also any animal (not dogs he was very friendly with them) that came into our yard got killed by our 50 lb fluff ball. Some peculiar positive traits: he would never leave your side if you weren't feeling well. Whether physically or emotionally. My sister once got pneumonia and had such a bad chills she couldn't stop shivering my dog laid on top of her for hours to heat her up and we had to give him food and water in her room because he wouldn't leave. He also did what we call the sign of life check every night where he would get up every 2 hours and stick his head in everyone's room to make sure we were okay. They are the best dogs ever if you are up to it but be sure you are before you get one.
LOVE THIS ! Border collies are such special dogs🥰💖
Yes they definitely are! ❤️❤️❤️
*My border collie is just getting over the loss of my dad (ours) from January this year...he sat at the backdoor for 2 months waiting for my dad to come home it was so hard to watch because they were so close...he still doesn't know where he went :/* *He is 13 years old...and up till last year we were still mountain biking and running...this year is a different story tho :/*
Aw, that's really hard for both your border collie and for you. I hope you can both comfort each other.
I have a request in my trust for someone to let my dog see me after I die. I don't want her to think I left her.
@@nietskj Anyone with a brain would know that you let the pet of the person that died see them and they understand because they can smell death. And it's the same when their companion dies you do the same thing. I have done it with all my pets and it does help them to grieve.
@@verali164 well no need to be so harsh. Not everyone knows this especially if they’ve never had dog’s growing up. That’s why it’s good to educate yourself by reading comments in such videos so it helps if people are civil with their language.
@@moominmay What did I say that was so harsh, I grew up with border collies and I have some now and I know what I'm talking about. I have been there with the loss of someone and also when a pet has died. You have to let them say goodbye
My dog is a half border collie and adopting her was the best choice of my life. Before, I was very busy and kinda neglected work outs. Thanks to her I HAVE to work out and I enjoy it much more when I'm with her!
Yes my first dog taught me to love going on nature hikes. My dogs definitely push me to get away from my desk when without them I would just keep working.
I have a young Border Collie girl. I agree with ALL of these :)
In the 70's I grew up on a 50+ acres of farm with my parents, my aunt, uncle, sisters, and cousins. At the peak the farm had 15+ goats, about 3 dozen chickens, and 4 to 12 pigs, 4 black labs, 2 border collies, and a lot of barn cats. The Borders herd everything even try to herd the labs, which could be quite comical at times. If any strange animal or person came in the yard the borders were first to alarm and the labs were the muscle to drive off any stranger. The borders had this uncanny ability to know when one of the farm animal were about to give birth, or when something was wrong with one of them. I love both breeds their very caring, lovable, and loyal.
I have a border collie mix and she is the best thing that ever happened to me . She is extremely calm dog and just so empathetic , it’s beautiful how smart they are
Oh my best friend, I had my border collie for 16 years. he was so special! Someday I will be ready for another and it will be so exciting.
I didn't choose my border collie he was a rescue from my dad's friend who just couldn't keep up and I love Fynn with my entire soul
Aw... that is so great to hear. :) They are special for sure.
I’ve pretty much given up on area rugs, curtains, furniture- but I would never trade places with a Collie-less home. Thinking of getting some sheep for him to learn to herd.
My Border was a rescue when she was about 6 months. I swear, she chose me....”gave eye” the whole time while I was at the rescue. Truly my canine soulmate. Murphy bonded with us in about 2 hrs. I’m sure she was so grateful to be rescued. Loving, so, so smart and really sensitive. She learned so quickly and understood so many words and items associated. Baby birds nested in our front door wreath got into the house. She gently caught one in her front paws and kept looking at me for instructions. I tear up just remembering so much about her. She has been gone 10yrs. I know I was so, so blessed to have her in my life and forever in my ❤️
So lovely. I do believe it happens that they sometimes choose us too! Very heartwarming that you have each other.
We have had a series of great family dogs since the 60's. Have a fairly good sized back yard. "Experts" tend to over-emphasize the amount of exercise a BC requires and other possible foibles. Each of our BC's were individuals, loved camping, going anywhere with us, obedience and trick classes, one did flyball mostly to please us. We could tell so many amazing and funny stories. We think that BC's are beautiful and don't understand why they seldom win in their category or "best in show". We have a wonderful Morkie now and are looking for another BC.
Everything she said is legit. I should know i had 2. If i had the time i would DEFINITELY get a 3rd without a question. Also, :p to you too keegan..lol
haha, yep that sassy tongue of Keegan's! Thank you for your comment.
All other dogs are dogs, but the Border Collie is SO MUCH MORE.... friend, mind reader, exercise buddy, independent thinker and DOER (able to process problems at the level of a 6yr old kid)... Everybody says you must have work for them to do. Mental stimulation and problem solving is a legitimate form of "work" that BCs can do. So don't overlook that aspect when finding different kinds of work for them to do. Of course, the more physical activity, the better... because they are unbelievable ATHLETES !!
Mental stimulation is so important, I agree.
After watching this video I realize just how lucky we were to get our dog Pickles. We were only kind of thinking of getting a dog when I got a text from my son about his roommate looking for a home for her. Turns out she was literally a drug dealers dog. She has almost none of the behaviors you warn about ( well except the vacuum- she tries to save me from it every time). We think she was 1 1/2 when we got her and couldn't be a better companion. Quietest dog I have ever met and knows more people in town than I do at this point. Can't imagine my life without her!
You have a very special dog! My border collie Sprite was a pretty easy dog too. She had tons of energy and was always game to learn new things, but was relaxed and happy go lucky. So glad you gave Pickles an awesome home!
My Princess is a rescue too. She is still getting over her anxiety and is extremely protective of me and her "herd" of children. But she is the best dog I could ever ask for. And true to her name, she's a little diva lol
Save you from the vacuum. lol Mine is every man for himself!
So true, they do train you and trick you into playing. And love when they have a mission, like where did you hide my toy?
By far the most accurate video of its kind I've seen! And I've seen ALL of them (:
You obviously know border collies! Thank you for the feedback. Appreciate that. :)
I agree with this comment. I've read a blog that said Border Collies are a good first timer owner breed but I disagree with that as their behaviors vary and there first year of life they change so much and challenge you and if your not a strong leader they can manipulate you into getting what they want.
Helene T Bordee collies can test you and teach you things you didn’t know you needed to learn. 🙂
@@TheDogVlog ohh so true. I'm constantly learning on how to be a better Border Collie owner. My hardest months with my BC Cece was when she was 5months old up to 9 months. She went through a stage of not wanting to listen all the time but I noticed a huge change from 9 months up as she started to be more focused and not as distracted with other dogs approaching her.
The best dogs in the world, can learn everything
My border collie Brody is 18 months old and he is not only best friend. He loves to try to herd me. He barks at me and as soon as i look outside and walk away, he barks at me i walk awsy and he nips me. It's annoying but I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! He is brillant! Holly and puppy Brody from De
My border collie loves to herd my two cats. I never have to worry about the cats getting out of the house.
Great captions 😊👍
😀
I have a border collie, and everytime we watch tv and any animal comes on he goes nuts same with sports, especially Baseball cuz he's upset they aren't playing with him
I fell in love with the breed when I went to my first dog show. However, at that time I was still a student living at home. I waited until I was on my own, was financially stable, and had the time to devote to a bc before I had one. While waiting, I researched nutrition, breeders, learned to prepare my dog's food (without having a dog yet) interviewed vets, went to dog parks (decided not for me) talk to trainers etc. When I was ready, I put down a deposit on a female puppy, however, a senior male at a shelter decided I was going to be his human. Romeo came into my life and completely took over it. He was 9 yrs old, had mange, was told he had stage one renal failure but, all of that did not matter to me. I went home with my dog and at the ripe age of 20 yrs old, Romeo left this world in my arms. He was the epitome of your romantic idea of a dog, the biggest social butterfly ever. When he passed, I had people I did not even know come to my house to pay their condolences and share a story of them with Romeo, my dad would walk him for me in the mornings while I got home from work and they knew a lot of people.I have been owned by two more border collies after Romeo, and each one has taught me something new. Chester, my current bc came with a plethora of behavioral isssues, we went to a behaviorist every week for a year and a half, just to be told "this is it, this is his personality you can't train it out of him, my advice is to destroy him or you would have to live a very structured life because he is a high bite risk" I chose the structured life and in 12 yrs of being owned by this wonderful, amazing soul, he has never bitten anyone and we do rally obedience, agility, and nose work. We have had our ups and our downs, but through it all he has been the biggest trooper ever. The bond I have with him is like no other, our relationship is one based in trust, love, and respect. Be willing to put in the time and work, it will more than pay off.
Borders are my favorite breed but I never wanted one because of the energy level and the fact that my husband and are early 70's and I am a cat person! My last panther boy passed in Sept. '21. However. We inherited this gorgeous black and white 5 month old Border from family members. She did not get along with their young children nor did the children get along with her. And the family cat. It is a challenge but we are all adapting somewhat, and we're learning every day. Plus, she gets to see them all on a regular basis which thrills her to the bone. They clearly imprinted on her as mom and dad when she was a young puppy. She is almost 16 months old now and is very healthy and I hope happy. Thankyou for you site!
Thank you.... I always say... it’s like taking care of a 2 year old..... 🙏🏼💟
Very true! :D
A border collie becomes a soul mate but unfortunately at some point they will leave you and you will be an absolute wreck, great love leads to great grief but the life you get get to share together is so so worth it. Mine left me in Jan 24 after 13 years and I miss her every day.
We just lost our Border collie of 18 years and 4 months Lucy the best and most human like Dog we ever had lots of Love. It broke my heart losing her everything you stated about them is true
Wow! A sensible, balanced view. Excellent! A vet (and he was a giant of a man, working with sheep & cattle in the Scottish Highlands) once said to me that he was always wary with two breeds; border collie and German shepherd. Predictably unpredictable, he said. 😉🇬🇧 PS mine's a 6yo male rescue. The second rescue I've had. A different kind of challenge but I now prefer it to a newborn.
Thank you for your comment. It's definitely good to know the "down sides" of any breed. But I do love border collies, even the quirky ones. :D
@@TheDogVlog well, my family got a border collie mix (we figured greyhound given her general body shape, she had the head, smarts, colors, and tail of a border collie but the legs, athleticism, and body of a greyhound) from the pound way back in the 2000s. She was always polite, would tell you to not mess with the yard after my dad taught her how to bark, and would guard the house while we were gone if she wasn't trying to escape and be with us 24/7 (we eventually gave up on escape proofing the yard after she unwove CHAINLINK fences and jumped over a 6 foot 4 fence with clearance... TWICE). The only real problems we had with her was her getting into the garbage (she was a stray) and the aforementioned escaping shenanigans. She would rarely dig in the yard (and some orange peels ended that), only bit someone after she got right up to her face while chewing a bone, and she would only go postal when some tall guy wearing a hoodie is taking a walk (we figured she was abused by some guy who loved hoodies and was tall). Sadly she passed away a while back. :( Before she did, my dad got a border collie Catahoula mix... and we don't know if he was acting stupid so he can get away with more OR he was actually stupid. Buddy Girl would put him in a corner if she ever came to the house though...
We’ve had our collie for the last 10 days. She’s 10 weeks. She is adorable. V v smart V gentle and we love her to bits
Aw, puppies are so much fun! Sounds like she has found the perfect home!
Omg. I just got my border collie as well. Sept. 4 about. He is toooootally a nipper. So far I’ve taught him sit, lay down, and sit pretty. Right now we’re working on stay. He is a smooth coat and he likes to cuddle but mostly wants to play haha. We got him from a farm and the momma dog was the absolute sweetest. The people we got him from were very kind and loved dogs so he came from an amazing place. A loving place. We got him in Michigan haha. Right now, we were able to crate train him and were working on potty training. He is starting to understand d it
i got an australian kelpie, they even look the same as a short haired collie, they are working dogs to and everything that applies to the collie applies to the kelpie, maybe even worse, i run mine without a lead, he behaves well if he gets what he wants like frequent walks and exercise, his favourite toy is the remote control high speed buggy he rounds it up, this way i can exercise him with actually running around my self, i used to have low flying drones at the park, that was real exercise, he would chase this low flying drone all over the park, my dog has more toys than i had when i was a kid, i keep him well exercised, i often get on the bike to go a lot further and faster than walking, i knew i would have to put a lot of effort into him to stop him from suffering from boredom, being a working dog they need stimulation and are very intelligent, he behaves well off lead and it works well, he gets what he wants and i don't have to drag him around on a lead, he was easy to train i only had to get grumpy when he tried to cross the road by him self and now he stays on the right side of the road, even when dogs are on the other side of the road he wont just dash over, i treat him like he has a brain in his head and he pays me back, i never have him on a lead he's 9 years old and does not play up, he just loves getting out to sniff things and piss on them without a lead, i doubt i will get another dog this good, my next dog might need the leash !!!
Ha I got a border collie mix which she is a rescue and turned out to be perfect. She is independent, calm, energetic when it’s perfect timing, always wants to make me happy, shy but sweet, sassy, sneaky, doesn’t try to escape, no separation anxiety, doesn’t always need me, and all around perfect. I am never looking for a breed but I am more specifically looking for a dog that is able to blend into the family and adapt and adopt us. That is what my doggo did and it worked amazingly. She is now 9 and fyi 1000000000000% loved and adored by us. She even adopted her own cat and since she is a mix she has some border collie traits and lacks others and somehow got the absolute perfect mix of the traits. She does have the shyness but relies on me to show her when to fear and when not to. Heads up I am very tired and my dyslexia really hits hard when I am tired I just got done with a 19 hr road trip
My Nan has a border collie and it’s the most gentle and friendly dog I’ve ever met
They can be super sweet dogs for sure. :)
All very relatable to my border collie girl. She is a counter surfing ninja.
Haha. You have to really watch them! My youngest thought he might like to try counter surfing. I told him it wasn't a good idea. :D
Love it when they cross their paws and stick out their tongue when napping. My BCs loved playing Border Collie Soccer-Tess played defence), Frisbee catching, walking anywhere I did, and herding chickens, chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, geese, anyone riding a tractor lawnmower, children, and me. My Tess Siobhan detected my Diabetes and her grandson Max became a service dog for a girl with CP. He even predicted her seizures. Gem-my Aussie/BC, Tess, her son JackBNimble, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Little Bob Peep, I miss you all!
OMG "They have a way of training you..." SO TRUE!!! My baby is not very talkative, but she definitely communicates with me VERY WELL! She is so sneaky!!! She loves children, but if they are on a bike or something, she'll want to chase it. In our case, she doesn't even look at them if we have a freesbe or a ball! ❤❤❤ I LOVE MY BORDER COLLIE!
So great you can distract her with the frisbee or ball. :D
I'm having a 1yo bordercollie tomorrow. It needs a new home, because it doesn't have a shepherding instinct and they need a working dog with their lambs. He is coming in our herd with 2 senior aged Danish-Swedish farmdogs.
Amazing video, I loved it ! I watched a lot of videos to choose my future dog and I think the border collie is the perfect match for me. I actually got a puppy border collie two months ago, I thought he would be a ball of energy but he's such a lazy boy ! He is 4 months old and is really sleepy, sometimes he even fall asleep during the tricks trainings ! I don't know if it's because he is young or if he's just a unique sofa potato border. You said it, every border collie's owner need a good sense of humor, especially when your fluffy baby eat socks in the dirty clothes basket and you need to go to the emergency vet for him. And your video is really accurate, he is hypnotized by moving things, especially children. But he's an amazing dog and I love him no matter what and I wish that he loves me too :) Thanks for your video, I hope you saved some border collies from an inappropriate life with your honest talk about the breed !
Thanks for your feedback! And yes puppies need to sleep a lot so that's pretty normal. It's actually really good to give them naps and helps them to learn to relax as older dogs. I have a pup just under 4 months and he goes from supercharged to super-sleepy!
At 1:43, "Teaching my dogs calmness" - THIS IS EVERYTHING WITH BORDER COLLIES! Have a 6 month old pup right now who is such a busy boy. He does not know any other state of being. His chosen job is fetch, and he could play fetch 24 hours a day if we let him. And if we say no he will find a ball and a person who will throw it for him! Working on calming exercises with him now, like laying on his bed or using a snuffle mat. We had to literally teach him to stop working and relax. I don't think BCs come with that ability on their own XD
For sure! Calm exercises are SO beneficial for BC's! :)
I've had 3 dogs, all border collie mixes; best dogs you could have!
Grew up with a BC which I had for 15 years (got her when I was 7). We had to put her down about 2 years ago and it just broke me. Growing up she was just like a sibling to me and we trusted each other in everything. Watching this video made me smile and tear up at the same time.
If you can provide enough proper exercise for a border then it's the dog for you, even if it's your first dog. It was my first ever dog and I will never be without one.
I’m so glad I stumbled on your channel, I loooove your videos! My Riley is actually 10 years old now and I’ve had her since she was 6 weeks old. I didn’t plan on getting a dog so young, nor did I plan on getting a BC, so suffice to say my first couple years with her were a bit chaotic. An old coworker was about to take these puppies to the shelter and at the time I was looking for my first dog (I grew up my whole life with dogs, but Riley was the first one of my own). She was COVERED in fleas and was NOT dewormed. She also had a lot of biting issues especially because she hadn’t had enough time to learn her puppy manners from her siblings. I had no idea what I was getting into; I was 20 and something about her made me throw caution to the wind. At first I had a hardcore case of the puppy blues because while all puppies are nuts, Riley was extra crazy haha. Combined with dealing with the fleas and the worms, I was so worried I’d made a huge mistake. That changed when I started challenging her more and more though. I stopped making excuses. I went out and bought a book about BCs (when I learned they weren’t recommended as beginner dogs LOL). I grew to love her for making me be more active and less lazy. I am disabled with a chronic pain condition as well as having OCD and ADHD. She has been the absolute best thing for me to keep myself grounded and I can confidently say that despite our rocky start, she was exactly who I needed. Her loyalty is boundless and her sweetness always makes me smile. I walk her everyday, play fetch everyday, play hide and seek everyday, and work on new tricks/words/training (which is her favorite) everyday. She has made me into a better person throughout our years together and even at 10 now, she’s still my adorable wild child. I’m in love with BCs now and can confidently say I’ve found my breed. ♥️
Thanks for checking out my channel! Your Riley sounds just awesome. My first dog was so smart and gave me a crash course in dog owning! Love BC's they are challenging and so special!
A long time ago, I had a border collie, and when I got home from middle school, he used his hard head to break two or three fence boards to come to see me. I just lost my little miniature dash hound who lived for 15 years. I probably will still need time to recover from the death, but I am thinking about getting a border collie as a service dog in about 6 months as I am about to graduate from Texas Tech University. I want another border collie as I have always loved them, and I have the perfect job for a dog known for helping herd, as it sounds ideal for a service dog.
This is so useful. Thank you so much
I've had seven border collies and wouldn't choose any other breed.... but it's not a dog for everyone. These are great questions for people to reflect on.
Nope, but I was given one. He makes me happy though. And amazed how smart and yes, very loyal, he is.
Love Border Collies... Sadly lost my Poppie 3 days ago.. Beautiful. Loyal Friendly and loved family member...
It's so hard. I lost my border collie Asha on October 8th. They break your heart but I'm still so thankful to have had those experiences. Special dogs.
@@TheDogVlog ... so true... break your heart when they pass.. She'll be missed. But remembered for all the Hilarious moments all of the family had with her in our lives...🥰🥰
This is a really great video! Thanks for making this video really informative and hilarious at the same time! Maintaining the reality of what having a border collie can be like while making it also really entertaining to watch!
Love Keegan's right blue eye. My Gypsy Rose Lee was my first red/ white girl with ½ pricked ears and a right blue eye and left griwn eye. Like her namesake, she hated decorative headbands and dog clothes!
lol i loved when he painted!
They make some great abstract art! :)
i want a border collie sooo bad. they’re such amazing dogs, such energetic dogs.
They are amazing and keep us very busy!! :)
“Floofs” no it’s a dog that’s known as one of the most destructive dogs when not taken care of properly. It will bite you, children, try to herd you , and absolutely destroy anything in sight when left alone. They are not cuddle buddies, they are not Lovers, they don’t love you like other dogs do. Imagine a puppy but like that for it’s entire life if you don’t properly train it. Which means you need to be with the dog every single day, all day and have a yard. They need physical and mental stimulation. A lot of it. they aren’t going to just chill.
BaronVonBielski that’s why people train their dogs.
@@BaronVonBielski They definitely can be a higher maintenance breed. Some do enjoy a cuddle, and although they have their quirks, they can make SO much progress with training. But if someone wants a buddy to cuddle, yeah, teddy bears are always best. :)
@@BaronVonBielski border collies are not know to be the most destructive dogs, I have one and right now he is sleeping beside me with his head on my lap. My border collie is super calm. (Other than when he meets dogs.) He never did anything destructive, he is a great dog I do not know where you're getting this information from but I know for a fact this is not true.
Got my first Border in 1964. Our last one, our 5th, left us 7 years ago. I’d love another one but I’m not fit enough to do the miles they need these days.
i would love to get a border collie my grandparents had one when i was little and i remember her being so gental and watchful of us i only knew her when she was older so she was a little calmer than a younger dog but im not in a position for a border collie i am still in school and dont have a fenced in yard and cant drive to take a dog to agility or go on hikes. but our rescue pit bull who dosnt mind laying on the couch all day or going on a walk around the block.
You did them justice! thank you
Getting 1 tomorrow I'm excited 😊
ive got 2 border collies ive trained them to put my clothes into my washing machine & take it out for me as ive got spine issues ive trained them to pick things up that i drop they also put there toys away they do lots of things for me but ive trained them to be aid dogs as im disabled also ive trained them to do agility they love playin foot ball and i throw them there balls they fetch & bring the balls to me they also run about my big garden they chase each other aswell they love to play fetch games & hide & seek ive trained them to sit wait leave pick up things they know quiet a lot of words as i do talk to my collies aswell as train them i love them very much they help me every day plus if i drop things they pick up for me cos of my spine i cant bend down as my spine is crumbling i did have 3 border collies but one went to heaven old age bless her im 63 yrs old i couldnt live without my collies they help me with my depression too they know when im down they come give me lots of love x
I love my border collie, he plays flyball and at home totally calm and plays with the neighbors dogs walks off the leash loves too counter surf lol
Sounds like an awesome dog!
I am getting a border collie and I am a pr0 dog owner. I will train him to follow me be wherever I go. Agility, Herding, GeesseChasing And Diving is the ruffect sport for my border collie to preform.
Lucky pooch! Agility is so much fun. 🙂
Lol you’re a pro owner? He will follow you wherever you go? Yeah, neither of those are true. Unless you’re five years old you don’t spell pro with a zero instead of an o. Your dog isn’t going to follow you, it’ll run away unless it’s trained to be off leash. That takes time. Also, whoever is training and feeding the animal will be who the animal attaches to the most. So if that’s not you don’t expect the animal to follow you around. Unless you’re prepared to teach your dog agility training he’s not going to just magically do it.
Oh and as the person who made the video pointed out, collies don’t work well off leash and chase cars and animals alike, even if they are trained. You shouldn’t get a dog, you straight up ignored the problems she brought up
I will train my dog to be an off leash k9 therapy dog even though it is hard work
@@BaronVonBielski calm down and mind you business butting into other people's life is not a good trait you sound like you need to be trained.
We have a border collie - just turned 2 , most energetic, loving, and smart dog.
This is brilliant, thanks for all the insider-info!
Thank you for watching!
Looking at getting a Border Collie as my next Service Dog but my housemates are one of my biggest hurdles, even bigger than financials (which is another issue). There's a few difficult points with them but they really do make for good dogs especially if you put the training in. I grew up with a border collie Australian shepherd mix and he was a lovely caring dog, and he listened to even me (when I was a kid) up until his last few years alive when he had old man pains and struggles. They are such intelligent dogs and are exactly what I need but household ruins it all for me.
We bought a bc having both had various dogs between us over the years Alfie came from a local farmer both working parents ... so so glad we chose him he is a total star 🌟 and we are smitten 🥰 he rounds up our chickens every evening even after a 6mile walk (it’s a walk in the park for him) he has a free run of a 100 acres but never steps more than 10ft from us (the loyalty of the breed ) in the house on the couch big hugs 🤗 we shan’t be looking for another breed 🏴
So clever you are lady, can inform people
I’m collecting my new little lad, this coming Monday! My third BC boy! I’m so excited!
So lovely intelligent dogs, all of them so lovely
Such a great video. Helpful and amusing. Thank you.
You are welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
7:54 Such true words. I've had 4 BCs over the past 30 years and I have spent some of the best times of my life with them. Not a day goes by without missing each one.
They sure do break your heart when they leave us. But the joy of having them is worth the pain of losing them.
I have a border collie , siberian Husky mix , . She is loose on 16 acres of woods. Has a pond to swim in , 2 groups of 3 dogs visit her every day for her to run and play . She hunts alot . That is the Husky in her. Herds my cat.
I have a Border Collie, her name is Sora, got her when she was 3 months old and she's gonna be 3 years old in February. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have any herding instinct whatsoever. She never tries to herd any animals or people. She loves everyone including children but everytime she's with a group of children or with anyone really her main concern is finding anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that she can give someone so they throw it and she can fetch. That's her obsession. It's not an unhealthy one because I can make her stop or she can stop on her own if no one is paying attention to her (although sometimes if she will bark at you asking for attention but if she still doesn't get it she just lays down or does whatever). Bottom line is she just wants to fetch all the time, she mainly likes balls, but anything works for her. I also live in an apartment and have another dog, an almost 10 year old Labrador named Marley, he's the laziest and chillest Labrador I've ever seen and he's been like that since he was a puppy, which worked for us because we live a very sedentary lifestyle so I was actually nervous about that when we brought Sora home but she's actually very easy to manage and she was only a little bit distructive when she was a puppy. So I guess I got really lucky with her temperament and I guess it's true that some Border Collies can adapt to any lifestyle. Wouldn't recommend trying your luck if you think you can't handle this breed though, I was just dumb and then lucky. And every day she amazes me with how intelligent she is
Excellent Video, dogs truly become part of your family ❤ Congratulations on Reaching over 1,000 Subscribers 🥳
Thank you Suzy and for the congrats as well! And yes they are part of our family for sure.
Everything you said describes my Border Collie! Amazing dogs, sensitive, smart and very loving! Thank you for this info!
I love the breed, even my quirky border collies have so much character. :)
This video is very informative, good work
Thanks so much. I'm glad you found it informative!
I rescued a border collie shepherd mix. And her brother who was a cat ! I was only going to find them a good home. They were born 1 month apart of one another and were together there whole lives . They were 1 years old when I got them . I ended up keeping both of them for 12 years . Katie the border collie I had to put down in 2019 do to complications . And B. The cat died 2 months later sleeping next to me on my bed . Katie was a Rocket Scientist! Unbelievably intelligent and needed soo much stimulation and hikes . Best years of my life. Miss both
They sure do find their way into our hearts.
I think everyone thinking of getting one of these beautiful intelligent dogs should be MADE to watch your videos. Fantastic thank you