Border Collies are considered by many to be one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds. Though they are wonderful companions, they require a lot of exercise and training.Posted on 07/18/2010 7:28:05 AM PDT by mlizzy
Border Collies are considered by many to be one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds. Though they are wonderful companions, they require a lot of exercise and training.
(Excerpt) Read more at fancast.com ...
Our border collie mix (seems likely her other half is German shepherd) spent her first year of life as the Chick Evans dorm dog at the University of Illinois. Much like Professor Howell, however, she was not asked to return in the fall, so after we cared for her on her summer vacation (and although things were a little hairy for a while), she is now a much beloved pet in our clan ...
They go crazy if you dont give them something to do. I’ve seen them before just spinning round and round for no apparent reason.
My wife chastises me every time I say it but our last two Goldens haven't been the sharpest knives in the drawer
I had a border collie and now a standard poodle - the poodle is a better house dog and quite smart, almost like having a person here, and clean, doesn’t shed at all or smell much. But I suspect the border collie was actually smarter - which is saying a lot.
Our female Border / Lab mix is the smartest dog we have ever had. She is 15 years-old and still going like the energizer bunny! She loves to watch "Animal Planet" on TV. 
They go crazy if you dont give them something to do. I’ve seen them before just spinning round and round for no apparent reason.*smiles* ... For that reason (well there were others too:)), I was in tears when I found out she couldn't return to school ... but now, things are cool ... we keep her busy ...
I used to watch the Border Collies round up sheep in the farmer’s field next to my house in Dunoon, Scotland. We were stationed in Holy Loch at the sub base. They have to be the smartest dogs in the world, because the farmers would just whistle and they’d change direction at the drop of a dime. ....very cool
In a dog nation, Border Collies would make great cabinet secretaries and advisers, but a German Shepherd would make the best president.
Is that a photo of your dog? I think they can live to 20 or so, correct? Ours is amazingly sturdy looking as well — solid as a rock ...
I own three Boxers...but their best friend is a Border Collie. The Border Collie is smarter than all three Boxers put together! She will outsmart them everytime.
My Boxers are too full of dopey LOVE to object!
I used to watch the Border Collies round up sheep in the farmer’s field next to my house in Dunoon, Scotland. We were stationed in Holy Loch at the sub base. They have to be the smartest dogs in the world, because the farmers would just whistle and they’d change direction at the drop of a dime. ....very coolI would LOVE to see that!!
The rabbit looks to be a bit worried.
Border Collies do need to feel like they are working! So we have a big back yard and she takes us on 2 mile “walks” every morning. However she flunked out of dog school when she was younger, because she wanted to be in charge of all of the other dogs.
Border Collie Sheepdog & Amazing Cute Puppy Movie Trailer
That being said, all breeds have their pluses and minuses. The Havaneses that rule the house are smart and run herding circles and don't shed (do require shaving down at least twice a year), but they also are LOUD watch dogs and one of them is downright impertinent. Love them anyway.
I had a border collie and now a standard poodle - the poodle is a better house dog and quite smart, almost like having a person here, and clean, doesn’t shed at all or smell much. But I suspect the border collie was actually smarter - which is saying a lot.Someone left a list of smart dog breeds (according to the experts), on another thread, and it had border collie as #1 and standard poodle as #2. A friend of mine has a poodle because her husband is allergic, so that's a nice factor as well. But in addition to our lab, I love our bc-mix. She's a hoot, but requires at least two hours of exercise and about 30 minutes (more would be better!) of active "puzzling" a day.
See some border collies at work here ... in a very unique way :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdUspvkKOmw
Be sure to have the sound on :)
Originally from the telegraph.co.uk website.
I'm a little partial to Corgis...For some shots of Dagny, go here... http://picasaweb.google.com/jimro1951/Dagny#
When I was a child, my grandfather had a border collie that could get the cows by itself. Sent but not supervised.
More recently, I have driven across the Navajo reservation at Monument Valley and out in the middle of nowhere seen two border collies moving a herd of sheep along the road.
No barking or running that I observed just a slow steady pace. The dogs did, however, look disgusted even pissed as though there might have been earlier chastisement of some sort for the 18 thousandth time on the same flock of sheep taking the same routine trip. :-)
However she flunked out of dog school when she was younger, because she wanted to be in charge of all of the other dogs.*laughing* Yep!! When "Addy" first arrived, it was not a glorious meeting with our same-aged lab. In fact, within about an hour or two, we were on the line with our vet, asking if the bc-mix (we didn't know she was a border collie at the time) could stay at the vet until we found someone else to care for her. The vet, said, "give it some time," and gave us some tips. Addy is still very much in charge, but she's more "clever" about it, and things are working out much better.
I follow my mutt around and pick up his poop. An objective observer would say muttsky is the smarter of the two.
I have two Belgian Sheepdogs (see profile page) and while they are also incredibly smart, high drive herding dogs, they aren't close to the Border Collie in terms of intelligence. But, mine are both K9 athletes just like the BCs, and my boy has already beat other BCs in flyball (he's blazing fast).
LIke BCs, mine are a constant project as I find new ways for them to work and learn. They LOVE to learn, whether its a new sport, trick, etc. Again, these high drive herding breeds are not for the faint at heart. Many BCs end up in rescues/shelters because people buy them for the cute/smart factor, and fail to realize the training that's involved.
The BC that's featured in the video is a called a Blue. They're pretty rare, actually. The standard BC is usually black and white- and its the only coat variation recognized by the AKC, which is a shame because there are some beautiful coat variations out there. One of the BC on our flyball team is a black/blue merle with the most intense ice blue eyes I've ever seen. And talk about 'the eye'. When I first met her, I swear I peed just a little. She is the sweetest thing, though. Her sister is a black/white with blue eyes, and is the epitome of smart. She's beyond onyx level in flyball but got to the point where it was no longer a challenge to her so she started inventing her own game. She had a year off from flyball until I started running her. Although she's had a few 'my own game' moments, she has excelled in races once again and is always a crowd favorite for her intensity. She's incredibly happy doing the 'work' she enjoys most.
BTW, anyone in the Midwest who is interested in adopting a rescue BC, there's a beautiful Blue BC boy who needs a forever home. FReepmail me for details.
Glad you enjoyed it :) I did, too ... those dogs are truly amazing!
I’ve never heard of the Havanese breed ... until now.:)
Yes, labs are wonderfully intelligent, too. We’ve had three (still have one!). Wonderful breed. And ours bows to the border collie which is good; otherwise, the “relationship” wouldn’t work out ...
The rabbit looks to be a bit worried.And rightfully so ... :)
Ping
Yes, Corgis are great dogs. We’ve had two Pems.
I read a great book on gardening and the woman who wrote it (can't remember her name!) was nuts about corgis ... she had a few of them (and they were well depicted in the book; yours is beautiful btw), and I hope it's ok I grabbed a shot of Dagny and posted it here. Looks a bit like a watch dog in this photo ...
He was highest energy dog I have ever known, with the most obvious natural herding instinct. They can be destructive as puppies, with sharp teeth, and a lot of nervous energy.
They are definitely not good around small children, but mine was the most loving dog me or any of my friends and family had ever known.
Pets ping
The ones that rule this house are actually heavier than breed standard, one has a curly coat, and more flaws for the ring, but they make nice pets. They respond to training about like other smart breeds and it has taken about three years to get them to right about the right place, just like the lab. And, just like their much larger cousins, the first thing they do after a bath is find something dead to roll in. That's one thing I miss about the lab. She didn't do that.
“They go crazy if you dont give them something to do. I’ve seen them before just spinning round and round for no apparent reason.”
Not true. I had a poodle as a kid that would do that, and he was the dumbest dog that ever lived. We used to joke he was looking for a second brain cell, but never found it.
A working-bred Border Collie MUST be able to be very quiet for long periods of time. A hyper farm dog gets shot. Based on the two I’ve owned (including the 18-month old lying on my feet right now), what they NEED is to be with people. My current Border Collie cheerfully stays at the side of his people, curled up for hours on end - ready to go if they do, but content to relax as well.
I can’t speak to Border Collies raised for use as sport dogs, etc - I wouldn’t own one.
http://www.bordercollie.org/core.html
“I foster Border Collies and they are indeed not for the novice owner. Like any herding breed, they need a job to do or they will become destructive.”
Arghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Border Collies may become destructive if they are poorly bred or if they are left alone without human companions. A Border Collie bred for work is energetic, but not hyper - and they can relax for days at a time. The only job they need is to be with their people. They don’t do well left alone in an apartment or house day after day.
A lot of working breeds are ruined because breeders want "Show Dogs" instead of breeding for working traits. If you're buying a dog for working/hunting then better to buy the offspring of "field trial" champions than Show Dogs.
They are great dogs but I am partial to Cairn Terriers. Ours is smart as a whip, intensely devoted, friendly, cheerful, and this big dog in a little body breed has no major health issues. He’s a great little hunter. I can pick him up and carry him as needed and he fits in the sink when I bathe him. His food is cheaper, his “dooty” is smaller, and he’s easier to groom.
Yes.
BC’s can be great family pets and bond with their human owners just like other dogs. Our BC loves kids and yes she sleeps a lot and always has, just like other dogs.
“Border Collies may become destructive if they are poorly bred or if they are left alone without human companions. A Border Collie bred for work is energetic, but not hyper - and they can relax for days at a time. The only job they need is to be with their people. They don’t do well left alone in an apartment or house day after day.”
ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A few days ago a 2 1/2 y.o. border collie/lab/aussie shepherd mix tried to adopt me. I figured good dog for trail running, but I’m on the road a lot on business, and it would not be a good dog to leave home alone. Plus I have no yard.
his “dooty” is smaller ...My friend's husband hunts regularly and wanted a lab so badly, but his wife won the discussion and they have rat terriers (one bit my son; you can't play around with them like labs); she would always remind him, "little dogs, little poops, big dogs, big mess ..."
>yawn< I'm up too late ....
It takes a lot of training to suppress the herding instinct. Sitting still is not a problem. But get a 3-4 year old kid running around in the back yard, and the instinct of the border collie is going to be to run down the lost sheep. It is highly entertaining for the adults on the deck drinking beer and watching, but can be less fun for the kid.
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