Post by roanhorse on Jan 30, 2015 12:39:28 GMT -5
The recent stockdog thread contained many comments on the border collie. A lot of positives but also that they are neurotic, hyper and obsessive. I couldn't help but thinking that they are getting a bad rap! We have four, they are all different. We do keep them penned if we aren't home or with them. However, I think a dog, of any breed but especially one as intelligent as a bc, that spends all its time in a pen can easily become neurotic, maybe this is part of where the reputation comes from? I have had bird dogs, aussies, heelers, bcs, and several mutts over the years, and I don't find the bcs any harder to handle than any other breed. They are just super intelligent and get bored, not really with lack of exercise, just with lack of mental activity and human attention.
Baxter, couch potato, will work but it is more because he likes me that because it is his calling. He follows me everywhere, no matter what I am doing if I look up he is there. Usually lying down and watching me. He could never be neurotic or obsessive about an activity, it would take too much energy
Jill, my husbands dog, follows him everywhere. Goes to cut wood, feed hay etc. Was a difficult teenager but learned that she could only work when told and is a very nice dog to have around.
Dot, their pup, could easily become ball obsessed (like a lot of terriers I know) so we just don't play much ball. She does evening chores (baxter does morning) and seems content with that amount of activity.
Nip (Baxters sister, no I didn't need another dog:-p) Pretty laid back
They will all bark when in a pen if someone else (another one of the dogs) is out and getting to do something, but my sons heeler is the biggest complainer of all!
I know these are only 4 dogs, not the whole breed, but they are nice to have around :-) Not saying that they are for everyone, just saying that they aren't as hard to have around as a lot of people think!
I took the following two vids this morning.