Your Questions About Collie
Ken asks…
How can I get my border collie to stop niping me?
My fiance and I have a 6 month old border collie. He nips us, Not hard but he still nips us. Also when he is in puppy play groups he nips other dogs on the behind. How can I stop this behavior?
admin answers:
When he nips, yelp like a puppy would, stand up, turn your back, and cross your arms. All play ends for at least 30 seconds and until he is calm and quiet. He’ll soon learn that nipping is no fun at all. If this is a herding behavior sort of nipping, he may need more physical exercise and/or a ‘job’ to do. Many areas have farms now where dogs can go to learn herding and use that instinct so they don’t use it on you. Agility, flyball, and other dog sports are also good choices for a border collie. They are very intelligent and enjoy having activities. Nipping other dogs in play is normal, if the other puppies mind, they will let him know, you should not need to intervene unless one of the dogs is uncomfortable with the intensity of the play.
Mandy asks…
How Will a border collie work for my family?
We found a shelter dog who is a lab and border collie mix and I did research on border collies and I know that are extremely smart and need a job to do. We are fine with exercising the dog in the dog in the morning and afternoon and giving her a job once in a while but the problem is she would be home alone for 6 hours 5 days a week. My dad says he is willing to come home from work at noon to walk the dog and take her to the bathroom. I heard that leaving on the radio or tv and giving the dog a special treat right before we leave will distract her and keep her busy. Would she be destructive or bored? We also have cats. Will she try to heard them? The dog we want is a bit timid so probably won’t scare the cats as much as a hyper dog. Remember she isn’t a pure bread border collie she is also a lab.
admin answers:
Well, if you have her working in the day, you could use the hours alone as a nap after her job. Just keep her busy before the separation starts.
Also, keep in mind she is part Lab and not a purebred working line Border Collie. Most likely she is mixed with a pet quality Border Collie, which isn’t as intense as a pure working line… Maybe the Border Collie parent was a mutt itself.
^ She probably will not see the cats as prey, but incase she does… Correct it right when it starts.
Carol asks…
How much attention and/or activities a day does a Border Collie need?
I might be getting a border collie, but I would like a better understanding of how much play time and activities they require to stay happy each day.
Thanks!
admin answers:
Physical exercise alone is not sufficient for this very intelligent and highly energetic dog. They want to work and must do so with body and mind as one, carrying out different tasks. Fast and agile, these lively little dogs have boundless energy and thrive on hard work and play. They are a delight to see streaking after a ball or bringing straying sheep back to the fold.
A Border Collie is a herding dog. These dogs need vigorous excercise. I recommend 3-4 walks a day, one hour each. Plus additional play time with a Frisbee and tennis ball. I might also recommend buy a backpack if you get this dog, put it on him while walking. This makes the dog feel like he has a job, you might also consider doing agility. If you are lazy (no offense) and don’t like to get up and do things physical, look else were for a dog.
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