I know that there are lot of people out there that have amazing
stories about Border Collie Pets; and there are others that have these
amazing dogs and do amazing things with them. BUT PLEASE if you are
considering a puppy for a house pet, especially if you have young
children, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider getting a Border Collie.
These dogs are a truly inteligent and facinating breed, but they have
been bred to herd sheep, not to cozy up with the family around the TV.
I had a Border Collie that I rescued in '79 (Froofy) who was the most
incredible dog I have ever owned. She and I went everywhere together.
But I did not have children at that time. Many years later when my
sons were 7, we purchased a Border Collie (Comet). I have never been
so attached to a dog in my life. However, he terrorized the rest of
the family, and when my daugher was born, our local pet psychologist
recommended we either destroy Comet or isolate him. We tried to
isolate him, and he got wilder and wilder. After an unsuccessful
attempt with Border Collie Rescue, who would not take him, we had him
destroyed at 6 years. Guilt and greif have plagued my wife and I ever
since. So, when the other day, when we saw a BC needing rescued at
PetsMart, we decided in memory of Comet to add 1 more rescue to the
two we already had. She was a Border Collie (Winnie) who was the most
obedient and sweetest dog you have ever met - but, what we did know at
the time, and I am sure the rescue people didn't know either, it was
only for adults. After 3 incidents in 2 days with my (now) 6 year old
daughter, she is going back to her sad life at the Rescue Shelter. I
am glad to know she will be safe for as long as she lives there, but I
am also sad in seeing her go.
I am posting this because I cannot bear to think of what will happen
to many of these wonderful dogs as people with the best of intentions
try to blend them into their suburban life style. PLEASE - Get a
Golden Retreiver, a Lab, or whatever. Leave the Border Collies where
they belong: Either herding sheep, or in some other very intense
activity. They are not a way to get in shape, or a trophy for your
lawn. While you may get lucky and find that one, amazing BC that
makes the perfect pet, you most likely won't. I will always love
BC's. Unfortunatly, it will always be from afar.

From: (Frank Allen)
Date: 11/4/2004 8:56 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

BUT PLEASE if you are
considering a puppy for a house pet, especially if you have young
children, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider getting a Border Collie.

You make some very valid points.

However, while I am very sorry to hear of your problems with your two dogs,
well bred Border Collies, while very intelligent and needing a job (and a home
geared towards them) should never demonstrate the aggression or temperament
problems that you dealt with.

I started in herding dogs when I was twelve. I've had Aussies for almost 20
years now and I've done BC rescue since before my boys were born (about a
decade), and they've never been bitten (nor has any ever attempted to).
Likewise, our own personal BCs have exemplary temperaments.

While you may get lucky and find that one, amazing BC that
makes the perfect pet, you most likely won't.

I've never met a perfect dog, though I've known quite a few who were quite
close

The answer to the question "Which dogs bite?" is - The ones that have teeth.
Dogs of any breed can have poor temperaments, but if you find the breed whose
traits most closely fit into your lifestyle, and do your research, there are
many wonderful dogs available, regardless of breed.

Finding a dog of sound temperament, socializing and training it (and your
kids!) are the keys to having a successful relationship.

Robin

(Manadero)
wrote:
well bred Border Collies, while very intelligent and needing a job (and a
home
geared towards them) should never demonstrate the aggression or temperament
problems that you dealt with.

Yep. My BC isn't well-bred - she's from a puppy mill. And though she is
highly active and reactive, which can make for a difficult family dog (i.e.,
not one to contentedly lay by the fire while you watch TV), she isn't at all
aggressive.

I agree that border collies aren't for everybody, because they need more
stimulation and activity than the average busy family is willing and/or able to
give. But the temperament problems aren't typical of the breed.

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums

"Frank Allen" wrote in message
om...
I know that there are lot of people out there that have amazing
stories about Border Collie Pets; and there are others that have these
amazing dogs and do amazing things with them. BUT PLEASE if you are
considering a puppy for a house pet, especially if you have young
children, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider getting a Border Collie.
These dogs are a truly inteligent and facinating breed, but they have
been bred to herd sheep, not to cozy up with the family around the TV.

They are very popular family pets in the uk where rough & smooth collies are
relatively rare. They can make wonderful pets - children learn to train
them and enjoy going out and about on trips with the family.... but they
really do need this interaction and stimulation.

So its not if you want a family pet, don't get a bc, but if you don't want
to do stuff as a family, with your dog being part of the family; don't get a
bc... and really, the same rules pretty much apply to any breed.

The one thing that really puts me off is their tendancy to be extremely
sound sensitive and barky. We're in an area where gunsports are popular and
all my friends with bc's are really having a hard time of it atm, not to
menton the fireworks for guy fawkes night, which are going to cause them a
lot of problems this evening.

Diana

On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 10:10:29 -0000, "Diana"
wrote:


"Frank Allen" wrote in message
. com...
I know that there are lot of people out there that have amazing
stories about Border Collie Pets; and there are others that have these
amazing dogs and do amazing things with them. BUT PLEASE if you are
considering a puppy for a house pet, especially if you have young
children, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider getting a Border Collie.
These dogs are a truly inteligent and facinating breed, but they have
been bred to herd sheep, not to cozy up with the family around the TV.

They are very popular family pets in the uk where rough & smooth collies are
relatively rare. They can make wonderful pets - children learn to train
them and enjoy going out and about on trips with the family.... but they
really do need this interaction and stimulation.

So its not if you want a family pet, don't get a bc, but if you don't want
to do stuff as a family, with your dog being part of the family; don't get a
bc... and really, the same rules pretty much apply to any breed.

The one thing that really puts me off is their tendancy to be extremely
sound sensitive and barky. We're in an area where gunsports are popular and
all my friends with bc's are really having a hard time of it atm, not to
menton the fireworks for guy fawkes night, which are going to cause them a
lot of problems this evening.

Thats strange isn't it. Deke, my late 13 year old Border Collie barked
only at the window cleaner (not bad, once a month) and squirrels but
only if they were in our garden. However I agree, he was super sound
sensitive and incredibly nervous with it, Bonfire Night, thunder
storms etc made life hell for him.

Now I've got Jake a 10 month old BC. I've had a few ups and downs,
he's bossier than Deke was, but most of my questions have been
answered, or I've at least had seemingly good advice, from this
newsgroup. Even his nipping me has all but stopped and I never thought
it would. But to get back to the point, I've only heard him bark a
handful of times. On the plus side, he's soooo laid back, the
fireworks are so far not bothering him at all though tonight may be a
different story.

Luckily enough, he does seem happy to be a homely dog. He never plays
up if I'm not with him, he just lays in his crate and waits patiently,
no chewing inside, no signs of boredom though I do leave a variety of
toys if I have to go out. At night time, he just wants to be with us
in the lounge with his new best friend a stuffed Kong, or fetching
toys out of his box to be thrown.

I have to say I love him to bits

Lynda

Diana

"Frank Allen" wrote in message
om...
I know that there are lot of people out there that have amazing
stories about Border Collie Pets; and there are others that have these
amazing dogs and do amazing things with them. BUT PLEASE if you are
considering a puppy for a house pet, especially if you have young
children, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider getting a Border Collie.
These dogs are a truly inteligent and facinating breed, but they have
been bred to herd sheep, not to cozy up with the family around the TV.
I had a Border Collie that I rescued in '79 (Froofy) who was the most
incredible dog I have ever owned. She and I went everywhere together.
But I did not have children at that time. Many years later when my
sons were 7, we purchased a Border Collie (Comet). I have never been
so attached to a dog in my life. However, he terrorized the rest of
the family, and when my daugher was born, our local pet psychologist
recommended we either destroy Comet or isolate him. We tried to
isolate him, and he got wilder and wilder. After an unsuccessful
attempt with Border Collie Rescue, who would not take him, we had him
destroyed at 6 years. Guilt and greif have plagued my wife and I ever
since. So, when the other day, when we saw a BC needing rescued at
PetsMart, we decided in memory of Comet to add 1 more rescue to the
two we already had. She was a Border Collie (Winnie) who was the most
obedient and sweetest dog you have ever met - but, what we did know at
the time, and I am sure the rescue people didn't know either, it was
only for adults. After 3 incidents in 2 days with my (now) 6 year old
daughter, she is going back to her sad life at the Rescue Shelter. I
am glad to know she will be safe for as long as she lives there, but I
am also sad in seeing her go.
I am posting this because I cannot bear to think of what will happen
to many of these wonderful dogs as people with the best of intentions
try to blend them into their suburban life style. PLEASE - Get a
Golden Retreiver, a Lab, or whatever. Leave the Border Collies where
they belong: Either herding sheep, or in some other very intense
activity. They are not a way to get in shape, or a trophy for your
lawn. While you may get lucky and find that one, amazing BC that
makes the perfect pet, you most likely won't. I will always love
BC's. Unfortunatly, it will always be from afar.


I know many BC's with wonderful,happy lives. Most of those do not involve
children, although a couple do. All of those do involve an extremely
committed, involved family. A BC is not for your average pet home,
certainly, but many people successfully own BC's and keep them happy by
working them recreationally. You don't need to OWN sheep to work your BC.

I know many BC's with wonderful,happy lives.

That's my "Missy"! She has 5 acres in which to amuse herself, and she
requires a lot of attention. That's ok with us - she's very much a part of
the family and we love her.

Nat Hooper
Oxford, AR