Should I get a dog - border collie specifically?

[zed4]

Hello,

I have been considering a dog for a long time now. I’ve always wanted a border collie as I think it would be perfect for me. I was wondering if you guys could give me your opinion on whether it’s a good idea or not, and whether you think my lifestyle and house is suitable.

First off, the house. It’s a fairly new house, my girlfriend likes it very clean and tidy and is quite particular. She wouldn’t stand the wet dog smell! We have a smallish garden, but enough lawn to run around on with a good sized decking area. We also have a 3x3m conservatory on the back of the house. If I left the dog in the house whilst we were at work, could it live in the conservatory, therefore eliminating the risk of it chewing up my nice new lounge furniture?! Would it be too cold in the winter, or do dogs not feel the cold like we do? I could lock the door to the house, but leave the conservatory door open during the day so it could roam around the gated and fenced garden, or is this a very bad idea?! I was thinking of installing an external shower unit to the house anyway for cleaning wetsuits and showering after being in the sea, so that might be handy to give the dog a good clean before it comes inside!

I would let it in the house when we are home of course. My brother rents a room from us and gets home from work much before we do, so it would be alone from about 8:30 to 16:00 or so. Often he works defence watches so is sometimes home for a few days in the week when he’s off. The alternative is we may be able to bring it in to work, but I don’t know how well behaved it will be in an office/showroom/workshop/boatyard environment.

How often do they require exercise? A walk in the morning and a walk in the evening? Or I could take him out for a walk at lunch. I live and work in the New Forest, so it wouldn’t be a problem to go out for a nice walk in the forest at lunch or after work.

The house consists of just myself, my girlfriend and my brother. No plans to have children at all.

Secondly, I’ve seen photos of dogs lying on the parcel shelf in TVRs. Is this sensible or safe? I’d love to be able to take the dog to pub meets in the TVR, provided it’s safe to do so. I’d assume it would need to be secured by a harness of some kind? Like this... (pic found on PH)



Finally, next door has a female border collie (crossed with something smaller). Are they likely to get along? Could they be walked together for example?

Any help or advice appreciated! I do love dogs, but I’ve never owned one, and I would like to make sure I’m fully aware before I dive in to ownership!

Thanks,

Dan

Edited by zed4 on Tuesday 25th February 11:36

[Neil G60]

I don't think you should get a dog at all if you're not in the house for most of the day. Especially a Border Collie - they're one of the most intelligent breeds of dog so it would get extremely distressed being locked up for so long, this would manifest itself in wrecking the house apart from the cruelty aspect. No dog should be left for that long, it's inhumane. BC's also require a lot of exercise - think about what these dogs were bred for - being outside herding sheep all day and racing about fields. Owning a proper dog (i.e not a handbag rat on a rope type-thing) is a massive commitment. You have to walk it regardless of the weather outside, accept you might be limited in what you can do, where you can go, accept costs associated with putting it into kennels when you go on holiday etc. I love my dog but she's bloody hard work a lot of the time. My wife and I both work so the dog's at a dog sitters 2 days a week and has a paid-for walk one day a week. We spend well over £200 a month on care for her, more if we're on hols, and if we were ever in a position to not afford that we'd get rid of her, otherwise it's not fair on her.

Edited by Neil G60 on Tuesday 25th February 12:19

[zed4]

Neil G60 said:

I don't think you should get a dog at all if you're not in the house for most of the day. Especially a Border Collie - they're one of the most intelligent breeds of dog so it would get extremely distressed being locked up for so long, this would manifest itself in wrecking the house apart from the cruelty aspect. No dog should be left for that long, it's inhumane. BC's also require a lot of exercise - think about what these dogs were bred for - being outside herding sheep all day and racing about fields.

And if we could bring it in to work with us?

EDIT: Next door leaves her dog at home all day, that's a collie cross.

And if we could get home at lunch for an hour for a walk?

[Neil G60]

Accept that you'd need to be responsible for her all the time I guess, are there physical hazards where you work? I imagine there would be in a boatyard with water, quay sides, guys operating power tools etc. If you were a shepard I'd say go for it!

You also mentioned hair and doggy smell - A BC has both of these things in abundance!

[Neil G60]

Because your neighbour leaves hers all day doesn't mean it's OK ;-)

I sound really negative but you need to know what you're getting into

[Bradgate]

I would be very cautious about getting a Border Collie, particularly one from working lines. Many of them can be hyperactive, obsessive and manic. They need huge amounts of exercise as an outlet for their physical energy and stimulating activities for their mental energy, eg obedience or doggy sports such as agility or flyball.

A Collie can be "too much dog" and can run rings round an inexperienced owner. More here :

http://www.bcrescue.org/bcwarning.html

[zed4]

Neil G60 said:

I sound really negative but you need to know what you're getting into

That's why I started this thread.

Our boat yard is our own small private boat yard. We're not on the water's edge, just a concrete yard with some small boats on trailers in it. More of a gated car park. We only 2 engineers at this site. I'm mostly based in the office and showroom, so I should think it would be ok. Although we do have a rather viscous cat at work!!

[Neil G60]

My gut feel says don't get a dog at all.

Collie's and cats - you never know. Collie's can be quite aggressive, on the other had my cat lords over my cocker spaniel but cocker's are a known for not being aggressive (like terriers, say)

[Jasandjules]

I regret I would say do not get a Collie. They simply require far more exercise and stimulation than you have available to give them. I've known a fair few to bite people too, which I suspect is down to a lack of exercise and stimulation.

[zed4]

But what specifically do you mean? How much exercise? A good walk in the morning, lunch and evening? Or the fact that it wouldn't be happy being inactive for a long period of time?

Are all collie owners unemployed? Serious question, I'm wondering what sort of lifestyle owners have.

I used to have a Collie when I was very young, hence my desire to have another.

[Spiffing]

I have a BC and have been brought up round them. I work f/t and drop mine off with my Mum and hers during the day. Both of ours are ultra, ultras laid back and chilled - the polar opposite to a typical BC. Mine hates leaving his bed, has to be dragged out in the rain etc and pretty much sleeps all day exactly like my Mum's. Saying that I wouldn't have a dog if I worked F/T and didn't have my Mum or friends I can rely on if my Mum suddenly couldn't have him. 8hrs at work, 8hrs asleep, that's not much company the dog gets.

A factor of the dogs being so chilled is their breeding - Don't go for working or agility lines, (I got a half agility, half obedience dog as my first dog and was given the 'quietest' one, he was an utter monster possessive, destructive and guarding I would also recommend avoiding these lines) go for breed/obedience/pet lines.

Another factor is they are mentally stimulated, I do obedience with mine and 10mins obedience training knackers him more than an hours walk. I'm not saying they don't need exercise, but not as much as some people expect, also the more exercise they get the fitter they are so the more exercise they need. Before I get jumped on for not walking mine, they get 2 or 3 walks a day normally 1 road, 1 run and I have started Cani-x so one of them when I'm going. However there are days when I cannot be bothered dragging him round a walk which he is hating and I am not enjoying, instead we play games in the house for example shutting him out of a room, hiding a toy and getting him to find it.

With regards to working with him, if it's safe and secure, you shouldn't have an issue. Start from a young pup and it'll be a 2nd home. Same as with the cat, a friend has rotties, a cat and chickens. As the cat and chickens were there when the rotties were pups they learnt respect, the hens to this day chase them round the garden.

Basically - Look into the breeding, look at how relaxed the relatives of your pup are (Mum, older siblings, others in the house..) get sight, hearing and hip scores tests done. Start taking him to work as a pup and ensure he has a safe place to go to chill - crate or a puppy play pens are ideal for this. Mental exercise as well as walks and you should be fine.

[telecat]

Looking at your requirements a Bulldog could well fit. Check the Bulldog thread. Mostly they prefer a quiet life but have character and are loyal. My Mother had 2 Border collies. The first had contracted Distemper, (or so I was told). It did like walking but preferred a lazier life and was ideal for the family at the time. The second was much more lively and proved really to be a mistake. It was highly strung and really only got along with my father. It did need walking a lot and was never really trained. The experience meant I prefer cats these days. Bulldogs and PUG's however I could be persuaded to take in.

Edited by telecat on Tuesday 25th February 14:55

[Petrol Only]

The only thing I will add as I'm still very much a new dog owner.

My collie x ? Will run all day if you want him to. However he probably enjoys being mentally challenged more. 15 minutes of practicing basic commands and silly stuff like spin through your legs etc can be as good as 2-3 hour run on the beach chasing his tennis ball CONSTANTLY.

Edited by Petrol Only on Tuesday 25th February 16:00

[Potatoes]

Sure, why not, sounds great... Just stay away from this chap:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Dick Dastardly]

Border Collies are the best dogs ever invented.

I got one, Ben, two years ago and he is brilliant.



My wife and I both work long hours, so either my parents take him out in the day or he has a couple of dog walkers that visit and keep him active. The one takes him out with a gang of his mates twice a week for about 4 hours a time and only charges a tenner.

I had never had a dog before, so was apprehensive about the wet dog smell, things getting ripped to bits and the never ending walks. None of that has been an issue. We keep him pretty clean without much bother, he doesn't destroy anything other than the occasional chew toy and when I walk him I take a tennis racket and ball, which soon wears him out. Maybe we were really lucky with Ben, as I have a friend with a BC who he constantly moans about.

[Jasandjules]

If he could be taken into work then this might assist.

[YoungOne]

If you would like a dog try not to get too focused on 1 breed, find the breed that fits your life not that you like the look of.

On a side note a retired greyhound would be a good place to start.

[SiredR]

One important thing to mention , in the first year of their life your dog will chew anything it can if left unattended - part boredom part teething , we never expected ours (bc) to start on the table and chairs but he did, my OH only works mornings so thought we would be ok but alas no , and we didn't expect the car sickness either - even a 1 mile journey. Having said that we got past the 12-14 months and it was like flicking a switch , only chews his toys and in the car down to Devon no probs , the conservatory - not a good day on a hot day , that's why we don't leave dogs in cars - they have no way to cool down and probably not a good idea to let him roam , they can jump most things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEyrDfBvWI

Edited by SiredR on Tuesday 25th February 21:37

[Super Slo Mo]

How much walking does a Border Collie need? Well, he'll take far more than you're capable of giving, at least, until he gets old and suffers from arthritis like mine did . They will run and run and run, all day long.

They're fantastic dogs, and I'd have another in a heartbeat. They can be destructive, probably more than most dogs, unless they're sufficiently stimulated.

To be honest, and this will apply to me when I'm in a position to take on a dog again, I wouldn't worry too much about the specific breed, you'll have a great time with almost any dog. I had to dog-sit for my sister's terrier-cross the other week, and loved it. Nice little friendly mutt who liked a run around the garden, and an hour's walk was more than enough for it.

Being a short-hair, she didn't smell too bad (this is the dog, not sister), and being a small dog, only produces small turds which is quite an important factor when you have to pick them up and carry them to a bin or back home.

You could do worse than join the Black Retriever Cross rescue Facebook page, they have some lovely dogs on there almost daily that are in desperate need of a decent home. Some are old, some young, but there's a lot of variety. They're not all retriever cross dogs either, they seem to take anything. Take a look.

[Cupramax]

My dogs previous owner left him at home all day (border collie/retriever cross) he basically destroyed their place out of boredom, so i took him on at just under 1 year old when they'd had enough of it. We gave him 4 walks a day and he was left with my retired parents during the day so he wasn't alone and we never had the slightest problem with him. As has been said many times above dogs need stimulation

My advice, if you have to leave a dog all day, especially a collie, dont get one, its cruel.