Collie – Simply Dog Owners

Do Border Collies Make Good Apartment Dogs? Do Border Collies make good apartment dogs? A bright, ingenious breed, the Border collie is the perfect dog to be a pet. They are very friendly and love their owners' company. But they do not make a good apartment dog because they need a vast space to exercise and release their pent-up energy. Border collies are very passionate and energetic dogs. So, they must be provided with the opportunity to do exercises like running and playing to keep them healthy and fit. Weight Ranges: Males: 30–45 lbs.Females: 30–42 lbs. Height at Withers: Males: 22 in.Females:20 in. Other Features Ears: Upright (naturally)Exercise Requirements:>40 minutes/dayEnergy Level: Very EnergeticSocial/Attention Needs: ModerateTendency to Snore: LowLongevity Range: 10–14 yrs.Bred For: SheepherdingTendency to Dig: LowTendency to Drool: Low Tendency to Bark: High Coat Characteristics Length: MediumCharacteristics: Double coats, straightColours: Black with red and white, or without white, tri-colour, bi-colour, solid colour, merle, sable.Overall Grooming Necessities: Moderates Club Recognitions AKC Classification: HerdingUKC Classification: Herding DogsPrevalence: Common History: The Border collie is developed to work as a sheepherding dog, but he can manage any herd. This breed was created in England and Scotland's lowland and border counties and is 1700 years old. Border collie's ancestors are thought to be other forms of collies, such as the bearded Collie and Scotch collie. Some historians also believe that the Spaniel could be involved anywhere in their pedigree. During the 19th century, the Border collie became popular among the soft-spoken people for the English gentry. Even today, they are used for herding sheep and cattle and are family pets. Because they are easily trained, Border collies are also used for police work, drug, bomb detection, and search and rescue missions. Do Border Collies Make Good Apartment Dogs? Personality: Border collies are active and known as working dogs. They are best suited for country dogs. If limited without activity and company, these dogs can be unhappy and destructive. The breed is excellent, learns quickly, and responds well to compliments. Because of his sheep-goat instincts, he is a protector of his family and the area and takes the best care. They will look for family children. Although they get along well with babies and other pets raised with them, they can sometimes get nasty with strangers Living With: They are adorable creatures. To prevent embarrassment among strangers, young Border collies should be well socialized from an early age. Also, they should be given obedience training to help avoid collies' tendency to run away or chase cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7aJqLXC-4U Border collies are considered average shedders. It is essential to brush them weekly to keep the coat looking good. This species lives for 10 to 14 years. Are Border Collies Suitable for Apartments? The Border Collie is not suitable for apartments, i.e., border collies in apartments become very stressed and bored. They are very active indoor dogs and do best in a big home or vast land. This breed will do well in a kennel as long as it has daily activity and sees its handler a lot. This breed does not adapt to chained life in the backyard all day. This is a medium, strong-boned dog, slightly longer combining grace, agility, substance, and endurance. His trot is smooth, covering, and tireless, and he moves with stealth and strength. He is capable of suddenly changing speed and direction. Purebred Border collies must be able to show incredible agility even after working for long periods. The coat can be smooth or rough. The soft fur is short worldwide; the rough skin is medium to long and flat to slightly wavy in texture. His expression is intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest, reflecting his temperament. Do Border Collies Make Good Apartment Dogs? The Border Collie used its mental and physical stimulation (energy) to play, work, and be released into the world. Among the most intelligent and obedient breeds, it is a disastrous domestic dog if not assigned a challenging job every day. With enough exercise, he is a reliable and loyal companion. He focuses on everything he does and tends to stare, which can be problematic to other animals. He also likes to chase other animals. He is reserved, even protective, with strangers. So, life will be tough for border collies, living in an apartment. Are Border Collies Good Indoor Dogs? Although it loves the outdoors, the Border Collies is by no means a garden or yard dog. He is raised to work in partnership with their human companions. If your Border Collie is an only family pet, it needs to live indoors. Otherwise, it will feel lonely, boring, and destructive and will likely warn you of his problems from time to time. Because of these characteristics, it is essential to purchasing a Border Collie from a breeder whose population is temperamentally healthy. It would help if you bought those BC who understands the importance of early exposure to the many different people, noises, and situations that come with family home life. A Border Collie dog that is going to be a family companion needs a lot of socialization. Alert watchdogs, Border Collies, can be barking and vicious. You must help your BC develop appropriate barking behavior when he is young, so it doesn't become trouble later. Types of Border Collies: There are usually two types of Border Collies: Those bred purely for their herding talentsThose produced for the show ring and AKC performance events. For most of the 20th century, BC breeders chose dogs based on their ability to work, and dogs varied greatly in appearance. But in early 1995, the AKC recognized the Border Collie, and since then, the breed has been divided along the lines of show and work. Show dogs tend to be small and stocky with heavy coats, while herding dogs are more diverse in size, coat type, and general appearance. Breeders who select for their herding ability prefer their dogs to be recognized for the way they work rather than for their arrival. All of this means that it is essential to know the dog's background before buying a puppy. If you plan to work with your Border Collie, you will want a puppy from the working lines. A Border Collie from the show lines may still have a sturdy herding instinct, but even those Border Collies that do well in AKC herding trials are generally not considered good enough to do real work on farms. However, they will be super competitors in obedience, agility, and other dog sports. Can Border Collies Be Left Alone? Border collies never are left alone for long periods. If you are going them home, your Border Collie must require someone's attention and visits daily. It mainly happens if you are away for more than two days. Unlike other breeds, Collies can quickly develop isolation distress and separation anxiety. Arguably the best sheep-dog in the world, and the Border Collie is a bright and intense workaholic who lives for work and values employment on top of everything. His approach is legendary, and so is the chaos he can cause when he's bored. Famous for his good looks and medium size, the Border Collie's drive to work, and his strong desire to keep his family together at all times. A good Border Collie can be the lifelong companion, but only if he's paired with an intelligent owner who can keep him busy with dog sports (agility, flyball, frisbee games, herding trials, obedience, tracking) or whoever teach you to do chores around the house or farm. If you want the talented Border Collie you've seen starring on the big screen, be aware that it takes much money, time, and effort to keep him busy to his satisfaction. Do Border Collies Make Good Apartment Dogs? Suppose you're ready to give your dog-loving leadership, train him consistently and fairly, and provide him with plenty of exercises and an outlet for his considerable intelligence, then yes. In that case, the Border Collie may be the right dog for you. Are Border Collies Good For Tiny Houses? Border collies suitable for tiny and small homes as long as they meet their daily needs. But living life and living a happy life are different things. So, are you willing to go out of your way to provide them with what they need to live their best life? Then yes, they can live in tiny houses. Otherwise, probably not. Living with a border collie in an apartment is not a breeze by any means. There is no backyard. There is no possible way for you to open the back door and let them do their thing. In tiny houses, you are the one in charge of providing them with the exercise and mental stimulation they need. With that being said, when it comes to living in tiny houses with a border collie, size isn't so much the issue. It's more about the amount of time and energy you spend with your doggie. Do Border Collies Bark a lot? However, unlike many other breeds, Border Collies have a lot to say via barking. They will bark when stressed, bored, excited, fearful, lonely, curious, and playful. Border Collies also bark as a warning to their companions that something unusual is happening, like a stranger is approaching. Like all dogs, Border Collie's bark as a form of communication. Unfortunately, border collies don't pick out extraordinary events in the same way that humans do. An approaching stranger could be as alarming as a passing car or a squirrel running through the backyard. Finding out why your Collie is barking and trying to communicate is an essential step in reducing the amount of barking. The breed is not generally recognized for any guard dog skills but will naturally bark at strangers or a perceived threat. They need to be strictly controlled or bark at any movement if their behavior is not kept under control. The Border Collie is a barking breed. They are easily visually stimulated, which is why they often bark so much. These dogs will bark at anything that moves quickly, such as bicycles, skateboards, etc Barking at people on bikes, Barking in the car, and barking at lawnmowers are high on the list of behaviour problems. These dogs do not have an excellent capacity for discernment. They see something whizzing by, and it worries them. They don't recognize you as a human on a skateboard or a human on a bicycle. They bark to send you on your way. With the Border Collie dog, you also have to tackle a strong herding instinct, which adds to the problem. You must limit your exposure to herd to finish that extinct. Controlling any barking problem should always be addressed indoors first and when your dog is not adrenalized. To manage to bark, you need to catch your dog in the act and let him know, through communication, that what he's doing is wrong. You can also buy a skateboard and tie a rope to expose your dog to this object with some "sensory overload." Start feeding your dog near the board, then start moving him around, just as you offer him his food. Adding more movement during mealtime can help your dog get used to them. Do Border Collies Shed a lot? The Border Collie is a thick double coat dog breed that sheds moderately throughout the year and heavily during the shedding season. Why Does a Border Collie Shed? Like any animal with hair, getting rid of old and damaged hair is a natural process. It is the body's way of displaying its healthy follicles and maintaining a thick coat. Moulting is controlled by seasonal hormonal changes that alter with changes in daylight. Another variable that can affect seasonal moulting is how much your Collie spends time outside. Do Border Collies Make Good Apartment Dogs? The more time they spend outdoors, the more sensitive they are to temperature fluctuations; In spring, they change their thick winter coats for a light windbreaker and vice versa in autumn. As you can imagine, spring is the peak season to shed. Is it Better to Get a Male or Female Border Collie? Its entire owners choice as males are more agile, naughty and big than females in general, so they need more training sessions and time. At the same time, females have to give birth if they are not spayed. So you can select your Border Collie as per your needs. Females may be sleeker and slimmer than Borders male, but the female is better at work, too. When we talk about working dog tasks, they are much more likely to concentrate and be more brilliant, especially in training sessions and learn sooner. Female Collies also reach maturity faster than males; they may be more willing to take on the hunting field's responsibilities. Most people have a clear idea of whether they would like males or females. This could be a significant factor when choosing a puppy. Although male and female puppies are not significantly different at eight weeks of age, there will be clear distinctions between the two sexes when they reach adulthood. Physical Differences Between Male and Female Border Collies: Here is the apparent discrepancy between male collies and female collies. Males: Generally, the males in a litter will eventually be bigger than their female counterparts. They will naturally grow taller and have a heavier body frame. Of course, this may differ when looking at dogs from different lines or litters. Some parents may be small, and some may be large. Accordingly, some females may be larger than males simply due to genetics. Of course, male Border Collie dogs will look more masculine, especially if they are not neutered and have gonads that produce sex hormones. They will have a "beefier" appearance: wider heads, more bottomless chests, more muscular bodies, that "look at me" posture, and an alert, "feather duster" tail. They should look like they are in charge of their surrounding territory. Removal of the gonads will reduce these characteristics. Naturally, the earlier the spaying/neutering occurs, the less masculine the dog will appear. Females: Females tend to be shorter in stature and have a more delicate build. This often facilitates greater agility. Their heads have a more feminine look. A "whole/entire" female will go into heat for three to four weeks twice a year once she reaches sexual maturity. Females will have a thick mucous and bloody vaginal discharge, which can be problematic if it is an indoor dog. So, she should not be taken out in public places during her heat period. Behavior Differences: There is some difference in general behavioural characteristics of both male and females Border Collie dogs. It is also significant to remember that some breading pedigrees have more docile temperaments than others. Male Border Collies: Male dogs tend to want more love and attention than females and display more affectionate behaviours. They tend to be more "aggressive" and will often push you into paying attention. They are usually more cuddly. As a male dog age, he is more likely to maintain his puppyish exuberance than female dogs, who tend to become more reserved and mature. Often (but not always), male Border Collie dogs will be more motivated by food than females. This has several training advantages. Males could be said to have a more "even" temperament. They are also usually calmer. Female Border Collies: Generally, female dogs will be more independent. They do not like to be in more control. For example, female canines will approach you for affection but leave once they have what they wanted. They may use less obvious attention-seeking behaviours than males. Because females do not like to be in control, they tend to be more aggressive and stubborn. They will respond quickly and fiercely to all the training and challenges. A lesser-known fact is that females are very territorial. They will mark their surrounding territory for their entire lives, whether they are neutered or not. If a male dog's gonads are removed, they will keep their environment less as testosterone levels drop and eventually stop. Females dogs are less affectionate than males dogs and are likely to become more aloof with age. "Entire" female dogs will have mood swings when they go into heat. In general, females tend to be more "temperamental" than males. From a competitor's perspective, they have days of brilliance and days of the less-than-excellent performance. In General: It is essential to remember that although some behavioural characteristics are "hardwired" in our domestic pets, the Border Collie dog is a very adaptable and impressionable breed. All vets and dog breeders tend to believe that you turn your dog into whatever you want through breeding and good training. People usually cause problems in dogs. Often it is due to a lack of understanding or inconsistency. Choosing a puppy with parents who have docile temperaments and a solid conformation is only the first chapter of the story. The rest depends on the puppy's family. Border Collies of both genders are beautiful dogs. Everyone appreciate their individuality, and everyone has an overwhelming desire to please them. At What Age Do Border Collies Calm Down? The general idea is that a border collie puppy will begin to establish an excellent temperament or calm down between 2 and 3. However, Border Collies may vary in the calming down process due to diet, obedience training, pedigree, environment, etc. Some owners have seen their BC stabilize between 4 and 5 years of age, while other owners say their 10-year-old still behaves like a 6-month-old. Do Border Collies Get Attached to One Person? Yes, Border Collie dogs generally prefer to bond more with only one person in the family. They have an inherited instinct to do so because they are designed to work with one person as a team. Final Thoughts Border collies are medium-sized dogs. They look like light Australian shepherds, but instead of Aussie's bobtail feature, Border collie has a winged tail that reaches the Hock joint. The head is like a complete piece, and the body is slightly longer than other medium-sized dogs. The ears are erected. Some Border collies have coats about three inches long, while others have one inch wide coats. Long-haired Border collies are usually lush and shiny coats and have hairy tails.