OBERON KENNELS
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Is a Border Collie Right For You? |
Border Collies can make great pets especially if you can provide the following:
Training - pet dog obedience classes beginning with Puppy kindergarten - essential if you still want to be the boss of your household! Understand that you are in for lifelong behavior management to prevent new undesirable behavior from ruining your life (and your dog's). Border Collies are not your average house dog, they require exercise, mental stimulus, and to feel a bond with their owners.
Outdoor activity - LOTS of endurance exercise (like walking miles and miles, hiking, swimming etc.). LOTS of playtime - fetch, Frisbee, tug games, etc.
A fenced in yard or other means to prevent potential escape artists.
Previous experience (preferably with another high energy / high drive breed). BC's may not be the breed for your first family pet !
Owning a Border
Collie means you have to go for walks even when
it's cold and wet out!
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It is highly recommended for potential owners of Border Collies to be:
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Before you get your BC puppy, it is strongly recommended that you:
Teach you kids good manners (ie. behavior around dogs) - This is absolutely NECESSARY. Too many puppies of all breeds end up in a Rescue or in shelters because they are hurt or teased by kids and react to feel what they are doing is protecting them selves.. We do our best to expose & desensitize our puppies to many different people, object, noises, etc., but it is UP TO YOU to continue the desensitization / socialization. The window closes at around 7 months - not a lot of time to show your pup every possible thing he may come into contact with in his life!!!
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Buy a crate - and USE IT - for at least 1 year, probably more like 3 years. Dogs love their crates, if they haven't been used as punishment. It's like having their "own room". It will facilitate to house train your puppy quickly and effectively! |
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Buy a Gentle Leader head collar. Buy two, a small one for when he's a puppy and a larger one for when he's an adult. Go to obedience classes to learn how to use it effectively. (Make sure you enroll in a positive method only class. To find a trainer in your area go to www.cappdt.ca (The Canadian Association of Professional pet Dog Trainers) and www.apdt.com (Association of Pet Dog Trainers). Do not assume that just because someone is giving classes that they are knowledgeable about dog behavior. Go and watch a class first, without your puppy to see if the instructor's style suits you and IS NOT PUNISHMENT BASED.
Prepare yourself for 15 years of fun, challenges, bonding, games, tricks, problems, training, as well as possible addiction to one of the following dog-sports: Obedience, Flyball, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Frisbee or Freestyle.
Check out
the humorous article: "The
Truth About Border Collies"--complements of
The Laughing Dog Press