Puppy Dog Breed Collie
Latest Collie Latest News
Latest Collie Frequently Asked Questions:
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?
Answer: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.
What is the difference not in apperance but in temperment? Since I am getting a male Aussie, but I am considering a Border Collie. I already know ALOT about the Aussie now what differs it from the BC. Also which breed do you prefer? Thank You!
Answer:Australian Shepherd If you want a dog who... Is medium-sized and sturdy Has a lovely coat that comes in striking colors Thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities Is exceptionally versatile -- when well-trained, can learn and do almost anything -- one of the smartest breeds in dogdom -- I really love this breed! An Australian Shepherd may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... Providing enough exercise and training to keep his active body and equally active mind satisfied Destructiveness and barking when bored or not exercised enough Suspiciousness or shyness when not socialized enough Stubbornness in some individuals Chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars A good amount of shedding A good number of potential health problems Border Collie If you want a dog who... Is medium-sized and natural-looking Has a handsome, easy-care coat Is very athletic and thrives on TONS of exercise and training Is exceptionally versatile -- when well-trained, can learn and do almost anything Will play fetch for hours and hours A Border Collie may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... An intense athlete who can drive you up the wall with obsessive and destructive behaviors if you don't provide lots of exercise and creative outlets for his boundless energy Compulsive chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much Shyness or suspiciousness toward strangers or when not socialized enough Shedding Serious health problems cons are discussed in depth on the websites If you take a few minutes to read these its kind of interesting how the same and different they are
I have a 4 month old border collie male and we were thinking about getting another dog but we dont want to get another border collie. we have a big property so it cant be a really small dog. whats the best dog that would get along with our border collie?
Answer:I agree a dog in the herding group would be the best bet. I would suggest waiting a few months so the puppy has time to bond with you and learn the ropes so to speak. Otherwise the puppies will bond with each other and not with you.
This may sound like a strange question, but we had a dog who looked to be full blood(smooth)collie, but had pricked ears leading me to believe she wasn't a purebreed. We found her as a stray. Yes, it does matter...I've always wondered if she was purebreed or not :)! Don't worry, I believe in spaying/neutering. Thank you all for your great answers, I'm so excited to find out they can because it means it is possible to get another dog like her. She was the best dog in the world(to me) :).
Answer:Absolutely, and there are numerous reasons why they may be standing completely "prick". As mentioned by another poster, thick cartiledge can certainly cause them to not tip, but the reverse is true to. Too thin cartiledge may not be heavy enough to cause the ear to tip. It can also be the set of the ears on the head and the shape of the ears themselves, regardless of cartiledge thickness, that can affect the proper tipping. Ears that sit too far off to the side (ears that haven't been "trained" to sit higher up) will sometimes cause the natural break of the ears to lean up and out during growth and thus cause the ear to to stand straight once fully mature. Poor or inappropriate nutrition during the growth stages can also affect the ears and their over all quality...just like it would affect any other part of the dog. The shape of the ear is also a huge factor. My current rough collie Tea (retired from the breed ring to be a mommy) has short, wide ears. Even though I "trained" her ears to stand and tip properly on the top of her head for the ring as a pup, by the time she was four, the natural break in her ear was not strong enough to go against the width of the ear pushing it up. Her 8 week old smooth son Cowan however, has absolutley gorgeous ears. They are long and slightly over tall in length and have a fabulous natural tip. http://pets.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/NothingButCollies/photos/view/cb35?b=1 The thing to remember here if that straight ears are really no indicator as to the quality of a collie as even in the best lines and collie kennels a perfectly natural ear is not so common as it once was. Even when breeding for it, collie breeders will still take no chances and use special tapes or glues to "train" the ears of their show prospects...sometimes until the collie is a year old or more. And lets face it..."quality" is as subjective a term and "responsible breeder". If she was a joy to have in your home and the love and memories stand for a truly special friend, than I would say you had all the quality anyone could ever ask for.
well, i might be getting a border collie but im not sure how much im going to spend on him in a year?...and you know when people feed there dog 3 bowls of food and then they change and give them 2 bowls...when should i start giving my dog 2 bowls a day?
Answer:Don't measure their food in bowls for one. The amount of food you give is determined by activity level, age and size (or weight). My border collie is on the small side, but is VERY active (about 25 lb). She gets a little less than a cup of a high quality kibble daily. I separated into two feedings since that's what I do with my German Shepherd. My Border is 12 months, so it's a good age to start the twice daily feeding routine. Puppies I normally feed 3 times a day (small amounts, divide their total amount recommended per day by 3 to know how much to feed). Also, be conscious of your dog's weight. If it's gaining weight even though you exercise it regularly, you're probably feeding to much--losing weight, then not enough. These dogs are VERY high energy and WILL be destructive if you don't give them adequate exercise and mental stimulation. I work with both my dogs EVERY day and walk them each twice a day for around 30 minutes. Between vet care, bedding or crate, a high quality kibble for adequate nutrition, training lessons, and toys, leashes, etc. I spend anywhere from $500-$1000 every year per dog. This of course does not include the adoption cost or unforseen medical problems. My GSD is a rescue, as is my Border, and he recently had to have hip surgery with a bill totaling around $1200. You also will need monthly heart worm prevention medication and flea/tick prevention (cost for both depend on the size of your dog), and vaccinations when you adopt. There is a lot of initial cost when you first get the dog, but it does taper off after a while. For six months of heart worm medication for my Border, its around $30, and $35 for three months of flea and tick prevention. It's MUCH cheaper to treat preventatively than to treat once they have worms, so DON'T skimp here. Good luck with the new dog, they are great!
