Border Collie Mix puppy

[Chicago526]

My Missy is a black lab/border collie mix. I got lucky and missed out on the herding instinct. But she is wicked smart and when she was younger she was very energetic (not so much now, I think she has some joint pain). When I say "smart" I mean she's smarter that some people I've known. She tear into things just because she's board. These kind of dogs, you find them something to do or they'll entertain themselves, and odds are you won't like what they decide to do!

I think you got the room and the active life style that will work well. I'm sure someone else has posted this by now, but border collies can "nip" when they are herding, which doesn't usually hurt but can startle and upset children that arn't expecting it or already have a fear of dogs, so it's something you need to watch for.

 

[WDWBarb]

The best dog EVER was a Border Collie mix. She was my best friend when I was growing up and just SO smart and so obedient! She never even had to be potty trained - she just "knew."

Man, I loved that dog. She lived to be 16 and gave me so much happiness.

If I had even a small amount of land, I'd adopt another in a heartbeat!!



They are very active dogs but they also need exercise for their brain. Training them from a very young age and practicing with them every day keeps them happy.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

We have a Border Collie/ American Eskimo Spitz (we think) mix. She is 13. She has been a great dog, but has always been a bit of an escape artist, which is scary with a herding dog...she will try to herd cars...not good! We got her before we had kids, and we were concerned with how she would be with them, but she has been WONDERFUL! She even alerted my DH that I was in labor with DS...she knew she wasn't allowed in our bed, and had never tried to get on it, but was happy sleeping beside/under the bed...well, we were sleeping, and I must have been breathing heavy/moaning when labor started...she put her paws on the bed, which she had NEVER done and woke DH up, and he started timing contractions...off we went to the hospital about 15 min. later. She has been great with kids, but protective of them...when they were both babies, she would try and get between them and anyone who came to visit. She has never nipped, barked a lot, etc. Now that she is older (past 2 years or so) she has been having some accidents in the house, and has developed a heart murmur. I think that is due to age more than breed though.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I'm glad to hear positive stories. Do any of you also have cats. We have 2 indoor cats and I am a bit worried about the herding.

As long as you let him get used to being around the cats he should be fine. Mine have been around cats and could really care less about them. I'm sure he'll be pretty interested in them when he first sees them, but he should fine once he gets used to them. My borders have never tried to herd other animals (weird I know), but have a group of kids running around or even adults in seperate rooms and they run around trying to get them together. But who knows what your young pup may be like...they are all very different!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

My Aus Shep/Border Collie did not like the cats. We had cats before we got her and she just did not like the cats. The cats had been raised with our other dog (who had died before we got our herder) so they were a bit surprised at this reception. We now have a sheltie who gets along very well with the cats.

 

[Micca]

Wouldn't this whole thing be solved if you got the pup and a few head of sheep?

 

[okeydokey]

Wouldn't this whole thing be solved if you got the pup and a few head of sheep?

Then my DH wouldn't have to mow anymore!!