Border collies... I need help!

[perdidobay]

DH and I have adopted a border collie from a rescue group. Sasha is a sweetie but has a strong herding instinct. So far she is having no separation anxiety, she does love attention and affection! I have had shelties for 20 years, so I am used to a herding dog. But Sasha is way up there. She has been herding our sheltie since we got her last night. The minute our sheltie moves anywhere, Sasha is immediately into herding posture and goes from place to place to keep Melou in view. How long can I expect this to last? I'd like for them to play together, not Sasha to think this is her job.. I know! Herding is her job!
We are going on Sunday to an agility training session with the foster Dad on Sunday to check it. Hopefully we can channel that energy!

Also, what heart worm meds and flea/tick products do you use?
We have always used Heartguard plus and Frontline plus with no problems
(shelties are also a collie breed). But Foster dad said only to use Interceptor and Advantix on Border Collies... I'd like to be able to use the same products on both dogs.....

Thanks for any insight and suggestions about living with a border collie!

 

[DisTeach1]

How long can you expect her herding to last? Until the day she dies. It's an instinct that is inbred in Border Collies-it's what they are born to do. We had a BC for 15 years and he never stopped herding our cats. Border Collies end up in rescue a lot because most people aren't prepared to deal with their strong herding instincts. And it's not fair to punish them for something that they are meant to do. The best you can do is give her a lot of activity and something to keep her mind busy.

We used to hide his toy and he would love to find it and "stare" at the hiding place for hours. But finding the toy kept his mind occupied. Our BC was not a great housedog until he was about 7. Before then, he always wanted to be moving, herding, etc. and it drove us nuts.

 

[VSL]

How long can you expect her herding to last? Until the day she dies. It's an instinct that is inbred in Border Collies-it's what they are born to do.

I agree.

My BC passed on Dec 2005, and he used to try to 'herd' the birds (in a weird, stalking fashion!) - and he was crossed with a Lab (so not even a full BC).

Also, he lived with us for a few years - with no herding activity (we have no other pets) - and then one day my uncle took him for a walk. He ended up herding a whole field of cows into a corner of the field. It was just 'in' him.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Border Collies herd. That's what they do.

A family friend of ours has a Border Collie named Pepper. What a sweetie of a dog. She always circles around us and tries to keep us in one place. Sometimes, just to give her something to do, we split up into different rooms. She goes nuts and tries to get us all back together. There is no way of stopping her. We have all learned to just deal with it and honostly, it isn't annoying anymore. Give your BC things to do during the day. They are working dogs and like to have jobs. Whenever I visit I know that I have to give Pepper something to do. Whether its playing catch, chewing a bone, or just telling her to go to her cage. It keeps her occupied.

Oh btw, Pepper LOVES to watch tv. Especially baseball games. Maybe you can turn on the tv for awhile to give yourself a break.

 

[VSL]

She always circles around us and tries to keep us in one place. Sometimes, just to give her something to do, we split up into different rooms. She goes nuts and tries to get us all back together.

Yes!

My dog used to go nuts if anyone was leaving or going upstairs, and he always seemed at his most relaxed/content when we were all sitting downstairs with him

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have a tricolor border mix and she has attached herself to herding her BALL.

I have found that you need to be burn off alot of energy with them and then they need a command to stop herding.
We have been working on that one.

One of these days we will try some agility, flyball or train her for frisbees. She already does the fantastic moves in the air.
She is only 1ish and still wants to eat the frisbees.

 

[DisTeach1]

Our border collie also loved to "watch" things. He loved sprinklers, fire in the fireplace, and the TV. If you could get something that spins that she could watch, that would keep her busy. Something like a baby's mobile, that you wind up and it goes around. Our BC loved things like that. They are very good at learning commands, so she should learn to sit and stay when you don't want her herding, but you also need to be fair and give her something to do. We have a lab/bc mix now, and he's more lab, but he does go nuts if we put his toy under the couch. That will keep him busy for hours, looking under that couch for his toy.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Years ago my DD was watching some friends kids at our house while all of us parents went out to dinner. We came home and I swear our border collie had a smile on his face! He kept pushing us towards the back bedroom. There, sleeping, were my son in his bed and my daughter on the floor along with the three babies she was sitting for. It seems the dog was very proud of himself for getting them all in the same room and "protecting" them!

We also used to mess with him by scattering to all corners of the house like one of the other posters mentioned! Herding dogs... won't stop that instinct. Find something for him to herd! (We used lots of dog toys and would empty the box so he could fill it again.)

 

[perdidobay]

Thanks everyone for the advice...

 

[Honu]

How is Melou reacting to it? Some dogs handle interaction with Border Collies better than others. My Border Collies have always done best with mellow dogs that don't try to play. My present one has very little patience with normal dog play, sniffing, jumping, etc.

I can only use Program, the oral pill, and I get an all natural flea deterrent at Petco. The dog flips out if I put Advantage or Frontline on him. It seems to burn his skin. All of my BC's have had sensitive skin and allergies.

Herding will not stop and many times it will develop into stalking. They are scary smart dogs. Every move you make is being observed and memorized. They anticipate your actions and don't like it when you change your schedule. They also develop huge vocabularies. Mine also loves to watch TV. Get her some toys and exercise her until she drops, but carefully watch her feet. I never allow mine to run or play on anything but soft grass. They will run the pads right off their paws and keep going.

 

[almacdonald]

When I take my border collie to the dog park he won't chase a ball, he won't "play," he heards all the other dogs into a big circle! It's just what he does!

 

[perdidobay]

Melou, my sheltie is handling being herded very well.... she's ignoring Sasha for the most part! She just goes where she wants and Sasha is never too far away. When Melou is asleep, Sasha plays with a ball or comes to me for a belly rub. She really is a good dog

 

[Honu]

Good for Melou. Sounds like you have 2 great dogs. I've never met a bad Border Collie. They just need a ton of attention and not everyone is up for that.

 

[Piglet's Pal]

Our Border Collie has the job of "herding" baseballs for my 2 sons. If one of my boys ever had to go after a ball they hit they wouldn't know what to do! Our BC new favorite thing to do is "herding" matchbox cars...the boys race the cars around the floor and the dog grabs the cars and puts them back in the car box. It is pretty entertaining to watch!
We LOVE our BC, he is the best dog we have ever had!

 

[VSL]

Herding will not stop and many times it will develop into stalking. They are scary smart dogs. Every move you make is being observed and memorized. They anticipate your actions and don't like it when you change your schedule. They also develop huge vocabularies.

They are incredibly intelligent dogs.

I could teach mine stuff right up to when he got ill and had to be put to 'sleep'. They pick stuff up so quickly.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Herding will not stop and many times it will develop into stalking. They are scary smart dogs. Every move you make is being observed and memorized. They anticipate your actions and don't like it when you change your schedule.

Our dog is a mix, but is mostly Australian Shepherd, which is very similar to a border collie. She is the most alert dog we've ever seen. Even though she's a mix, she has some herding in her.

What struck me about your post is that you mentioned the change of routine. If we do a change of routine, we can see the wheel's turning in the dog's brain! She tries to figure out what's up. Our dog is also a crybaby and will cry (whine) when she is nervous.

If you have a herding dog who likes to herd, the best thing you can do for your dog is to give it some jobs to do. By jobs, I don't mean herding sheep as that's impractical even though it would probably be a dream come true from the dog's point of view. Train it to do some fun tricks as jobs and make sure it gets active playtime EVERY day. If you don't find a "job" for this dog to do, it may become bored enough to make up its own activities and get into trouble with bad doggie behavior.

Keeping your dog well trained and exercised will go a long way in keeping your dog happy and well behaved.