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Advice for first-time Border Collie owner?


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Hello everyone! I'm excited to join the forum! I've been following (silently stalking?) since last August when my BC came home, and it's been so wonderful to find answers and advice unique to these crazies.

 

If you experts and more experienced owners would, I would love your opinions or advice on the following:

 

1) Does anyone run with their collies? I'm a marathon runner and my plan was to have Zucchini run with me when she grew up. She's over a year old now, and I've been taking her on short little one or two mile runs once or twice a week. She walks about 2 miles every day, gets about 20-25 minutes of fetch or playing with a doggo friend each morning, goes to one obedience class and one agility class once a week, and goes hiking on the weekends. She doesn't lack for fitness. So far, though, she seems not too interested in running- she'll jog along at around a 12 minute mile. She doesn't need to do my faster runs with me but it'd be great if she would trot or lope some 9 minute miles. I think she'd be happier on trails, so I might try that. Anyone else have this problem? I don't want to force her to do something she has no interest in, particularly if it could harm her. We don't do anything outside more than walking if the temp is above 75.

 

2) My bf and I are considering getting a second dog next year when Zucchini is two. We are thinking a male Aussie as opposed to a second BC. My concern is will two bcs feed on each other's intensity? Zuc is pretty dominant, easily offended by other dog's manners, and resource guards toys (I'm working on it to the best of my ability without having a second dog to work with). But she also is about as typical bc as you can get, I think. I've taken her to get a herding test and a one-day herding clinic and she has 'strong' eye and really good focus on the sheep. We live in a two bedroom apartment with no yard in Philly. Would a second bc potentially result in interpersonal problems between them as opposed to a slightly less focused and intense breed? Or perhaps she'd be happier with no 'sibling' at all?

 

Thank you all!! Picture for fun.

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I know of a couple who both run with their young bc, on trails mostly. She competes. I know they run 8 / 9 miles at times. Beth says Tuff is the best trainer ever, she never gets a day off lol. I probably can find her email if you are interested in speaking with her. She is a great gal

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I know of a couple who both run with their young bc, on trails mostly. She competes. I know they run 8 / 9 miles at times. Beth says Tuff is the best trainer ever, she never gets a day off lol. I probably can find her email if you are interested in speaking with her. She is a great gal

That would be awesome, thank you!

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Hi, Welcome! I have two Border Collies and this is my second pair. I always have a male and a female (both fixed) and try to have one high drive and one more easy going. It has worked out great. Mine always play well together and only have very minor differences. I used to jog with the other pair. We did 4 miles at around 9-10 minute miles (if I remember correctly.) We ran along the road but I think trail running would be safer and more fun.

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Hi,

I regularly run with my BC. we run at 9-10 minutes mile, but he quite enjoys interval running. he knows fast and slow and this keeps things fun for him. however, I cannot keep up with him for long when he actually start to run, so I do short intervals with him.

one thing I pay attention to is to have him run on the grass portion of the road, and I revert to walking if he starts to stay consistently behind me.

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Can't speak for the running (definitely not my thing!) but I have four male BCs, all with different personalities and they fit together well. If you have one dominant, very active dog, I support getting a more laid back, less intense dog for your second. Maybe consider a young rescue dog, whose personality is already clear. A puppy may appear laid back and then completely change as he or she grows up.

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Welcome to the gan! :)

I'm not a runner - if you ever do see me running, better check what's coming behind me. :P But at somewhat over a year old, it may be that while she's fit, her stamina is not built up. Their growth plates aren't really closed until about age 2, so I wouldn't want to push her too far too fast. And she may simply find a longer distance run uncomfortable, without something to really drive her. Plus, jogging isn't mental work for her, like gathering sheep, so she may have to work up to embracing it.

But I'd say let her stick with the slower pace and try building up over time. My dogs do hike with me, our average 4 to 7 miles a couple times a week. But of course I'm only walking, so the dogs get to vary their pace to their own tastes and they entertain themselves with scents and streams along the trail.

Per BCs feeding off each other, from my own experience the answer is definitely yes. Two border collies can absolutely rev each other up! But depending on the Aussie, they can be just as silly and active, so while their interactions may be different, don't count on them not finding ways to create their own inter-breed mayhem. :rolleyes: In any case, you'd have to establish firm ground rules and be prepared to monitor interactions. A friend of mine has a BC and an Aussie as her hiking companions and they are best pals, but they are active!

However, I would advise being cautious about introducing a second dog too soon, if Zuc can be dominant and toy possessive. You might want to wait a year or two and see if she doesn't mellow in some of that. It sounds like a more submissive, easy-going dog could be a better second companion, so when the time comes, perhaps consider rescuing an older dog, so you would know the personality and temperament in advance? Aussies can be pretty forward and in-your-face with exuberance, so it would be a shame if she took offense to a new pup.

Anyhow, just some thoughts!

BTW, LOVE the name Zucchini!!! :lol::wub:

~ Gloria

 

 

Hello everyone! I'm excited to join the forum! I've been following (silently stalking?) since last August when my BC came home, and it's been so wonderful to find answers and advice unique to these crazies.

 

If you experts and more experienced owners would, I would love your opinions or advice on the following:

 

1) Does anyone run with their collies? I'm a marathon runner and my plan was to have Zucchini run with me when she grew up. She's over a year old now, and I've been taking her on short little one or two mile runs once or twice a week. She walks about 2 miles every day, gets about 20-25 minutes of fetch or playing with a doggo friend each morning, goes to one obedience class and one agility class once a week, and goes hiking on the weekends. She doesn't lack for fitness. So far, though, she seems not too interested in running- she'll jog along at around a 12 minute mile. She doesn't need to do my faster runs with me but it'd be great if she would trot or lope some 9 minute miles. I think she'd be happier on trails, so I might try that. Anyone else have this problem? I don't want to force her to do something she has no interest in, particularly if it could harm her. We don't do anything outside more than walking if the temp is above 75.

 

2) My bf and I are considering getting a second dog next year when Zucchini is two. We are thinking a male Aussie as opposed to a second BC. My concern is will two bcs feed on each other's intensity? Zuc is pretty dominant, easily offended by other dog's manners, and resource guards toys (I'm working on it to the best of my ability without having a second dog to work with). But she also is about as typical bc as you can get, I think. I've taken her to get a herding test and a one-day herding clinic and she has 'strong' eye and really good focus on the sheep. We live in a two bedroom apartment with no yard in Philly. Would a second bc potentially result in interpersonal problems between them as opposed to a slightly less focused and intense breed? Or perhaps she'd be happier with no 'sibling' at all?

 

Thank you all!! Picture for fun.

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Thank you all for the advice!!!

 

I'm letting her go at the pace she wants and keeping the runs short. I did take her to a giant grassy park on the 4th and followed her around for 2 miles - she averaged ~9 minute miles! So maybe she just needs a bit more entertainment. We are going to go to the woods this weekend and see if she's enthusiastic about woods running (she loves hiking).

 

I'm definitely going to wait to get a second pup until Zucchini is around 2. And maybe she doesn't need a sibling. A more laid back rescue pup might be a good choice :)

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Welcome, what a cute pup!

 

One of my Border Collies loves running, while his more laid back "brother" is only interested for short runs, and only if there are interesting smells he can investigate :D. Max, the more intense one, would happily sprint mile after mile if he could. I prefer to run with him off leash because while he's ok at a walk I still haven't managed to keep him from pulling at a run. You'd think it'd help, but he gets a little too exuberant and could pull me over!

 

I'm much slower these days, but in high school when I ran cross country I frequently took my BC mix on runs ranging from 2-6 miles and 6:00-8:00 mile pace. He never had a problem keeping up but I was careful to watch for signs of fatigue; like many Border Collies he would rather keep running/working than admit he was injured or too tired. That doesn't sound like an issue with Zucchini yet (what a great name!), but it might become one as she gains more stamina. She also might not ever like the faster runs, and there's not much you could do to change that other than trying new places, like you already are.

 

Both of mine prefer to run on trails, but it can be difficult if they need to be leashed and try to stop suddenly to smell something. I've really neglected their leash manners because I'm spoiled with so many off leash areas to run, but it's definitely an important skill to instill. They do tend to rile each other up, by the way, but we've installed a "knock it off" that means they need to find their off switches. If they disobey they just get sent to a time out spot, or if they're really naughty, get crated until they can behave. I honestly think it's easier to have two- they entertain each other! A foster to adopt situation might be ideal so you could see how they interact.

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I have a super laid back male Aussie and a higher-drive female Border Collie. My Aussie is 3 and is very chill, always has been. My BC (2) can be guardy with her toys (never with him) and also can take offensive to rude dogs, and they get along famously, never a single scrap I can think of.

 

As for running, can't help you there. We sprint for 30 seconds or so in agility, but that's as much as I can do. :P

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