Ivy Posted July 30, 2000 Report Share Posted July 30, 2000 I have Two Border Collies and they eat laying down. ALot of people see this and think it is so funny. I have heard from other people who say their Border Collies eat laying down too. I was wondering if anybody elses did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siena & Kathleen Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 Hi Ivy. Siena stands to eat, but when we've worked hard, she'll lay down to slurp up her water. She'll just lay there with her head in the water bowl. It's so funny looking. I guess they want to be comfortable, huh! Siena & Kathleen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyDog Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 That's the only way my BC will eat. She has to get comfortable before she will dig in. My BC is the only dog out of all the dogs I've had (about 12 breeds) that eat laying down. I think it's cute. She will lay there with one leg on each side of the bowl so when she moves the bowl too far away with her head she will pull it right back with her legs. I'll have to get a pic of that. ------------------ Angela R. Garofano Frisco, TX [This message has been edited by DustyDog (edited 08-01-2000).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevygal72 Posted July 31, 2000 Report Share Posted July 31, 2000 My BC does both, standing and laying, i have noticed with my 3 that they prefer to lay down when they got bigger, my two 3 month olds stand more but i think its so they can reach, my 6 month old lays. I laugh at him, but that is what makes us love him more. He is soooooo different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivy Posted August 1, 2000 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 Both of my Border Collies lay down and eat it is so funny. And the puppy with sleep with her head in the food bowl. I think It might have something to do with the BC structure that is is uncomfortable to stand and have their necks bent down like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 1, 2000 Report Share Posted August 1, 2000 Gus will do the same thing Siena does with the water bowl. Must be a family trait!!! ------------------ May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am, Sabre and BC Gus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuulei Posted January 10, 2020 Report Share Posted January 10, 2020 My border collie mix lays down when eating! I heard that it is an inborn trait to keep an eye on the herd or flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Glass Posted April 28, 2020 Report Share Posted April 28, 2020 One of my Border Collies does this! I have always wondered why. It is funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petey and Peggy Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 Our 4 y/o BC always lays and eats, preferably on a couch or bed. He eats a single piece of kibble at a time and completely chews. Our 7 month BC inhales food so quickly we have to spread it out on the floor for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 On 1/10/2020 at 2:45 PM, Kuulei said: I heard that it is an inborn trait to keep an eye on the herd or flock I find that pretty hard to give much credence to, especially because not all border collies do it. Of all the collies I've had or fostered, I've never had one do it consistently. Once in a while, especially with a long lasting bone or big hunk of raw food that took some time, sure. But with food in a bowl, not as a regular thing. (Interesting to see a 20 year old thread revived. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 No laying down for a meal here. I've had 3 previous to my current guy and they've all preferred to eat standing up. As did the heeler I had before I had a border collie. I'd go with the 'somebody made this up to sound wise' about keeping an eye on flock or herd whilst eating. Ruth & Gibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachdogz Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Years ago, my male GSD laid down to eat -- always -- his whole life! His sons also laid down to eat -- but not his daughters. So I would say that with him, it was a genetic trait that he passed on to males. When I adopted Rusty (BC) from a shelter, he had been found running with another BC (blue merle) and a blue heeler. All three were puppies/young dogs, and were loose in Amish country. My guess is that they escaped from a puppy mill. When I brought him home, I noticed that he also laid down to eat. I told my husband - oh look, he has the lay-down-to-eat gene; lol. HOWEVER, after a few months at our house, he stood to eat and never laid down again. I have no proof, but I believe he was probably raised/kept in a small crate/cage and had to lay down to eat - which became a habit. Once he was not confined, he stood to eat for the rest of his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana19 Posted November 9, 2021 Report Share Posted November 9, 2021 My dog is similar to a lot of people above, she does both. But she started out only eating standing up. I believe in my case it's a symptom of the dog eating slower. I've been actively using bowls that encourage slower eating because of the risk associated with eating too fast (turning of stomach which could lead to death), my BC used to eat a bowl of food in less than 30 seconds, switching to a specially designed bowl that challenges them and forces them to eat slower helped that a lot. She now takes around 4 minutes to eat her food. She doesn't tend to stand up too long as the bowl is near her bed in her den, because of how long it takes she is quite happy to just lay comfy and eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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