Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2016 20:31:27 GMT
I do not have a border collie but two rough collies (also herding breed dogs). My guys need a LOT of exercise and interaction. Border collies need even more. I am home with my guys all day every day. We walk in the morning on a long walk, and we are out to play fetch at least 3-4x a day. Then we have a bit of training time too. They are now 15 months and 18 months. We got them at 8 weeks old each. Here is something written by someone with a border collie AND a rough collie sharing the differences. Thought this may help you.
"Border collies-
Very high energy, frequantly this is the reason everyone thinks that all herding breeds are high energy, and that is not really true. Borders do however need excessive amounts of exercise each day as they where and stil are bred to work all day. If they dont get enough they can be ill behaved and show neurotic tendancies. So a few good long jogs a day are required. They are best suited for someone who has at least a small yard and can take them out to play fetch a few times through out the day. Every border I know lives for fetch
-Their coats vary in lengh but as not seperated. They have a double coat that sheds heavily a couple times a year. The coat is generally soft or silky feeling. They come in black and white, tri, blue merle, red merle, red tri. However black in white is by far the most common.
- They are signifiacantly smaller, standing up to 21 inches at the withers
-They are the smartest breed of dog in the world. This is not always as great as it sounds. They need to be properly trained from day one or they will train themselves and pick up bad habits. HOw you train them matters to. They need positive training methods, not even light taps or yelling, they are sensitive to their owners feelings. All you need to do is show them what you want them to do next time. They need mental stimulation daily to be well behaved pets. They are best suited to a home that is willing to pick up a dog sport with them, herding, agility and flyball are favorites
-borders are velcro dogs and while they will be friendly with the whole family usually bond closest with one person. They are great for singles who want a companion and have the time spend with them
Collies (rough and smooth)
- The couch potatoe of the herding breeds. Make no mistake they still need exersice daily. But are happy with long walks and romps aroung the yard with you or a doggy friend. Inbetween play sessions they are content to sleep on the couch.
- They have two coat varieties the smooth and rough coated. Rough looks like lassie, smooth shorter, between a GSD and Labs coat. Both coats are double coats and shed a few times a year. The rough is actually not that hard to mantain, just brush weekly co clipping required (except between feet pads) They come in sable (lassie), blue merle, tri, and white with a colored head
- They are a larger dog, standing up to 26 inches at the withers
-A properly socialized collie loves the whole family, esspecially children. They also get along with other pets normally.
- They are also smart dogs and benefit from on going mental activity. I find them more trainable, as borders can even distinguish the slightest difference in the way you pronounce a command and ignore it. Collies are not as picky. They do have short attention spans as pups so spread out the training into small sessions through out they day. My collies are also more social than my border.
-As far as prey dirve goes most borders, aussies, and heelers have strong drives. Meaning they want to chase everything that moves. They also like to herd children, which can mean nipping them in the ankles. Its not like bitting and they can be trained not to do it but its tough. A conformation line border is far less intence than a work border. I have never had a collie display these traits. They prefer to 'taddle' When a collie sees children playing rough or something supicious going on they let out a high pitched warning bark. Its entirely different from their regular bark. One of my collies would tell on my border when ever she was into something.
Both are interesting breeds with very different personalities"
