8 Things You Must Never Do to Your Border Collie (2024)

FAQs

What are the bad habits of Border Collies? ›

Things like barking, digging, chewing, and boredom can all lead to destructive behaviour from your border collie. And, most of the time, you have only yourself to blame.... You need to watch when you praise and reward.

Sound Anxiety

Noise is another stressor for collies. Dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans, making sound a significant trigger of anxiety. Loud sounds like thunder, vacuum cleaners, fireworks—or even loud arguments—can be frightening.

Border Collies usually prefer to bond to one person. They have an inherited instinct to do so because they are designed to work with one person as a team. In family situations this can cause problems when the chosen leader is absent.

Like fear aggression, there can also be an inherited factor but, again, in most cases it has to do with socialisation in the early part of a dogs, poor handling and training when young and weak leadership and control. These factors often brings out these traits out in a Border Collie.

Adolescence is the age range where most Border Collies are rehomed or are put into rescue. It can be a challenging time for some. As the cute innocent puppy grows and their body develops they become stronger and more physically able. Then hormones kick in.

Border Collies also tend to get jealous and territorial towards their family. So that's something you'll have to manage with two dogs now. Border Collies are great dogs. They are loyal and protective.

A short game of tuggy and then some mat work in between focussing on calm can work really well. Meet your Collie's physical needs. Most Collies need to have time to run off lead to be happy and satisfied. A lack of physical exercise can cause unsettled or destructive behaviour.

Without proper training or consistent mental stimulation, Border Collies can develop behavioral issues such as herding and nipping at the heels of children or adults, and destructive habits like chewing or digging.

By putting his paw on you whilst you are petting him, he is expanding contact and reciprocating affection back to you. While this act can be interpreted as an expression of love, your dog pawing at you can also be credited to numerous other feelings. He wants to play, he wants food, he's anxious, or may be in pain.

Why do Border Collies sit on you? ›

They Like to Cuddle

It's also true that sometimes your dog just likes to cuddle. They want to bond with you, and it's something that helps you feel better about life too! To your dog, you're part of the pack, and they want to feel close to you. They want to snuggle and get closer to you, the top dog in the pack.

When they're not working or playing—or even when they are—Border Collies crave your attention, affection, and pats on the back for their hard work and stellar performance.

Collies are naturally wary dogs and historically they haven't been bred for their temperament. They have been bred to go out in fields where there are no strangers to work sheep. As a breed, this makes them naturally wary of strangers and many go through a stage at adolescence of being fearful of strangers.

Border Collies are known for their unwavering devotion to their owners, They are affectionate, loving, and loyal creatures, sometimes to a fault. They are also bred to be working dogs and to look to their owners for directions.

Border Collies are working dogs known for their high energy levels and intelligence. Their character traits can lead to destructive and obsessive behaviour if they are not exercised and mentally stimulated enough. If over-exercised, the same can happen. In addition, they have natural herding instincts.

#2 – Border Collie

They can easily be trained, but if they get punished for doing something wrong, they'll take it very personally. Their feelings get hurt very easily, which can cause them to pout for long periods of time afterward. These dogs are also very good at picking up on human emotions.

Border Collies are protective and known to use herding tactics, such as the 'eye,' barking, and nipping, on family pets, as well as strange dogs. While pets accustomed to bossy Borders may take this in stride, unfamiliar dogs will likely get their backs up.

When do Border Collies calm down? Border Collies are extremely intelligent and energetic dogs and usually continue to act like a puppies well into their adult years; generally, Border Collie owners see their dogs start to calm down at around 3 years old however this depends on your dog's personality.

They are extremely active dogs that do best when they have a job. Their natural herding abilities can lead to herding anything that moves, including children and small animals. Border Collies are generally a healthy breed with an average lifespan of 12-15 years.

Remember, your Collie could have a less-affectionate personality, and if this is the case, be respectful of their wishes. Sometimes dogs are shy or just like their own space. However, if your Border Collie suddenly stops giving affection, it may be a sign that something is wrong, which should be investigated.

Do Border Collies hold grudges? ›

The single most-repeated training tip for Collies is to use positive reinforcement, rather than negative punishment: these breeds are sensitive, willful, and capable of holding a grudge over bad handling.

Sense and React to Emotional Changes

Along with offering physical assistance, border collies are also very sensitive to even the slightest changes in your mood.

Two border collies are great company for each other when you cannot be with them. They can also provide each other with much of their daily exercise as long as they are of a similar size. Supervise their play in the beginning because they can get too rough if you are not careful.

They are very sensitive to reprimands, but equally crave guidance and instruction. Because they are very sensitive to movement, any fast movement that they cannot control can be very disturbing to them. No wonder so many Border Collies hate traffic.

Research conducted by Furbo found that some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety than others, including pups such as Border Collies, Jack Russell Terriers and German Shepherds.

Bathing a border collie

Typically, this breed only needs to be bathed every three months or so. If you take your dog on an extra muddy adventure, you can up the frequency (you don't want mud tracks all over your house!), but don't overdo it; going overboard and bathing your dog too frequently can irritate their skin.

Do Border Collies make good house pets? Yes, Border Collies make brilliant family pets, but will need a home with a large garden where they can stretch their legs regularly. With intense herding instincts (they were developed to gather and control sheep), they are best for active families who head outside often.

Without constant stimulation, excessive exercise, and a job to do, the Border Collie can often grow moody and turn self-destructive. Bad behavior surfaces in the form of chewing up the room, chasing cars, children, and other animals—stemming from being a landrace—and is directly correlated with restlessness.

They Are Champion Herders

Border Collies were originally bred to herd sheep. They excel at the task because of their strength, stamina, intelligence, and work ethic. Border Collies are famous for using “the eye”— staring intensely at members of the flock to intimidate them.

What does it mean when your dog follows you to the bathroom? ›

Dogs who follow you to the bathroom

As their owner, you are the one who meets most of their needs, including for affection, so following is a sign of this attachment. They may also be waiting for routines they enjoy such as a walk or dinner time.

A dog will lay his head over your neck to feel close to you. It is a sign of affection. So give your dog some love and then gently shift them away, so they learn that isn't a permanent place to stay.

Sitting in your spot when you get up shows your dog's affection for you, but the chosen spot comes back to the master with no unwanted behavior. Your dog may also feel the need to protect you and sitting in your spot gives him the edge over the other animals in the household.

“The main reason dogs follow us to the bathroom is because they like to be where we are,” Dr. Coppola explains. “Dogs are obligate social animals, which means socialization is a genuinely natural behavior for them. This is part of what makes them such fantastically loyal companions.”

They know the places in and around the house you use often. Sitting in your spot is a way of protecting your territory, as well. Think of this behavior as your dog saving your place so that you can come back to it later.

Border Collies are high-energy, love to play, and are happiest when moving around. Structured playtime and exercise are essential. Playing Fetch with your Border Collie is a great way to get some exercise and give them mental stimulation simultaneously.

Things like dried liver, kangaroo, beef, turkey, chicken, and pork products. These are all natural dog treats with no additives, preservatives, most have almost no fat content, they are tasty, nutritious, and clean your Border Collie's teeth. The best training dog treats are dried liver.

Border Collies love human companionship and attention, so it's best not to leave them alone for too long. As lively dogs, they ideally need someone who can be around most of the day to keep them active and entertained.

Accommodation of the Companion B.C. You have a Border Collie. It lives in the house with you and your family. It can sleep anywhere it wants, on your sofa, even on your bed.

Generally, Borders get along well with other dogs and family pets, pay close attention to their owners, and tend to stay home (unless bored, ignored and frustrated).

Do Border Collies follow you everywhere? ›

Working dogs, such as Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers, will follow people because they were bred to follow human orders and they are waiting for cues as to what should be done next. Other dogs, like Terriers, are quite a bit more independent and are much more likely to go off and do their own thing.

Dogs Do Remember

Stories abound of reunions of people and long-lost dogs! Some dogs seem smarter than others, but are they really? The herding and guarding breeds – Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers – appear to remember well, and they are consistently high on rankings lists for smart dogs.

The breed is not generally renowned for any guard dog abilities, but will naturally bark at strangers or a perceived threat. They do need to be strictly controlled or they will bark at any kind of movement if their behavior is not kept in check.

Border Collies are known for being big talkers! They communicate by barking, whether they are excited, playful, stressed, anxious, or lonely. They will bark to tell you all about it. Part of their barking habits come from their herding nature.

Is your Border Collie scared of People? If your Border Collie sees people as a threat, it could be from a lack of socialisation when it was younger, it may be predisposed to timidity, or may have had a negative experience at some stage in its life with a person.

General advice is a puppy will begin to settle down from ages 2 to 3. Border Collies however are a different kettle of fish! Some owners have seen their BC settle down from 4 to 5 years of age, while other owners say their 10-year-old is still acting like they're 6-months old.

This likely evolved as a by-product of some more specific working traits they were selectively bred for, and whose symptoms can range from the milder to more severe. So not only do collies have some more distinct autistic traits, but they also have their own 'autistic spectrum' as a breed.

OCD is a condition that occurs primarily in puppies between the ages of 4-9 months, but can also be found in older puppies. It is considered to be a common disease in rapidly growing dogs of large breeds. However, medium breeds such as the Border Collie can also have a high incidence of this disease.

Remember, your Collie could have a less-affectionate personality, and if this is the case, be respectful of their wishes. Sometimes dogs are shy or just like their own space. However, if your Border Collie suddenly stops giving affection, it may be a sign that something is wrong, which should be investigated.

Barking. The Border Collie is a barking breed. They are easily visually stimulated which is often why they bark so much. They will bark at anything that moves quickly, such as bikes, skate boards and the like.

Can Border Collies tell when you're sad? ›

Dogs are sensitive to human emotions. And it doesn't take much for them to pick up on your sadness—they can sense it in you, and tell the truth, even in other dogs. They are able to tell when people are feeling sad by reading their body language and facial expressions.

When do Border Collies calm down? Border Collies are extremely intelligent and energetic dogs and usually continue to act like a puppies well into their adult years; generally, Border Collie owners see their dogs start to calm down at around 3 years old however this depends on your dog's personality.

The Root of the Behavior

Border Collies are known as workaholics. They are intensely focused on getting tasks done and need stimulation and activity. A Border Collie will stare at you if you are not giving him enough of the action he requires. He needs to have a great deal of stimulation to satisfy his desire to work.

As stated before, a border collie would normally lick because he wants to be affectionate and show his commitment and love. You can realize this because his body is relaxed and he has a happy and joyful mood. The dog could also lick because he's anxious or stressed.

Do Border Collies make good house pets? Yes, Border Collies make brilliant family pets, but will need a home with a large garden where they can stretch their legs regularly. With intense herding instincts (they were developed to gather and control sheep), they are best for active families who head outside often.