Border Collie or Dalmation??? HELP

rebecca-g

In my opinion you should only get a Border Collie for one reason:
For herding. That's what they are bred to do, and should be doing.
I don't think you really know what kind of dog you want, BC and Dalmation are two dogs with almost nothing in common so I'm not sure why you want either of them really.
Good luck.

Laurelin

This is an old thread but I completely disagree with the bold. I know so many border collies that don't herd and are fine, happy, and well adjusted dogs. Some border collies actually aren't good at herding, even if they come from working lines. Sure, certain dogs thrive best as a working dog, but many bcs are perfectly content with an active pet life. You cannot possibly get a border collie and do NOTHING with it, but herding is not something you have to do in order to be a good border collie owner. If you go to the border collie specific boards they are very good about being realistic about what is necessary to be a border collie owner. You will find happy bcs that work stock there and you'll even find happy bcs that live in a city apartment and have never seen sheep.

rebecca-g

That is my opinion and I stand for it. I understand if you get a BC that hasn't shown any interest in herding and for that reason has to do something else, maybe obedience training, tracking and so on. But I do not think you should get a Border Collie puppy.
Where I live, a BC can only be registerd in the Kennel Club IF both parents have done this "herdingtest" not sure what they are called in the US. If they haven't - the puppies can not be called purebred BC.
I know a couple BC who compete but do not get to herd, sure these dogs seem happy( also, these dogs get to work at least 5 times a week). But I also know a couple of BCs who get to herd too, and oh what a difference...
It's almost impossible to get a purebred BC where I'm from, because the breeders only sell their puppies to people who are going to let them work stock.
I am truly thankful for that.

Also, if you get a BC you can never be completely sure of what you're getting yourself into , yeah you might get a dog who doesn't want to herd, or you can get a dog whos herding instincts take over - this dog will start herding cars, bikes, humans - well everything that moves and in the end you'll most likely have to get rid of the dog. Even if the parents have small herding instincts you can never be sure of what the puppy will be like, and I've seen this happen more than one time.

I just dont understand why we have to "ruin" the Border Collie? The BC is a breed that actually get to do what they are bred to do, and they haven't even got a breed standard JUST so that people will get that it's not what they look like that matters - what matters is their ability to work stock. Why get a BC when there is more that 300 breeds out there thats probably more appropriate for you?

Well, this is my opinion.

Laurelin

Why not? I can provide the outlet for it and there are a million bcs in rescue. It's not ruining them to have some as pets so long as they aren't bred. I agree, why breed a bc that can't herd at all, but having individuals as pets is not a problem.

ipreferpi

Have you thought at all about a standard poodle? They're medium sized dogs who don't really shed too much. Also, I may be biased, but every standard poodle I've had the pleasure of meeting has been as quick as a whip. I knew one who was a therapy dog, and while she was high energy at the park, and loved walking with her owner, she was able to be calm around the patients, and could do a ton of amazing tricks to make them smile. Certainly a lot of work goes into a dog like that, but she didn't seem to have that insatiable need for a job that border collies display (one of their most fantastic traits in my opinion, but not for the casual or first time owner). Most standards I've met have also been fairly even tempered, and not likely to snap or growl (this is not so true of the tea cup and mini variety in my experience...) And with their coat they should be able to deal with a colder climate, but you can shave it down in the summer if need be. There are also a lot of poodle mixes in shelters out there, so maybe give that a thought?





Good luck to you! I hope you find the perfect dog for you and your family!

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TxRider

Border collies are awesome for a young person for a companion, that will stick with you no matter what, and be your best buddy for all it's life.

But only if..

You plan to work the dog out every day. Not a walk, but work. Not fetching the paper, but work.

Like an hour a day of fetching a ball or frisbee, every day, for 15 years.

That means if you are 18, playing frisbee or fetch an hour a day, every day, until you are 32 years old. Above friends, above girlfriends, above partying, etc.

And only if..

You are going to commit to learning to train and communicate with your dog, meaning training every day, for several years. Reading and studying training, taking a class or two, working hard.

If your up for that, go for it. You won't be sorry.

If your not up for it, both you and the dog will suffer.

Lizmo

I agree with you to a point. A Border Collie IS high maintenace and you have to WANT to have a Border Collie, IMO, to enjoy one. They are work. They will test your knowledge.

But, you most certainly don't need to live on a farm to have a Border Collie - that's a really, really old misconception.

mikedavid00

Ouch.

See I'm not the only one that has these sorts of opinions. I think that the Border Collie can be made happy if owned by an enthusiast.

Wow EXCELLENT answer.

I said before.. i'm telling you.. most people see a dog they take a 'liking to' because of the way it looks and read the summaries (which are all good of course), but don't understand the requirements and especially what will happen if they do NOT excersize and train the dog. It's almost not optional.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with him wanting a dog and he could be a very good dog owner. He just needs the straight goods on the different breeds and to learn a little bit about how problems will arise with temperment etc.

TxRider

Bahh, I owned a BC/lab mix at 18, working 12 hour shifts, no problem.

Doesn't need an enthusiast, they are the easiest dogs to train in the world, and learn incredibly fast. Awesome for first time owners in that regard.

You just need to have time to work them out daily. Not for middle aged shut ins who never get outside but for someone with an active lifestyle who puts their dogs priority above the front doormat or a pair of new shoes.

mikedavid00

And this is the sort of answer that will lead someone straight down the wrong path.

Herrick's Mommy

Mike, you keep talking about exercise and training and walking dogs and whatnot, and I understand that your puppy has not had his shots yet, but what else are you doing with your puppy other than teaching it to shake hands? Are you playing with him at least in your house? are you walking him at least in your yard? Are you EXERCISING him at all? He may be a puppy, but what I've known is that you have to start while they are young and all you keep yapping about is exercise and instead, I see you make your videos, which makes me think that you only have your puppy for show, as in, allowing you to say you have a dog and that's all.

TxRider

Why get a poodle or Lab when it's purpose is to retrieve waterfowl?

Why get a terrier or dachsund when it's purpose is to kill small game?

Why get a German shepherd or Bouvier des Flandres or Corgi when it's purpose is to work stock?

Any dog can chase kids on bikes and cars, ask any kid who rides a bike around town...

Sure they are stock dogs, but almost all breeds had some working purpose we will not be using them for.

Being a stock dog is what makes them so smart and awesome at so many other tasks they are quite happy to do. Working stock is just an expression of prey drive, which can be expressed just as easily in many other outlets.

Independent George

This thread started 11 months ago; if the OP's still around, I'd wager he's already made his choice.

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