Why is it when you look on some dog sites there are so many Border Collies needing homes. Today on a site there are Border Collie puppies 4/5 months old. The puppies had been taken to a vet because the owner could not find homes for them. I can't express how I feel I don't know why people let this happen to their bitch in the first place.

Jean

This weekend I have an extra dog that I am fostering.  She is an old Border Collie bitch who was living in a farmhouse with 80, yes 80 other collies.  All entire and allowed to breed. 

Sally

Sally I take my hat of to you I cant imagine if that bitch had been in season. It doesn't bear thinking about poor soul.& 80 in a farmhouse oh dear.
These wee puppies I saw had been taken to be PTS

Jean

This little girl is very sweet natured, she just wants cuddles all the time.  She has clearly had several litters and I suppose she could even be pregnant again but I do hope not.  I've been trying to get her walking on a lead today but she is a bit agoraphobic.  I think the rescue has a possible home for her which is good news. :)

This is what often happens when people decide to "let my girl have just one litter. She's so lovely, and I'd love one of her pups, and my friends say they'd love one too." No they don't really! You're likely to get left with plenty of half-grown, untrained pups who are virtually unhomeable. Then people come on this site and get shirty when we tell them breeding is not such a good idea! :rolleyes:

I think i can answer this one - at my rescue centre we get lots of requests from families with young kids asking us to take on and rehome their BC's. 99% of the time it is something like "he's running my kids into corners, nipping their legs/ankles"
Which means they are bored and are just performing their herding instinct - due to the owners not giving the breed the correct level of *mental* and physical exercise.
When we tell them what BC's are all about - and did they not know they *are not* easy going pet dogs, they dont usually know any of this.
So, when we say why did you buy a BC - the answer is always they heard they are the most intelligent breed, so thought they would be easy and quick to train, and therefore wouldnt involve much work!
But, as the joke says: how many Border Collies does it take to change a light bulb. A: One, and he says that now he has spent an extra half hour rewiring the house, whats he going to do for the rest of the whole day?

As the proud owner of a 'pure' border collie,our previous dog was a collie cross,I know they require a lot of true understanding and a lot of hard work.It's not just the owners being able to anticipate the dogs needs' so much as the dog understanding what the owner expects of that dog!

We fully explored the huge challenge a border collie would bring to our lives and don't regret one moment of having our lovely dog,but as some of you so rightly say many people only see them as intelligent,quick to learn and a pleasure to own,they never see how much ongoing work they will have to do,how much mental and physical need that dog has,how much socialisation that puppy needs and how any 'herding' instinct has to be trained to be acceptable.

We took Spice to an Easter Extravaganza today where she really showed off her intelligence and hopefully some of her training we have instilled in her since we first brought her home,she mixed with dogs of all ages,breeds and sizes,birds of prey,small farm animals and she let numerous children and adults stroke her calmly and didn't jump up once! but allowed them to fondle her ears and 'pet' her under our watchful eye.We felt very proud of our growing puppy and had the most wonderful day.

When you home a border collie,they are one of the most rewarding breeds to own,but it is definately a 2 way relationship :) and I agree it is so sad to see so many of this breed in rescues.

We for one will be having her neutered when the time is right and not be encouraging any breeding of our bitch,I think I'll leave that up to the responsible breeders who have the knowledge and experience to do it right.
Jacqueline.

yes there are alot of collies but  greyhounds more then any other type of dog  are given up . most get pts before getting to a rescue place then collies types then its lab /x's then its terriers , i dont know why then after that springers , its such a shame . most are very sweet dogs and i have no idea why there given up :(
zara

The most dogs in Battersea last year were Staffies :(

Daisy

Seem to be the most common breed in our local pound :(
especially crosses :(

our rescue its staffies/crosses most commonly too - then small terrier types - then GSD's - then lurcher/greyhound types, then collie types.
Hardly any springers though.