I am looking for a B/C bitch puppy which has been bred primarily for temperament, not show or working. She will be primarily a family pet, although I will do agility and obedience with her for fun.

Can anyone suggest a breeder who breeds for temperament? I am willing to a/wait, and b/ travel to find the right puppy.

You can contact me at ioddia@bigfoot.com or post a message.

Thanks

Isabella

I'm sure most breeders will say they breed for temperment but that will mean a BC temperment which is not alway ideal if what you want is a family pet. If you simple must have a BC, and who can blame you, I would go for a show bred one not a working bred who will not settle unless you can keep them busy for most of the day. Jackie

Hi Guest ,Jackie took the words right out of my mouth a show bred puppy will be slightly calmer than a farm bred one.Also should come from hipscored parents and be eyetested at six weeks.You could try contacting Jim Collins on 0161 7188415 He is the secretary of the Border Collie Club of G.B. and holds the puppy list.Gillian

Thanks for your replies, it's true I simply 'must have' a B/C. I've wanted one since I was a little girl. Everyone keeps saying I shouldn't get one, in fact my Uncle's Vet said to 'lock me up if it's the only way of dissuading me'. I know B/C's need lots of excersise and stimulation, but everyone is so anti you'd think I planned on getting an Elephant!

Is it just people who don't have them who feel this way, or do B/C owners also not advise it? I just want an intelligent, 'partner' of a dog which is medium sized, medium haired and is up for going for lots and lots of long walks with me.

Every B/C owner must have had to start somewhere, right?

If you really want a BC, go for one, but you must have the time to spend with your dog and the desire to invent games and exercise to keep the dog happy and fit. I don't know how many hours you need to put into the owning of a BC but I would have thought it was quite high, and I would say go for a well bred show dog not a farm dog or a working dog. Go to a show breeder and check the stock to make sure they are not hyper active and then place an order for a pup from the breeder whos stock you liked best. Ja:)kie

Hi Isabella

If you really want a border collie, then you should have one. As you say, everyone has to start somewhere.

But. Before you do, please, please think long and hard about the kind of dog you are getting. This isn't a sit on your lap dog, it's a dog that was bred to run miles and miles every day and to think independently of its master. That can make them a handful in a domestic situation.

There are plenty of books you can read before getting your new dog. I like "Understanding Border Collies" by Barbara Sykes. There is another recommended book with a similar title by Carol Price. Amazon is a good place to search.

Have you considered getting a rescue collie. Due to people not really understanding what they're getting into, there are plenty always in need of good loving homes. Maybe an older dog might suit you better and they are always so grateful for a second chance.

You could try:

border collie rescue

Who would also be willing to offer you upfront advice, so you are 100% sure what you are getting into. Most rescue charities and kennels are also stacked to the ginnels with BCs looking for good homes.

As long as you are prepared to put in the hard work and obedience training and the miles and miles of exercise, I can't see why you and your new companion shouldn't get along OK.

Please have a think and let us know how you get on.

Kate & Stinky Collie (rescue dog on her 3rd and final home)

Tomorrow I will be the proud owner of the 'Understanding Border Collies' book (I bet you all thought I was going to say dog there) if Amazon delivery is as usual, which I shall read from cover to cover before I make my decision.

I will keep you updated.

I love the breed. My one BC died just before christmas at the age of fourteen. He was my childhood pal, loyal to the end but boy do they need a heck of a lot of time and understanding :) If you have the time to put in you won't get a better companion but if you haven't then they will be a nightmare. Sure that you know this already though. We have had two, the other was my husbands prior to us getting married, but mine was the most hyper (infact the most hyper dog that I have ever known). I would let my GSD out free running with my BC and he couldn't last five minutes lol That was one fit dog :D

hi,
after reading all the post,with good advise, why would you point someone in the direction of rescue if they are a novice with b.c, they would only be taking someone elses problems on even if it is a older dog i do not mean to be anti rescue, may be i am having had two disasters with a g.s.d rescue and our very own r.s.p.c.a, who are more like a branch of the masons than a rescue centre.that may ba another topic, i agree to some of the other posts go with show stock,
go to a breeder who has different aged stock to see what you may be taking on.go to training classes well before you consider getting a dog and sit in on the class for a few weeks, lets not see more dogs in rescue
regards tina

Sadly have to agree here. It is neither fair to the novice owner or the dog. whenever I have had a dog back for rehoming, I will only let them go to an experienced home, as I don't want them to come unstuck again, and they are likely in need of re-educating, bad habits are much harder to unlearn!

OK you're right. I am suitably chastised. :(

BC Rescue are a good source of advice though and they don't always have "difficult" ones and they certainly wouldn't rehome a troubled dog to a novice owner.

I'll keep my gob shut in future!!!

hi9mth
please do not keep gob shut in future, you as they say have a right to reply and have your say that is the good thing about this board good debates with lots of discussion i have great respect for someone who can come back and say perhaps didn't come across with that to well, so keep on gobbing like the rest of us,regards tina

9th, I agree with you. I have always advised anyone looking into any breed of dog to have a word with the breed rescue first. Not necessarily because they should get a dog from that source but purely because they will get a lot of information about that breed, and they tend to cover ALL aspects of a breed, worts 'n' all. If you want a true picture of any breed, talk to *rescue* first :-)

O, and don't you dare keep yer gob shut. You talk a lot of sense ...
(most the time) :P

It may be that knowing you they may not think you and a Border Collie are a good match, or they simply don't like Border Collies.

One mans meat is another mans poison!

My breed fit the description you give of what you want in a dog, but they are nothing like a Border Collie, and I would think most Border Collie lovers wouldn't think them the ideal dog!

I have a friend who has both breeds, and others over the years. she loves her collies best, but wouldn't recomend one to an inexperienced person as a first dog, and really not as just a pet. to someone who wants to train, and have a good chance of winning at Agility or Obedience or flyball, yess, as they are happy to do things over and over and over.

Frankly that would drive me nuts, but we are all different.

My advise is go and spend the day with someone who has working collies for Agility or Obedience, spend several hours at their home with trained, and younger untrained/less well trained ones. go for a walk with them and their owner and see howthey are when out, with other dogs and generally.

I call this test driving, and have learnt with hindsight, that this is an excellent way of showing people my breed, if they have never had close association with one. Even better when you don't have Pups as they have nothing to be tempted with, and can just make up their minds what they think!

Hi yes it does take alot of time and effort to have a well behaved well socialised BC but in my (biased opinion) worth every minute.Boredom is the biggest problem especially with dogs that may have alot of inborn work instinct if you don't occupy their mind then they will find something to occupy it themselves and you can guarentee it won't be something you want them to do.Yes they need physical exercise but remember you'll be tired long before they will infact to physically tire my lot out I would find it impossible,but I keep them occupied.Where abouts are you do you know any border collie owners maybe i can put you in touch with sombody near you who can help you decide whether they are definitely for you Best Wishes Gillian

Hello Gillian, I would like to take you up on your offer of putting me in touch with a breeder I can visist, I think spending some time around the dogs would be an excellent idea. I live in Warminster, Wiltshire, and I had already found a lady nearby with B/C's but they are bred from working stock, so not suitable really.

My stepmother once had a Border Collie to stay as she was thinking of getting one, she 'borrowed' it for 3 weeks but at the end she said she'd never have one because it dodn't once rest and was constantly wanting to play even though she walked it heaps and played loads. But this was the same dog who used to go into work with his owner sometimes, and sit quietly under the desk, so I'm not entirely convinced borrowing someone elses dog will help you work out how you would cope with your own. After all, the dog isn't going to behave in the same way with someone who it doesn't know, is it?

I've thought a lot about getting a rescue dog, but unless it was a puppy I don't think it would be a good idea. Not because I just want the fun of a puppy (although of course I do) but more because I think it's important for the dog to grow up with you, and for us as a family to have it from the start. And we have a cat so a big dog suddenly arriving is scary for her. I asked the Vet and he said cats manange much better with puppies as they feel 'bigger' and then they accept them when the dog has grown. Also, given that B/C's can get such bad habits I think I agree that for our first dog we should start off with one we can train and things.

Plus lastly my husband isn't into dogs like me, because he has never had one. So I think it's important for him that we have a puppy.

I don't think it's that the people who advise against a B/C think I wouldn't be a good match for them as most of the people who have said it have never met me, I think it's that people assume the worst about the breed.

ioddia, I thought the same thing about puppies. We have gone down both puppy and adult routes. I had better luck with the adult. The cats preferred the adult to the pup too.

The great thing about adults is what you see is what you get. Puppies don't always turn into wonderful adult companions. And it really isn't just down to input = output. Dogs have different temperments and personalities, just like people. They are born with them! Just my two pence worth! :)

Hi,
Something to think about....

'long walks' just might not be enough for an energetic dog like the BC. I take mine out for long bike rides. On a cool day, they'll trot/run/investigate along side for 2-3 hours. They run ahead, stop, sniff, and then race from behind to catch up to me. :)

When we get back to our area, I really feel sorry for the dogs that just walk about a mile or two with their owners. They're usually still pulling and bouncing around. My girls are happy and relaxed for the next couple of days. They'd love to go out more than that, but I worry about the elder's ligaments and feet.

BTW, I have two small crossbreed bitches -- 15 and 17 pounds: ages 8 and 7 years old. Nothing to do with BCs, but I look at their energy levels and really wonder about the med-large breeds who were bred to work the entire day. I never would be able to provide enough 'busy-stuff' to keep one happy. :(
good luck with whatever you decide.

toodles

Border Collies are bred to "go" for between 60 - 80 miles per day, and that is working mentally all the time too, with the shepherd, so not just the physical running :)

It is amazing that any BC can cope with what they get as pets - really we are dreadful homes for them!!! But having said that, my best friend and her farm bred BC, Ben, have come to an arrangement and he copes very well. She "works" him to find his toys which she has thrown into cover, and says "on on on ", "this way" "back" etc so he has to really use his brains. It uses up lots of mental energy, and back home he "stalks" his toys.

I thinnk you would be fine if you do your homework, speak to lots of people and be prepared to do lots of training. Do you have a good club near you? Have a go at researching this first maybe and see what they can offer you.

Talk to rescue honestly adn see what they feel about you as a new Bc owner. And many of the suggestions here about spending time with breeders/owners etc is excellent imho!

Good lluck :)

Lindsay