Are Border Collies Family Friendly Pets?
Simple answer to that would be, a definite Yes! They are cute, so adorable, full of energy and their intelligence keeps the owner on his toes all the time, what else you would want from a dog that can be a wonderful life companion? Border collie is one of those rare breeds that are bred to survive toughest of conditions, which makes them an ideal breed for those who have lots of outdoor space. Even though it is definitely not a breed for small apartments, but you can still raise a healthy and happy BC in an apartment if you know how to manage their physical and mental stimulation needs.
With a bit of help and guidance from a veterinarian, training books or dog training school you can raise a healthy and happy Border Collie in an apartment. Even though it is going to be a difficult journey for both of you, but if you are a responsible pet owner you will make things a lot easier and enjoyable. Given below are some important rules and tips to raise a border collie in an apartment or small house:
Responsible Pet Ownership Is Important
Before you bring home a collie make sure you understand what you’re getting into because owning a border collie is not only a privilege but it’s a responsibility as well. You need to do a thorough research on Border Collies before you adopt one, and it applies to both scenarios, whether you live in a small apartment or live in a big house with lots of outdoor space.
We must understand the fact that this breed is one the most intelligent ones, they require high-maintenance and their never lasting energy requires lot of physical activities otherwise bad behavior problems will put you in a mess. It’s a breed that was bred to work in fields to herd sheep, because of that they need a free run and expecting them to sit quietly while you watch TV is not going to happen.
Strong herding instincts comes naturally to Border Collies which is the reason behind their neurosis and aggressive behavior. However, that only happens when they lack physical activities and mental stimulation, and that is where owner’s role becomes crucial, because with proper training you can easily overcome it.
We get hundreds of emails from first time BC owners and last week we received an email from an owner, who kept his Border collie puppy home alone for several hours, and the puppy chewed his own tail out of frustration, because he had nothing else to do in that room.
Keep Him Busy, They Hate Being Jobless!
Generally small breeds are the ones perfect for people living in apartment and for them “Jobs” are optional, but when it comes to Border Collies, giving them something to do is mandatory. By getting your dog a job means give him something to do to keep his mind engaged and for physical activeness as well.
For example we keep our border collie involved in some sort of activity or training, and these days she is busy with her agility training process. That keeps her mentally stimulated because she is learning everyday which means NO FREE time at all.
For a BC living in an apartment you will have to engage him in some sort of intensive training with a specific goal. For example you can teach him tricks or games like “Go Fetch”, “Get The Newspaper”, etc. That will keep him busy.
Adequate Amount of Daily Exercise
Generally when we talk about dogs needing exercise, general perception is about the need for fitness and health. However, in the case of a Border Collie living in an apartment, exercising for physical fitness of the dog is not the only thing to concern for, but his mental health is also important. A Border collie needs lots and lots of exercise and freedom to walk, run, fetch and jump whenever he feels like doing, you cannot control that by allowing him do it only once or twice. In simple words, no matter what the weather condition is, you have to get your BC outdoors everyday to keep him mentally fit and happy.
Avoid Leaving Him Alone at Home
If you are not at home most of the time because your full-time job does not allow that, then having a border collie at home is out of the equation and if you still do that, then you’re not doing justice to your pet. That is important because on one hand your dog don’t have lots of open space to play freely, and on the other hand you’re not able to make up for it because you’re not at home. In that case he’ll get frustrated and may pickup several bad behavior problems, that won’t be easy to fix once he reaches adulthood. So, never leave your border collie home alone. Period!
In conclusion all I’d say, it’s a wonderful breed and can be an ideal companion for those who can take care of them and properly cater their basic needs. Rest assured, if you manage to do that well, you’re up for a lovely Border Collie.
