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border collies

(30 Posts)
Fennel Mon 11-Mar-19 18:57:02

Reminiscing about our dear departed border collie, I came across this video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaLor7d7NEs
She would fix me with her eyes if she wanted something and wouldn't take no for an answer.
Even if I had my back turned on her she somehow made me turn round.
I miss her so much.

Jane10 Tue 19-Mar-19 16:51:25

I well remember our childhood holidays in the outer hebrides- it seemed like every croft the car went past unleashed a collie like a bullet which chased us far down the road. Lovely dogs. We used to call them Dunlop dogs as they chased tyres!

Fennel Tue 19-Mar-19 15:15:45

Lovely video, Negligentmother.
Going back to our vehicle chaser - our surviving collie had started to copy his bad habits. She seemed to look to him for an example. When it wasn't really in her nature.
Except for the yellow post van - when he left the house she thought she'd seen him off.

Negligentmother Tue 19-Mar-19 13:49:24

Always had border collies and have passed on the love if not obsession for the breed to ours.

They are the most underestimated and misunderstood of all the breeds I think. Assumed to be easy to own and manage because they are so intelligent and easy to train.

It is true they are so intelligent and yes easy to train for the basic but that sharp mind watches, listens, sees and learns everything we do, even what we don't know we do - they know and will pick up and learn from it for better or worse smile

youtu.be/q8FfNQ_E0l0

Fennel Tue 12-Mar-19 19:18:19

And me! Ours used to sulk too sometimes.

Jane10 Tue 12-Mar-19 18:26:29

Awwww give him a cuddle from me!

Badenkate Tue 12-Mar-19 18:12:49

They are Jane10. It wasn't our dog but our grandsons and unfortunately when his parents split up no one had space for the dog so we took him. He still adores it when they visit and sulks when they go, and that's after 8 years.

Jane10 Tue 12-Mar-19 18:09:31

Blue Marls are gorgeous!

Badenkate Tue 12-Mar-19 18:06:19

That should be 'blue marl' collie

Badenkate Tue 12-Mar-19 18:05:31

We have a blue mark collie who has the loveliest nature, caring, loves a fuss, follows my husband around like a shadow, warns away other dogs from our neurotic spaniel, but bless him wasn't the first in line when brain's were handed out! He is also a terror at grabbing the post out of the letter box leaving teeth marks in the envelopes.
He is also bigger than a border and very protective of house and occupants until he has been introduced although fine with people away from the house, and my younger son has not forgotten being pinned against the wall when he came down the stairs before being introduced properly - they are excellent friends now! The collie stare though - that's quite something.

andycameron69 Tue 12-Mar-19 16:57:11

heartbreaking that

Anja Tue 12-Mar-19 14:35:10

Just been reading two separate incidents; in the first 4 French bulldog pups stolen from a house and in a second incident another two taken.

None were old enough to leave their mother.

Fennel Tue 12-Mar-19 14:21:18

Chasing vehicles - that's one of the difficult habits of some border collies, watermeadow.
That was the problem with our other collie and it was the death of him eventually sad. He was also a spinner. Friends had a bc who had a compulsion to run round and round the table when people were sitting. They can be highly strung.

watermeadow Tue 12-Mar-19 14:03:25

I had a rescue border collie some years ago. He had more brain in the tip of his tail than any of my other dogs have had in their entire heads.
He was very lame when I got him, the result of his obsession with chasing motor bikes. One night I heard him dragging himself upstairs, where he lay down beside my bed and ever afterwards slept at my side.

Jane10 Tue 12-Mar-19 13:58:58

It's appalling to read so often about dearly loved pets being stolen. It must be unbearably painful for people. Whenever I get a Twitter or Facebook posting about this I share and forward it as widely as possible. Sometimes people even have CCTV pictures of the bastards horrible thieves often using anonymous white vans. Please be careful everyone.

Angels2 Tue 12-Mar-19 13:08:02

OMG Urmston Gran will take on board what you have said.We have just taken on our daughters little French bulldog owing to da job taking her away from home more often, so we will def be rethinking where we walk her.Complete change of breed, as our last dog was a Collie Cross who lived till he was 15 and a half.What a character? Clever , loyal, always up for walks and playing with his ball. He’s been gone 3 years now and we miss him so much.But love the little frenchie now to. What a contrast in breed. Never had bulldogs before.But she’s a little love.?

Alexa Tue 12-Mar-19 10:19:36

We had a BC from a rescue. She had distemper when we got her and they had her in the condemned cell.This was years ago I doubt if a rescue kennel would rehome a condemned dog nowadays. She recovered and lived to 15 years. A super dog in every way no trouble of any sort to train and look after . We were young then and lived at the seaside so excercising her no trouble.

Urmstongran Tue 12-Mar-19 09:11:25

Isn’t this awful to contemplate though:

a chap called Colin Butcher, who is a renowned ‘pet detective’ said the most “vulnerable breeds” remain French bulldogs, pugs, chihuahuas and cocker spaniels. If you have a fashionable dog breed, added Butcher, you should adjust your walking behaviour to avoid potential thieves.

EllanVannin Mon 11-Mar-19 21:08:53

Just fabulous. So intelligent and so faithful.

notoveryet Mon 11-Mar-19 20:55:02

My boy is a smooth collie with a bit of border mixed in. He is helping me through the worst time of my life ( along with his mate the labrador) He is clever, loving, perfect with my little great grandchild, an enthusiastic agility dog. I love collies.

Ngaio1 Mon 11-Mar-19 20:45:46

PaddyAnn. This is known as sly biting!

CanadianGran Mon 11-Mar-19 20:35:28

We have an Australian shepherd; very similar to Border Collies but perhaps one notch down for intensity!

Wonderful smart and loyal dogs. A bit skittish with visitors though.

Jane10 Mon 11-Mar-19 20:24:13

Border collies are just the best!! I can't walk past one without wanting to speak to it. (I'm a liability on walks).
I love to see them in the agility competition at Crufts. They really go for it!
I've been lucky enough to meet a fair few on home visits. I liked the way they used to sit next to me leaning hard against my knee as I tried to take notes. Great dogs.

sodapop Mon 11-Mar-19 19:59:44

Wonderful dogs, I always enjoy One man and his dog

Fennel Mon 11-Mar-19 19:54:36

It depends where you live - luckily we were in a very open rural area and they could run free. (We had 2 for a while but that's a long story.)
Often they would see some deer in the distance and they would be off.

NanaandGrampy Mon 11-Mar-19 19:28:28

We had 2 many years ago. Smartest dogs I ever had and so easily trainable.

The only downside was the amount of exercise they needed and you had to walk every inch of it ?