If you want to adopt a border collie, and you are confused if the two of you will make a good match or not, you are in the right place. Here, you will find the answer to the question, “are border collies good for first-time owners?“.
I have studied the traits and behavior of border collies to learn how they expect their owners to behave. Several border collie owners have shared their best and worst experiences with me, which I’ve jotted down to explain how you should behave with your adorable collies.
Border collies have been bred for purely working and herding purposes. They are highly sensitive and intelligent breeds.
Being sensitive and intelligent means pet parents need to make some extra effort to respond according to their psychology and behavior. Along with being sensitive and intelligent, they are loyal, energetic, alert, and obedient.
If you are a first-time dog owner, there are many things you need to learn about dogs. It is always better to start with some easy dogs to learn and adopt basic things.
This article will help you make a good decision about adopting a border collie, or maybe not.
Are Border Collies Good for First-time Owners?
Yes, Border Collies can be great first-time dog owners. They are intelligent, friendly, and active, but they also require a lot of attention and training. Make sure you are able to provide this before getting a Border Collie!
If you’re looking for a great companion and family dog, but you are unsure if you have the time to spend with your new puppy, this breed is probably not a good fit. These dogs are bred to work, and if they aren’t given a lot of exercises, they can become destructive.
If you’re willing to put in some time and effort, though, you can have a truly devoted, loving, and fun-to-be-around companion for many years to come.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Border Collie
Border collies are very demanding, sensitive, and active dogs. Let’s exclude the possibility that they will spend days being couch potatoes.
Instead, they will constantly want your attention and involvement. Generally, these dogs are very obedient, and they need their owner’s command and acknowledgment most of the time.
Like with everything, there are some pros and cons, which we will list for you.
Pros of Owning a Border Collie
Some people love being challenged as it leads to in-depth learning. So, if you love to accept challenges and crave wonders, you can have a big opportunity to learn and enjoy yourself with a great furry friend.
Border collies make a wonderful companionship in which they love to be with you shoulder to shoulder.
You will need to spend a lot of time reading about border collies and observing them in order to know their psychological, behavioral, and physiological needs.
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Cons of Owning a Border Collie
If you are a first-time dog owner with zero knowledge about pets, you can have a tough time dealing with this smart breed. They will not let you spend the whole day on a couch.
Instead, you will need to indulge them in an interesting activity that will consume their body and mind. You have to be extra careful while dealing with very sensitive border collies.
Daily Requirements of a Border Collie
Border collies require a little more care and involvement than other dog breeds.
- They will need you to indulge them in physical activity to spend their energies.
- They don’t like to be alone; therefore, you need to spend quality time with your furry friend.
- They have a herding and nipping tendency in their instinct; so they need some training to eliminate such behaviors.
- They are sensitive, and therefore you need to be extra careful while dealing with them.
- They are smart, but you may face difficulty in training them properly.
First-time Owners Can Own a Border Collie If…
If you spend a good time reading about their behaviors and learning the responses of your actions, you can better understand a border collie in a short period. You need to develop good bondage with your furry friend and healthy chemistry to know his expectations from you.
The more time you spend with your border collie, the stronger your relationship will become.
How to Take Care of Border Collies
Indulge your border collie in fun activities to make them feel relaxed and happy. As they are smart, they need activities that need some mental effort too. You should take your collie for a walk once or twice a day.
In addition, you should add some outdoor activities, like playing frisbee, fetch and other sports to help them live happily.
If you are interested in learning more about taking care of border collies, you can find a detailed guide on the blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Border Collie Easy to Train for First-time Dog Owners?
No, if you are a first-time owner, you will have a challenging time training your border collie. However, if you know the basics about keeping a dog as a pet and love to know more, things will be quite easy for you to manage. Basic training is easy, but to train your border collie-specific commands and tricks, you require insight into their psychology and behavioral response. Read more here.
How Much Exercise Does a Border Collie Need?
With a border collie, you need a minimum of two hours of daily exercise. You can split it into morning and evening routines. You can always spend more hours with a border collie, but two hours are minimum.
How Does a Border Collie Behave?
Border collies are known for their intelligence, obedience, and energy. They are usually good with children and other animals but may require some training. Border collies are also known for their herding instincts and can be very active.
For First-time Dog Owners, Which Is Best, Female or Male Border Collie?
Female border collies are usually interested in learning and eager to receive commands from their owner. With these characteristics, female border collies are easier to train. Therefore, if you are a novice owner, you may find it easy to train female dogs.
Final Thoughts
Border collies are a type of working dog bred for herding livestock. They are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and trainability.
Some people believe that border collies are good candidates for first-time owners because of their easy-going nature and trainability. However, this is not always the case. If you want to adopt a Border Collie, you have to ensure they get adequate mental and physical stimulation.
If you are looking for other information about the education and training of a Border Collie, I suggest you visit the official web page of brain training for dogs, an excellent & easy-to-follow online dog training course.
Check out Brain Training for Dogs
Thank you for taking the time to read this article; I hope it has been useful to you!
Until next time!
A big hug.
