Aussie Vs Border Collie

[knightrider922]

I’m considering another dog in the next year or so. I’m having a bit of angst about the breed though. I’ve had 3 high energy standard poodles and have done agility with two of them. My youngest had two TPLO surgeries last year and I’m not sure how much she can do although we are back to training.

I was considering a border collie for my next agility dog, however, so many people (non agility people) have expressed in conversations when I’ve discussed adding a dog that a border collie is sooo much work and will destroy my house, yada yada.

I know they are working dogs and high energy, but I am very active and do agility with my dogs and trick training. I’m still considering a border collie but now also looking at Aussie’s.

Would love to hear your experience with either breed and thoughts on them being good pets as well. My BC friends have all said that their dogs aren’t that much work and are pretty laid back except when working.

I will always have a standard poodle in the house, but do not want three big poodles to groom so am going to switch breeds…thoughts?

[My_Two_Cents]

Both BC’s and Aussies need grooming. I think the rest comes down to the individual dog with in the breed. I know some of both that are calm sensible dogs and I know some of both that are plum nuts.

I don’t know anything about poodles to compare the breeds in general.

[My_Two_Cents]

Duplicate

[Where_sMyWhite]

One question I would ask myself is if you are wanting to be competitive in high placements in agility or just agility for fun? And if competitive, what are your goals?

My old training has a Scottie with a MACH, one of the fastest Scotties in the country and invited to the agility invitational a few times. Yeah, I would say he’s the exception rather than the rule for a Scottie but depending on what your competition goals are, you can run other breeds with success.

[Donkaloosa]

I have Aussies. They need training and a job, but you are obviously going to do that. Border collies are harder to “turn off” than Aussies. In general, Border Collies are a more intense dog. Both are very smart and very trainable. With your experience and plans, either breed would work.

[Sunflower]

I have had both-- as pets-- and would have to put in a vote for Aussies. I had one Aussie that was as calm and steady as the day is long, very intelligent and trainable, but non of the OCD stuff that the border collie exhibited. I have two Aussie now-- they are somewhere in the middle temperament wise between the former Aussie and the BC-- more excitable, a little bit more OCD, but able to turn it all off. The BC was a sweet, pleasant and intelligent dog, but he had to be always doing something, always, always, always, always, always… his parents were working farm dogs, and he probably would have been great in that setting. My ex DH and I got him from a family that had bought him as a puppy, thinking he would be great with kids. Well, he was, if you wanted your children to be herded. We had a huge backyard, and 3 other dogs, so he had room to run and other dog friends. As a pet, he was high energy and demanding-- but a great guy. It all depends on what you want/what you can tolerate. Ex DH and I were fine with the BC, but used to joke he would have driven anyone else insane.

[Zu_Zu]

Aussie !

[Lady_Eboshi]

I vote Aussie, too; I would characterize mine as high-energy but with an “off” switch. Not nearly the OCD factor of purebred Border Collies.

I would not, however, recommend either breed as “house dogs” for people who work. They need to be out, all day, every day, preferably running and playing with a mess of other dogs to get that energy OUT. Otherwise, yeah, they’ll probably eat your house.

[knightrider922]

[QUOTE=My Two Cents;8722743]
Both BC’s and Aussies need grooming. I think the rest comes down to the individual dog with in the breed. I know some of both that are calm sensible dogs and I know some of both that are plum nuts.

I don’t know anything about poodles to compare the breeds in general.[/QUOTE]

the poodles require a lot more grooming than just about any dog out there. And my current set up does not allow me to do it so I have to pay someone to do it every 6 weeks which is very expensive. I need to set up a grooming area in my house but space is an issue. I have nowhere to bathe properly (regularly) or to blow their coat out and clip. It sounds silly but its almost $200 when I take them in to get clipped. And a third is more money…

I can do the baths at Pet Value and brush out at home, but I can’t do the baths and blow dries with this poodles this way. so pay is what I do.

[knightrider922]

I am a very competitive person by nature, and would like a dog that can be competitive. but I think a good Aussie could be competitive. I think I’ve found a breeder with dogs I like and am hoping she will have a litter soon.

but I also found a BC breeder who is having pups in a couple mos… so trying to decide what I want.

thanks for the replies. I am def worried about not having an off switch.

[IdahoRider]

I currently own a 6 year old Aussie and have fostered a fair number of Border Collies. The Aussie is a sweet girl who adores my husband and son. She worships them. She is smart, and pretty trainable.

She can be stubborn, as opposed to being single-minded like many of the Border Collies I have fostered. She can be reactive to other dogs, which I have heard is somewhat common with the breed. Her coat is labor intensive.

I think, in general terms, that it is easier to fit an Aussie around your life. Sometimes I get the feeling that with Border Collies you end up fitting your life around them. But that is just a generality. I know several super drivey Aussies that blow that apart.
Sheilah

[Sempiternal]

I’d put a vote in for a BC. My friend had three as working dogs (still has two - the third didn’t mesh with her personality wise). More recently, she hasn’t had too much time to work them on sheep, or do too much else with them, and they haven’t torn up her house. Of course, they’re older and out of the puppy stage.

Her female can get pretty obsessive, and “sticky,” but she’s well trained. She’s also a huge cuddle bug, with anyone. Her male, who is still intact, is more laid back in a sense. He’s very much mom’s dog. The younger female that she sold was different. She could be very hard headed, but extremely sensitive to discipline, which is why she didn’t click with my friend. Of course, her mother is a little odd…in similar ways and a lot of her pups have had a similar temperament.

If you’re as active as your say you are, and since you’ll be giving them a job, I doubt you’ll have issues. Obviously, a puppy with have a bit more energy than an older dog. A smooth coat would probably be more ideal for you than a rough coat, as it’s easier to care for.

[Bicoastal]

I started in dog sports with Aussies in OB. My aunt trained her heart dog to national level (when Gaines existed) and bred a few litters over the years. Now I have a Border Collie. Traitor! Sell out! Dark side!

Everyone told me BCs have an off switch and are the easiest dogs in the house. I didn’t believe them. I didn’t want all that staring; that quirkiness; I live in an apt; I don’t want to get a dog so I can stand on a podium. Etc. Guess what Next Dog is? :winkgrin:

If you are self-described as highly competitive and are looking at those two breeds, I’d get the BC. Both are high volume, so you can cross off that factor when looking at national platforms. Might as well get the breed that is most successful locally.

You want to reduce grooming. BCs have much lighter coats than Aussies with less shedding and faster to groom, which is a + for me. It is absurd how little I brush him and he’s been sneaking Rogaine behind my back. I have to groom my Pap way more.

OH! This is all assuming you’re looking at working-line litters in each breed and not confo-bred. I don’t like the way confo-bred Aussies are looking like Goldens: bigger, big square heads, heavy bone, profuse coat. My complaints are similar for confo-bred BCs. Different kettle of fish.

Both are herdy, barky, prone to quirks and OCD, have similar genetic issues, and need mental stimulation. I found BCs generally softer, which I like. I think they are slightly more versatile, too. You see them more at upper levels in other sports than Aussies.

[knightrider922]

BiCoastal - I def want working lines. Both the Aussie breeder and the BC breeder have working lines.

I liked one of the Aussie pups from this breeder. He belongs to a pro dog trainer who is doing all sorts of tricks with him and he’s started agility. He is not heavy set like some that you describe and is more border collie like in his body.

The BC breeder has working dogs as well and she’s breeding to a stud that was imported (now I can’t remember where from). The stud dogs owner has all working lines and she’s had several successful agility dogs from him. And the breeders dog traces back to one of the top agility dogs in the country… so that might be interesting.

I need to visit the dogs one day at the breeders and do some more research.

there is one BC that I’ve taken care of before that I absolutely love. She has NO job, lol…other than to walk up to the barn with her owner and watch the donkeys from her invisible fence. She is a major couch potato in their house and is my favorite dog there. She is a smaller build, mid size dog and has a beautiful coat.

Decisions, decisions…

[vxf111]

Just another thought to add to the list-- sheltie. All the drive/ability but maybe the smaller package will be a SMIDGE easier to handle. Or mini american shepard? Same reasoning. Still high drive/fast/competitive but maybe easier to deal with in a smaller size.

I want a really competitive dog next too but I am not sure I want QUITE AS MUCH DRIVE as a BC (as much as I love them) or aussie. If I don’t go collie, I will probably go sheltie.

I can’t recall if you’re near me or not but my trainer breeds competitive shelties.

[Where_sMyWhite]

[QUOTE=knightrider922;8722852]
but I also found a BC breeder who is having pups in a couple mos… so trying to decide what I want. [/QUOTE]

If you go this route (or getting a pup from any breeder) make sure they know what you plan on doing so they can best match the puppy to what you are looking for. Personalities will show up much earlier than conformation so breeder is in a good spot to know which will have the mental ability for agility.

[Marshfield]

I’d go Aussie over Border Collie. Still great agility dogs, but often a tiny bit less intense.

[Houndhill]

No disrespect meant for either breed, but might you consider an English Shepherd?

There are some locally that are kicking BC and Aussie butt in Agility and Obedience, and they seem as if they might be somewhat easier to live with- again, with all due respect to BCs and Aussies, and I am sure there are many of both these breeds that are indeed easy to live with.

If I were to get a breed that might be a bit more suited for Agility, Obedience, and Tracking than my own beloved Irish Wolfhounds, (bless their hearts!), this is a breed I might even consider.

[Marshfield]

I just met my first English Shepherd last week. She was sent to NH from Washington as an adoptee. Lovely dog

[Knubbsy]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8723067]
Just another thought to add to the list-- sheltie. All the drive/ability but maybe the smaller package will be a SMIDGE easier to handle. Or mini american shepard? Same reasoning. Still high drive/fast/competitive but maybe easier to deal with in a smaller size.

I want a really competitive dog next too but I am not sure I want QUITE AS MUCH DRIVE as a BC (as much as I love them) or aussie. If I don’t go collie, I will probably go sheltie.

I can’t recall if you’re near me or not but my trainer breeds competitive shelties.[/QUOTE]

Shelties are a great suggestion. Smaller (as my herding instructor reminded me this weekend, you can fit more crates in your car- good because they’re like potato chips), drivey, athletic, and the difference between show and performance lines isn’t that pronounced in the US*. You see them regularly cleaning up at 12" and they’re just so biddable. My family has had shelties for three generations and they’ve all been great family dogs.

I haven’t been a fan of the mini shepherds, the ones I’ve met were yappy and drivey, but were not the brightest. Could have just been bad lines though.

*There’s a stink being raised over Euro lines versus American lines but I really don’t think they’re that different in function. The stop may be more pronounced and the features more delicate but they both perform. The rough collie influence is just more pronounced in American lines, but I’ve had people swear my current rescue is a BC because she is so petite (a 13" 17lb BC)