A few years ago we lost - at 15 yrs.- one of the BEST dogs we have ever owned. “Cutter” was the smartest, easiest to live with dogs in the world. “One of these days” we’ll be looking for another dog to add to our family. Our Pappillion cross is 16 and going strong, but won’t last for ever. We also have a dominant male Boxer (seriously trained, watch dog) and a Boerboel/Ridgeback female so will be looking for a moderately passive female BC or BC/JRT…(or other sane cross). Not finding anything in our area but Whippet/BC crosses designed for agility and speed events. Anyone have experience with BC’s or other BC crosses?? We have a 65 acre horse farm and our dogs are part of the family (Seniors) and have plenty of outside time and indoors they are included in all family activities. Thanks.
I would consider waiting til your current dogs pass. It is hard on old dogs to have a puppy. Puppies want to run and chase. Old dogs just want to be left alone. My dog Max was diagnosed with cancer after we got Meka and he was grumpy towards her. Right now i have 2 dogs just 3 years apart. They can play together all they want, jump on each other and rough house til exhaustion.
Border Collies are very high energy. We looked at one and passed because the dog never stopped moving and jumping around. If you have a plan for dealing with that much energy, they make great dogs. Too hot here for an active dog that needs to be kept indoors all day in the AC.
I think when the time is right, they are a very nice breed.
Border Collies are working dogs. If not used for work, they are just too clever for their own good. Many farmers, who daily depend on their dogs to manage their sheep on the hills, refuse to sell pups to the wider public. There are a lot of unhappy, stressed out pets that require specialist re-homing. Yes, there are also very happy dogs who compete in dog agility, but that is a job. It is not a breed for most people, even those experienced with other dogs.
Ummm, I’d call that an oxymoron. The words passive and Border Collie OR Jack Russell Terrier don’t belong in the same universe, much less the same sentence. :eek::lol:
And yes, I happen to have trained a JRT/BC cross. He turned out to be a nice-enough dog, but that mix is not one I’d recommend.
I think you’re kind of looking for a unicorn. If you really want a Border Collie, I’'d look to someone who is exclusively in the Conformation ring.
From my experience…I have to disagree! Maybe as a definition of the whole breed…but not our dog…“Cutter”. I whelped her litter when our “future”, SIL came to NC for a visit. Our dog looked…color and marking wise, like a JRT. We have a busy daily schedule and the dogs are with us most of the time…glad to sleep when they get a chance.
Cutter NEVER chased the horses or barn cats and was always paying attention to a “possible” request for her to fetch something we needed! Example: EVERY night, I undressed in our master bathroom…left my clothes and shoes/slippers in the bathroom. EVERY morning of her life…when I swung my legs over the side of the bed…my slippers were EXACTLY where my feet landed on the floor. Correct position and ready to slip on…I NEVER told her I needed that chore done.
If you were walking a reluctant foal…without turning around or addressing the dog…all we had to say was “Cutter…move him up” and she would “crowd” them from behind…NEVER nip or “heel” them. If you had a horse that wouldn’t go through a gate or stall door…you said, “Cutter put them in”…and all hell would break loose and the horse went where you wanted it…She NEVER touched or nipped though.
Guess I’ll just have to find a “reincarnation” of Cutter.
Thanks for the opinions.
I have to agree with Altag. Cutter was the exception to the rule if she was a BC/Jack Russell cross. Sounds like you have enough time and room to give a BC a job, so you might be ok with another BC, but I would look for one with terrier in it as well. Make sure you get one that doesn’t look like Cutter. You don’t want to continue to compare the two. The new dog will never measure up to your memories of the old one.
Thank you for that advice. No…there will never be another Cutter…but as our first ever BC/JRT…I assumed that they were ALL like her!! Thanks for clearing THAT up!! Not in the market for another dog right now…but I may rethink the BC or BC crosses!! Any other super smart, horse farm, breeds of dogs people are liking. Our Boxer is awesome, the Boerboel/Ridgeback is unique…smart but very laidback and the Pappillon’Doxie is a non-argumentative alternative to JRT’s!! I will NEVER have a pure, cattle dog breed again…wayyyyy too aggressive for a horse farm.
I have a Border Collie/ Australian Shepherd cross and she’s the BEST dog. She’s incredibly intelligent, sweet and athletic. She does have energy and will never say no to playing or running even at 10 years old. But she’s far from neurotic or too much energy. She chills when we chill and never does anything naughty. Not sure if all are like that (I’ve heard it’s a good cross) or if she’s just an angel. I did spend a lot of time training her the first year of her life and she was a handful as a puppy. But a great dog.
There’s the clue.
A friend had a Border Collie. If left alone in the house, she would answer the phone when it rang and bark down the handset. Unfortunately, her brilliance didn’t quite go as far as replacing the phone when finished.
Good advice…Our dogs are not old (just the Papillion @ 16 other two are a healthy 6 and 7 yrs.) and they are full of pep and play. But chill when we are in the house. And I am not looking to make my life more complicated with a hyper type BC.
Good thought…I just saw a mini Aussie last week…it was WAYYYYY too adorable!
The dog you’re describing is definitely NOT what I’d call passive!! :lol::winkgrin: That’s an active, energetic dog. :yes:
Did I say “passive” somewhere?? An energetic dog who is well trained and minds…and chills out in the house is what I consider an ideal friend/companion dog! We have a very busy lifestyle…but I do require obedience and a dog who appreciates an afternoon nap!
Absolutely you did, in your original post:
That’s why I quoted you in my earlier post, commenting on your use of the word passive.
I’m now guessing that’s NOT the word you meant to use! LOL. 
My error!!
Funny how we can read the same word and come up with 2 totally different interpretations. I took passive to mean non-dominant since OP mentioned having a dominant Boxer. I wasn’t thinking passive as in couch potato.
We used to have a BC cross. Not 100% sure what he was crossed with but likely a snow breed of some kind. He had a really dense double coat and a tail that curled over his back. He was a great dog. He was very dominant with other dogs. He was plenty active but not overly so.
