Border collies

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;8424812]
It’s not bad as a small animal veterinarian. While I own my own place now, every place I’ve been at has embraced my dogs. I actually train in small increments several times a day. No Border Collies for me, but two of the highest drive corgis going. The baby is 16 weeks. They get physical exercise, but it’s planning for the mental activity that is more important for them and for many of the agility border collies I know.[/QUOTE]

Everyone’s schedule varies-- but I look at some days for my equine vet-- and she is going from farm to farm to farm without a break. Sun up to sin down. It would be very hard for her. I think it really depends what your business model is and what your typical day looks like.

[cnm161]

I’ve got a used border collie. He was not well-socialized when I got him-- he’d spent his first 8 formative months by himself in someone’s back yard. Biggest issue with him right now is that he’s got all the energy and brains in the world, but none of the focus. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME but only for fractions of a second.

Unlike my much easier-to-handle sheltie, he’s also not very food-motivated, so he’s been more of a challenge to channel. He is very fetch-oriented. Very.

He makes up jobs for himself (stacking toys, jumping through/over furniture, etc.) if he’s not kept busy enough. He’s not destructive but I can see potential there if he was left to his own devices for long enough.

All that said, he’s one of those dogs that you meet and you just KNOW he’s going to be a great dog. Maybe not now, but eventually. And he always makes me laugh.

[hastyreply]

I grew up with and have owned border collies for nearly 60 years. I’ve had purebreds and part breds, pets, and working dogs. They use to be a rare breed and difficult to find but beginning in the 80s and into the 90s they rose in popularity in the obedience ring and then agility ring. This brought the breed to many more people who were far from the farm and ranch, rural way of life. Unfortunately they stop being bred for their working ability and the quality and disposition changed. Even the breeding just for herding trials has changed their disposition. I have a good friend who has had border collies for nearly 40 years and she just lost her last “chosen” dog. She has several rescues but they all have issues she wants to get another dog to train to work on her farm. Even she says she doesn’t know where to start looking. She’s bought dogs from big named breeders in the past and small ranches. She is just going to wait and see for a while and make do with the one dog that works she has now.

I would take a wait and see approach and see what dog your attracted to. I have worked for and been the client of vets who allow their dogs to be involved in their practice. Most clients like it but some don’t. In today’s more litigious society you would have to be much more careful.

[Foxtrot_s]

Best dog I ever knew was my farrier’s dog. A Border Collie x with an Australian Shepherd. This dog did not bark, was the smartest, most obedient, quickest dog ever. It lived for a command from its owner, obeyed with alacrity, but also had an off switch and was content to wait for its time. Good with kids, too. Stayed quietly in the truck, just a wonderful companion.

[DMK]

[QUOTE=WindyIsles;8421968]
Other breeds to consider that might be a fit for you: Corgi (I have a Cardigan Corgi on my list to be my ‘small dog’ - they’re more serious than the Pems and I find I click better with their personalities)[/QUOTE]

That reminds me of something I read on this forum a while ago:

Corgis. All the fun of a BC. None of the neurosis.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Just a thought, but when you get ready for a dog you might want to see if any of your local rescues have a BC x Great Pyrenees. Or as I like to call my two, LGDBCs.:lol:

It’s a common oops-cross (sheep farm love children). The pyr part gives you a less neurotic BC and the BC part gives you a pyr who will respond to a recall at least once in awhile.: D. They’re cute, too - and don’t generally chase horses.

[Magicboy]

As a corgi fan, I was going to suggest a Pem as a vet companion rather than a BC. I have several and my farrier brings two with him and they are very well behaved. Easy to train, very bright bit not as hyper or complex to handle

[GraceLikeRain]

Another thing to consider is that an adult rescue BC may be past the baby stage but may be in a rescue for a reason. I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be a phenomenal dog, but many are placed because they are too much dog for the average owner.

I honestly don’t know of a barn in the area that would appreciate having a vet let their dog out to run around and poop after she completed her rounds. Personally, it sounds kind of unprofessional. What happens if you end up with an emergency followed by 2 or 3 barns that aren’t dog friendly? You could end up with a high energy dog that is just sitting in your car for an entire day waiting for a chance to stretch his or her legs.

Only my opinion but I think it’s a bad idea. Of course best of luck with whatever you decide and congratulations on being in vet school.

[Epona142]

Yeah I have to admit, if a vet showed up on our property with a dog, even left in the truck, it would make me unhappy.

We have Livestock Guardian Dogs and this would upset them immensely.

[Calamber]

Note to new vet, work in areas where people are not so unwelcoming to a single well trained dog going out on the property for 15 minutes. Sheesh people, make the vet’s life a little less lonely, give him or her a break! I would always welcome my vet’s dog on the property and I would not have dogs too dangerous for a dog to be around loose while they were there.

[Epona142]

When it comes to our dogs, being dangerous is their job.

It is not, however, the vet’s job to make my animals uncomfortable on their own property.

That’s all. There’s an appropriate situation for visiting guests and their dogs, and a vet visit is not one of them.

It isn’t personal. It’s just reality.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Calamber;8426344]
Note to new vet, work in areas where people are not so unwelcoming to a single well trained dog going out on the property for 15 minutes. Sheesh people, make the vet’s life a little less lonely, give him or her a break! I would always welcome my vet’s dog on the property and I would not have dogs too dangerous for a dog to be around loose while they were there.[/QUOTE]

I am not unwelcoming, but strange dogs on my property are not welcome off-leash, by anyone. It’s just not a good idea - even the nicest of dogs can have issues when a new dog invades their territory. Maybe things are different at different types of barns (e.g. it’s no dog’s “home turf”) but this is my home, not a boarding barn, and a vet visit is not the time for me to introduce my dogs to a new one.

That said, I wouldn’t mind if the vet had a dog in their truck, but it would have to be very, very good. My farrier travels with a dog, and for the most part they have been great (his 1st died, and he has a young dog now.) It has always stayed in the truck (or tethered to it) until he is done. And for the most part it hasn’t been an issue, although the young one can bark a lot, which might not be welcome by everyone.

[Bicoastal]

Overall OP needs to wait. It is fun to daydream. The reality is she won’t have time for a dog for several years. Finish school first. Find medium-size dog-friendly housing second. Maybe get a cat for company in the meantime.

[Casey09]

[QUOTE=Calamber;8426344]
Note to new vet, work in areas where people are not so unwelcoming to a single well trained dog going out on the property for 15 minutes. Sheesh people, make the vet’s life a little less lonely, give him or her a break! I would always welcome my vet’s dog on the property and I would not have dogs too dangerous for a dog to be around loose while they were there.[/QUOTE]

I put my dogs up if they aren’t being seen by the vet, but most males of the breed aren’t necessarily going to tolerate a strange dog on their property. That doesn’t bother me - it’s part of their character, even socialized. There are also dogs that just aren’t perfect in every way - they’re not comfortable with every dog they meet - even socialized.
A dog in the truck wouldn’t bother me, but I’m a dog friendly person. I think a vet could have a dog in the truck at least, but I’d ask a new client if they minded first. I’d enjoy seeing a dog getting to go out and about and have a good life, and if I were a horse vet I’d want to take a dog in my truck to late night calls to feel more safe. However, I’ve also owned dogs with issues and it is important to be aware that to many breeds, intolerance of strange dogs and even strange people on their home turf isn’t the dog being not well trained or not socialized - it’s a natural behavior when it isn’t bred out. Not all dogs are meant to greet everything with a tail wag.
To the OP - best of luck with whatever you decide. When you’re ready, a BC mix can be less intense. Also look into Australian Shepherds and other breeds. While not a herding dog, Standard Poodles are also obedient.

[gloriginger]

twelve years ago when i was looking for a dog people told me I should get a King Charles Cavalier and other various lap type dogs because I worked full time and had a horse. But I didn’t listen to them and I got an Aussie/ACD mix. She has been the best dog. Yes in the beginning she was a lot of work, but she opened me up to a wonder adventure of agility.

That being said, in my observation of border collies in agility they can be a bit more OCD than the other herding breeds. Which is ok, if you are willing to work with the behavior- but they really must have a job. Agility, sheep herding, obedience etc. They must use their brains. If not they will obsess- stare at a ball for hours, chase cars etc. Not enough to just give excercise. And this is true for all herding breeds, but I feel like BC can become a little more neurotic than others.

A lot of people I know get their BC from this breeder. http://www.lockeyebc.com/ - What I like about her is that you can tell her, I want a low drive, not too hyper dog and she will give you that. BC can range from off the wall - peel them from the ceiling to more of a couch dog.

[grandprixer]

[QUOTE=gloriginger;8426641]
. BC can range from off the wall - peel them from the ceiling to more of a couch dog.[/QUOTE]

Haha wow, so glad I don’t have one. I have been following this thread for a while, I was considering one, but I am not nearly as active nor do I want to be. I met a BC once, super well trained but they would not leave me alone. I threw the ball for almost 4 hours and they brought it back every time and stared at it or me until I threw it. I almost cried

[hastyreply]

It’s funny, having had border collies all my life, I will always have one. Now labradors on the other hand you couldn’t pay me to own one. It’s funny how you get loyalties to certain breeds and prejudices against others. While it bother’s me that so many people dislike border collies, I wish they were once again and unknown breed that no one had a clue about.

I one point in my much younger life I had one who was joined at my hip and went every where with me. I could control her with a look or snap of the finger. Now I don’t take dogs places with me so much because I’ve seen so many wrecks caused by dogs. Taking a dog on to someone else’s farm is always a gamble. The least of which would be the resident jumping up and scratching the heck out of you truck because your dog is inside. I also am put off by the presumption that would be required if someone else brought their dog and let them out. I have found more dogs that aren’t well behaved and under control than that are.

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=wow;8421692]
Wow, okay I wasn’t expecting so many answers :). So it looks like I need to clear some stuff up. The dog would stay in the truck (I refuse to own something that can’t pull a trailer) until I am done or the owner and horse is fine, otherwise they would come out when I am done. I was looking at rescues, maybe 2-3 y/o, one that if needed I could do herding with. I currently own a neurotic dog who is deathly loyal (he attacked my mother when she tickled me and he will sit in the closet and stare at the vacuum cleaner for hours), and I am fine with that, but he is lazy as a lesson horse and I want something active. I know I should also not really think about this now, but I am obsessive as well and need to have this planned :)[/QUOTE]
Assuming you get summer Temps where you live, leaving a dog in a car (even with windows cracked) may not be a good option. Suppose a call takes an hr or so in the middle of summer.
And I agree with the poster that having someone show up at a barn and letting their dog out is an imposition.

[Canaqua]

@hastyreply;8427297

It’s funny, having had border collies all my life, I will always have one. Now labradors on the other hand you couldn’t pay me to own one. It’s funny how you get loyalties to certain breeds and prejudices against others. While it bother’s me that so many people dislike border collies, I wish they were once again and unknown breed that no one had a clue about.

I feel the same way, though I’ve only ever had mixed breeds with a heavy herding influence. I could not deal with a Lab every day, I dog sit my brother’s Lab frequently, and I love him, but he’s just too dumb to want to live with every day. I like smart dogs, much as they can be a PITA. We’ll only ever have what we call “Herding Mutts” here. One purebred parent ACD or BC (not a big fan of Aussies) and whatever shows up on the other side, as long as the dog is 45lbs or more. These have been consistently truly great dogs. They are smart, they are loyal, they can be a bit of a burden if you don’t like being followed CONSTANTLY, but we like that ;). Not quite as intense as a purebred, though the ACD/JRT mix was an awful lot of dog.

[vxf111]

I love love love my vet. I love love love border collies. I do not want my lovely vet showing up and letting one loose on my property. In the car… Ok, but I don’t want someone else’s dog loose on my property