two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Nah closest i get is gardening. I'm going to go for a cross if i do get one, do collie crosses with labs quieten them down a bit, or other breeds?
Thinking about getting a dog
- Thread starter soulman
- Start date
Nah closest i get is gardening. I'm going to go for a cross if i do get one, do collie crosses with labs quieten them down a bit, or other breeds?
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
bigger, stupider dawg with just the same rabid need for constant love.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
I am a total racist when it comes to dogs and while those mentioned are lovely in looks and temprment they are dimlows 
Best dog i ever had was a border collie...i'd def have one again, over any other breed.
Second best (sorry Bombscare!) was an ally crossed with a greyhound...ditzy as owt for the first 2 years, but once she was out of her gangly, awkward teenage stage, she was absolutely mint. Ace travelling dog as well...it was just in the house that she was a loon! Probs a bit big for what you're after tho.
Second best (sorry Bombscare!) was an ally crossed with a greyhound...ditzy as owt for the first 2 years, but once she was out of her gangly, awkward teenage stage, she was absolutely mint. Ace travelling dog as well...it was just in the house that she was a loon! Probs a bit big for what you're after tho.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
I am a total racist when it comes to dogs and while those mentioned are lovely in looks and temprment they are dimlows
I do love border collies - bearded collies too - but have never had a dog and purebred would be too hyper for me i think (as per funky above). I'd be around all day cos i work from home but the problem I foresee is that when i got work on then i have to do it. I''m going to need a dog that would be happy running around in the garden for a time rather than up and down the curtains until i can take it for a walk.
I don't mind stupid, stupid can be an endearing quality in a dog and i wouldn't want a dog that's cleverer than i am anyway. Recipe for trouble.
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
Do NOT get a border collie unless you love the outdoor life. It's cruel to get one to keep it indoors most of the day. Tethering it in the garden is no substitute either. Our one probably runs about 15 miles a day and that is artificially restricted because it has hip displacea and shouldn't do too much activity.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Even a border collie crossed with something less manic? I wouldn't go for a purebred.
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
Crossbreeding doesn't just give you half as much oomph in each characteristic. It means you mix it all up and you can end up with anything. A sprollie, for example, can easily give you all the energy and smarts of a collie combined with the all the mentalness of a springer spaniel. You don't really know what you're going to get.
There are a lot of breeds of dog out there. I'd just steer clear of border collies unless you have a compatible lifestyle.
There are a lot of breeds of dog out there. I'd just steer clear of border collies unless you have a compatible lifestyle.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
I was sort of hoping front half of a border collie and back half of a lab would mean the difference in height wouldn't let it run very fast
Ta - I'll sort of cross them off the list unless i see one described as being a bit of a couch potato. Do border collies ever cross with greyhounds i wonder.
Trouble is I do like collies - people down the road have the loveliest bearded collie so perhaps that or a sheltie cross - I'm up for an hour's walk a day or so but after that in reality the dog's going to have full time company but is going to be exercising while i'm doing other things.
P.S. Sorry if i'm hijacking your thread, soul.
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
What do you count as "exercise", though? An hour can be fine. But it needs to be an hour's run, or, better, an hour's walk with the dog off the lead so that it can go off in its own directions.
To be fair, though, I doubt you'd be even in the bottom 50% of the way you would look after a collie. I've come to the conclusion that about 95% of the people that own dogs shouldn't do so.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
This is true, but i want to do my research first - i've never owned a dog so i want to know exactly what's involved and what i'm going to need to get/do beforehand. Best way to do that is ask owners.
I think a trip to rescue centre is in order soon though. I'm just a bit wary of falling for some random dog cos it has floppy ears and everything else falls by the wayside
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Yep that would be an hour's run off the lead (as long as the dog doesn't just disappear off into the distance when off the lead) in the valley at the back of me. She would have the run of the garden and the field next to me, too, and all the rabbits she could chase.
How do you mean bottom 50%? What would you say is minimum for a happy dog? I've also been told to avoid puppies, although would love to have from a puppy, so i may go for a year-old one or so if i do.
FabricLiveBaby!
Live Baby Fabric!
Can I suggest a springer spaniel?
They are great dogs, intelligent, lots of energy, great little jumpers and bags and bags of fun, and so beutiful.
Bread with border collies they are the bestest but don't have as much energy as a border collie.. and they are even more gorgeous!
The spaniel collie cross breed is my favorite. My dog was one of these, so no bias there.
^^ Springer Spaniel
They are great dogs, intelligent, lots of energy, great little jumpers and bags and bags of fun, and so beutiful.
Bread with border collies they are the bestest but don't have as much energy as a border collie.. and they are even more gorgeous!
The spaniel collie cross breed is my favorite. My dog was one of these, so no bias there.
^^ Springer Spaniel
kabbes
First intersubjective, then internalised
That actually sounds like a pretty good deal for a collie.
The disappearing off into the distance all depends on your training. I would advise that if you do get a collie (or indeed any dog), you read as much as you can about training methods and join a few different training classes.
For a start, dogs shouldn't be left by themselves, which an awful lot are on a regular basis. The odd few hours now and then is a reasonable compromise. But 4 hours every day isn't.
Most dogs don't get enough exercise -- non-collies as well.
Most dogs don't get their actual needs as a dog met properly.
Most owners don't ever bother to find out about dog body language and respond in kind. The result is a stressed dog for which the owner doesn't ever realise that the dog is stressed.
I could go on and on but I don't want to offend anybody. At the end of the day, it's not going to change anything. Dogs just aren't really compatable with most modern lifestyles, but people don't want to believe that.
fogbat
The Talibum
Is that your dog?
S/he looks like mine.
They are the best dogs. They're not easy though. Give them an inch and they take a mile. They're funny fuckers though. Very confident. Greedy. Lazy. Can get into trance-like states.
I love them. Oh and in a recent test, they are the most tolerable dogs around children.
Bull-terriers.
For when you can't decide between a dog and a pig.
FabricLiveBaby!
Live Baby Fabric!
I agree kabbles.
Our dog was our family pet. He was well loved and had company most days. My dad was self employed so he'd take the dog with him, or he'd be at home. We were at school so we'd be back early and be able to play with him, and as we got older and went to college we had even more time.
He was quite lucky in that respect. Always got two, hour long walks a day and always had company. We got to know the little tyke with us really well.
As a result he was with us for 15 and a half years.
I get so pissed off when I see my mates dogs who get taken out for 15 minutes a day, are never groomed, and scared rather than trained. They look so miserable and unloved that the moment you pay any attention to them they hit the wall with excitement. Fucking tradgedy that is.
Our dog was our family pet. He was well loved and had company most days. My dad was self employed so he'd take the dog with him, or he'd be at home. We were at school so we'd be back early and be able to play with him, and as we got older and went to college we had even more time.
He was quite lucky in that respect. Always got two, hour long walks a day and always had company. We got to know the little tyke with us really well.
As a result he was with us for 15 and a half years.
I get so pissed off when I see my mates dogs who get taken out for 15 minutes a day, are never groomed, and scared rather than trained. They look so miserable and unloved that the moment you pay any attention to them they hit the wall with excitement. Fucking tradgedy that is.
Bajie
Zhu Bajie
Can I suggest a springer spaniel?
They are great dogs, intelligent, lots of energy, great little jumpers and bags and bags of fun, and so beutiful.
Bread with border collies they are the bestest but don't have as much energy as a border collie.. and they are even more gorgeous!
The spaniel collie cross breed is my favorite. My dog was one of these, so no bias there.
^^ Springer Spaniel
At last, a photo of a dog that does not look like it has been slapped by the ugly stick!
Strumpet
gypsy girl
Fair play Sheddie - I'd have a nightmare if I went to a rescue centre
Ohgod me too. I'm putting off going at mo
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Can I suggest a springer spaniel?
^^ Springer Spaniel
Yep I was tempted by them, lovely dogs but i was told that they enjoy chasing birds and I don't want to lose all the birds that visit.
I'm good there - i tend to go out once every fortnight lately.
I'm hoping this will be one of my strong points. My ex taught me the basics of cat psychology so dogs would have to be a doddle. I know things like not showing one dog favouritism if there's other dogs round and I'm normally careful about stomping round like some men tend to cos i've seen that scare loads of pets. As I say i've never had a dog but always say hello to any i come across and give them a good patting if they'll let me.
nah i'd appreciate knowing - anyone other dog owners please just take it as fundamentalist dog ownership views.
I don't really have what you'd call a modern lifestyle, if the dog's hoping to spend a lot of time sitting watching tv she's going to be sadly disappointed. I spend a lot of time at the puter though, and if i've got work to do that's what i have to do.
I spend a fair time in the garden and have heard collies need work to do so if i could train her to go and fetch trowels and secateurs and perhaps struggle out with the odd spade it would all be a bonus.
FabricLiveBaby!
Live Baby Fabric!
Yep I was tempted by them, lovely dogs but i was told that they enjoy chasing birds and I don't want to lose all the birds that visit.
TBH I think all dogs, speccificallly young dogs, chase birds.
My dod wasn't interested in the birds but he loved chasing squirrels.
You can train them not to chase birds in your garden (but OK in Open Fields). I taught my dog to poo in a spcific area of our garden, so cleaning up after him was a doddle.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Is good, i presume it will mean a fair bit of sitting round the bird feeders trying to calm her down.
she can have the squirrel
Yes, that's a major concern, i'm not good with dogshit. I'm toying with the idea of putting a hole in one of the covers to the septic tank to try to cut out the middleman.
Having said all this, a mate came round earlier and said a farmer's got some form of collie cross up the road who he'd like to rehome cos she's supposed to be a working dog but won't round up the cattle. So i might go and see.
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
don't be put off by kabbes doom-mongering wrt collies. In 26 years of life I have never owned a collie that wasn't sweet and funny. You just have to exercise the shit out of them or they get moody.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
nah is good to know such things in advance, and i think a dog would be good for me to go on more walks ('i for one could do with the exercise')
I was sort of hoping front half of a border collie and back half of a lab would mean the difference in height wouldn't let it run very fast
Ta - I'll sort of cross them off the list unless i see one described as being a bit of a couch potato. Do border collies ever cross with greyhounds i wonder.
Trouble is I do like collies - people down the road have the loveliest bearded collie so perhaps that or a sheltie cross - I'm up for an hour's walk a day or so but after that in reality the dog's going to have full time company but is going to be exercising while i'm doing other things.
P.S. Sorry if i'm hijacking your thread, soul.
No problem at all I'm taking all this advice in as well
Strumpet
gypsy girl
Ooo let us know how it goes
A friend of mine said someone was looking to re-home a bitch about 4 yrs old so is asking if she is still available for me. Can't remember what breed now but I don't much care as long as she isn't huge (I'd LOVE a huge one but house isn't big enough).
If I decide to get a dog I will visit the rescue centres but if I don't find a dog I connect with there I'm not going to take one just for the sake of it. That wouldn't be fair to either of us and it would be heartbreaking to have to return a dog I couldn't handle.
