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A few photos of my Border Collie Archie

NorthamptonDogWalker

NorthamptonDogWalker

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We rehomed Archie when he was 7 months old. Pretty typical situation of someone not doing their research and getting a breed not suited to their lifestyle.

He was a challenge at first as he would not chase a ball, was not properly socialised, was very noise sensitive (still is a little) and had separation anxiety.

He's actually the reason I became a dog walker as I simply could not do a regular job and leave him for long periods.
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Fantastic dog.. Pretty typical that someone bought him thinking all BC are wonderful dogs that listen to every word. Then bailed when they couldnt cope..
We had the same with Oscar (he passed in 2012) adopted at 9 months from a rescue he was taken from someone who couldnt cope with the hyper behaviour and had done nothing to train him.
He turned into a super dog who I still feel strongly about and I'm sure you feel the same about Archie
 
He looks awesome! Very intense eyes, and you an tell he's a happy dog :)
 
Lovely looking chap! great eyes :)
 
Mad Murphy said:
Fantastic dog.. Pretty typical that someone bought him thinking all BC are wonderful dogs that listen to every word. Then bailed when they couldnt cope..
We had the same with Oscar (he passed in 2012) adopted at 9 months from a rescue he was taken from someone who couldnt cope with the hyper behaviour and had done nothing to train him.
He turned into a super dog who I still feel strongly about and I'm sure you feel the same about Archie
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Yes even though they are my favourite breed when anyone asks me about them I try and put them off. They make lovely companions but only if you really have the time and energy to meet their needs.

I'll be the first to admit that there were times in the first year that I wondered if we had done the right thing as his noise sensitivity got worse. The improvement though since has been amazing.
 
arealhuman said:
He looks awesome! Very intense eyes, and you an tell he's a happy dog :)
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Yes he does have that Collie eye when he sees something he wants to herd. He's got lots of friends locally, most are collies and I try and time his walks so he gets to meet them. He knows their names and gets excited of I say them and he recognises their barks and will sprint to meet them if he hears them, expecting me to follow.
 
Josie said:
Lovely looking chap! great eyes :)
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Thanks to be honest the top 3 photos I worked on the eyes to boost the catchlight and make the eyes pop more. Last photo is natural edit. I also whiten teeth if a dog needs it as I always want them to look their best. We feed Archie raw food and some bones which help keep his teeth in food condition as he hates me trying to brush them.
 
NorthamptonDogWalker said:
True better to admit it early and give the dog chance of better life. Still feel too many people are buying dogs based on looks and not what's suited to their lifestyle.
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That's what happened with Olives puppy the owner couldn't cope in the long run, better now than in the future :(
 
Violet Turner said:
That's what happened with Olives puppy the owner couldn't cope in the long run, better now than in the future :(
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I'm seeing it a lot with Cockapoos where they are bought for cute looks but spend the day in a cage, have no recall or training. They are high energy breed not ideally suited to busy family with little or no time.
 
NorthamptonDogWalker said:
I'm seeing it a lot with Cockapoos where they are bought for cute looks but spend the day in a cage, have no recall or training. They are high energy breed not ideally suited to busy family with little or no time.
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Yeah, i understand....
 
I heard of one person who wanted a Border collie because as they were so clever, she wouldn't need to train them....

I wouldn't have a collie myself because they can be so intense and focused - as lovely as they are, I'm more suited to lazy sighthounds. I know a lurcher owner who really struggled with a collie x lurcher they were fostering because her brain was far more 'collie' than 'lurcher' - she was adopted by someone with collies who did agility with her and she thrived. But as you say, people choose based on looks and then wonder why it's not working.
 
JudyN said:
I heard of one person who wanted a Border collie because as they were so clever, she wouldn't need to train them....

I wouldn't have a collie myself because they can be so intense and focused - as lovely as they are, I'm more suited to lazy sighthounds. I know a lurcher owner who really struggled with a collie x lurcher they were fostering because her brain was far more 'collie' than 'lurcher' - she was adopted by someone with collies who did agility with her and she thrived. But as you say, people choose based on looks and then wonder why it's not working.
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Yes exactly. Sighthounds can be ideal for people with less time, especially retired greyhounds who have short bursts of energy on a walk but can be pretty lazy at home.

Border Collies need a 'job' and not all of them are ball focused. Archie will now chase a ball but he much prefers to herd other ball focused dogs. He loves hikes in the mountains and visits to the beach. We will try him with agility and maybe scent work too.
 
After a back injury that left Oscar unable to chase balls or anything else, I discovered a game with him that incorporated his love of the ball but was more challenging. He was turned away from the field ..I then threw a ball. and using only commands away, comebye and too (as a run away or go to command) I would 'help 'him find the ball. It only took one afternoon to learn but it gave me better handling skills and him fulfillment in his life as a replacement for the running.
I think without it he would have been miserable.
 
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