Can I put a border collie on a long chain or is it cruel???

olaola

Just to note, proper Collies NEED to be worked constantly. A few walks a day + hiking at the weekend really isn't enough. Unless you get a cross breed, with something a little calmer!

andreac

ste2006 wrote: »

What do people think, would two dogs keep each other happier during the day or would the space be just too small for them????

Personally i wouldnt get 2 as it seems like you arent really even set up for one. Also 2 dogs together can get up to more mischief than 1, so if one decides to run off or get out the other will follow.

Ok, just edited this as you go hiking etc.

Just to say, that a dog wouldnt be able for a lot of exercise like this until they are over a year old as puppies cannot be over exercised until they are fully grown.

PaulB91

how about a year old rescue ? http://www.irishanimals.ie/collies_homes.html

i'd love Tayto Tayto
My name is Tayto .I am a 1 year old Collie / Lab mix boy . Friendly / affectionate / good with other dogs / initial basic training / eager to please / nice even temperament .No children under 10 years . Spacious and secure garden /yard / radio fence area required with 2 x 30 minutes daily walks . Neutered / flea`d and wormed / vaccinated / microchipped . Carrick Dog Shelter , Lisdoonan , Carrickmacross , Co Monaghan .Open Mon to Sat 11am to 4pm . 042 9664236 / 087 9634121 . For all shelter adoption requirements please visit www.carrickboardingkennels.ie

ste2006

Yes a rescue one would be nice, Would they be very wild or would they be ok,

I have heard of a few people who got rescue dogs and could never train them or get them to be obidient as they were treated badly before,

Is this common, Would a shelter know if the dog is nice, calm etc

A Collie / Lab mix would be lovely :-)

PaulB91

if you go to a rescue a lot of the dogs are fostered out to homes so you can then get a good idea of the temprament

Sigma Force

Not sure if this was suggested already.

I have a border collie, she hates being in the house (will try to jump out closed windows etc.) she is perfectly fine in a run.

It's not the run they don't like dogs simply don't like being left alone, a dog indoors being left alone will act the same as a dog in a run being left alone.

I think a moveable dog run OP is a great compramise.
They are pricey but you don't have the dog yet so there is no reason why you cannot get the run first and have it set up.
The run is something you can take with you, can increase in size as time goes on and can move around the garden.

cilldare.ie are the runs I use and have lasted for years and are still going strong, our whole garden wasn't fenced off origionally so while we were getting the money together for fencing we got a small run then bought more panels and chop and change things depending on the season.

You can make it larger also buy buying a small shed rather than a kennel, with a dog flop popped into it and the run attached.
Collies love their comfort, when our collie gets tired she'll put herself to bed and both dogs will go into the run straight away.
If you make the run a nice place to be it's a den just like a crate is a den for house dogs.

Younger collies need to keep going however collies love routine, this doesn't mean you have to be up a mountain with them 24/7 though. Eg. If they know they get out in the morning at 8am then another walkies in the afternoon and a good walk int he evening they will pretty much sleep or just keep an eye out when you're gone like any other dog will.

Saying that if you have them out for 5 hours then put them to bed, let them out 10 mins later they can act like they've not been let out in days.

They're a great dog but deffo. need a secure garden so only options really are really high fences, dog run or keep indoors.

ste2006

I was looking at my garden so i can fence it off at about 5 foot high all around, The garden space would be about 15M x 3M and i would build a kennel for it in this also,

I am now looking at perhaps a Collie / Lab cross from a shelter, Anyone any thoughts on dogs from a shelter or will they be fairly wild etc???

perri winkles

Dogs from a shelter are absoloutely fine once you get to know the dog. The shelter staff can give you information on the dogs personality and whether it would suit your home, something a breeder who hands you a pup cannot do. Not all shelter dogs have been mistreated, some are strays or have been surrendered in by people unable to care for them. The staff will let you know if there are any behavioural problems that need addressing. Usually these 'problems' just need a bit of time and patience.

I have two rescue dogs an they are the best decision we ever made. Wouln't give them up for anything. One of them had a few issues when he first came to us, mainly from fear. Now he's happy as larry, a completely different dog.

Collies and collie crosses are all too common a sight in pounds and shelters. There are dozens of them. I would definitely recommend checking out a few places. They really are the most wonderful dogs! If you need any websites to check out just pm me. A collie cross would probably be best for you. Good luck

goat2

CreedonsDogDayc wrote: »

I dont think you read the post properly, he said

"i will be out during the day, home for lunch and then not home till 6 again.

My GF works odd hours so would be around a lot when im not so i think he should be ok for company.

I do a lot of mountian biking & hiking so would bring him out the weekends and evening doing that."

Between the OP coming home at lunch, and his girlfriend being around during the day (i assume bringing the dog inside) the dog wont be alone for long.

Also, the dog will be getting lots of exercise with the OP evenings!!

the electronic dog fence would be ideal in your case

CreedonsDogDayc

goat2 wrote: »

the electronic dog fence would be ideal in your case

Please dont use an electronic fence!

You seem to be sorted if you have an area that can be fenced in.

If you do find that your dog is happy chilling on the couch, then you should be fine leaving the dog inside as long as your not leaving it much longer than four hours. A walk and a bit of play before you leave the dog would be the best thing to do.

if you find that your dogs happier outside, then leave it outside (as long as the area definately is secure).

A lot of stuff will depend on the dog so wait until you meet the dog and test the waters before making your decision.

Bobbins

Collies are in high numbers in rehoming shelters largely due to their original owners under-estimating the amount of care and mental & physical stimulation that they require. Leaving a very intelligent, energetic breed tied up to become bored & lonely should be reason enough not to get one in the first place. Getting two dogs to try and combat this isn't really the answer in my opinion. I hope you make the right decision.

ste2006

I picked up Tayto today and he is a lovely dog, Very calm and i was told he is not used to working so is happy playing with toys, excercise etc,

Thanks for all the advice,

S

Louisecon

On the new dog. Give yourselves time and patience, and never be afraid to ask for help.

Sigma Force

Congrats on the new pooch, pics!!

Can never have too many toys, we ended up getting a toy box for our lot.
Mind you there's more strewn around the garden than in the box, it's so cute though to watch them go to it and pick out their favourite toy of the day.

Our collie loooved the Kong tennis balls with the squeek, at the mo her fave. is a squeeky pig. She sticks to one toy at a time though so if she throws the pig at you and you throw the cow she won't go for it, she'll only go for the pig.

boomerang

Best of luck, OP.

I hope that you can erect a secure run for the dog - it is much more humane and safe than a tie-out. If you are coming home at lunchtime to him and he has plenty of exercise and activity in the evenings and at weekends it should work out ok. The electric fence systems are not reliable and collies are very sensitive to any form of punishment and your lad might not cope well with the "training-in" period these products require.

I know you're keen to get active with him, but bear in mind he is still young and growing - and he may not be very fit, depending on how much exercise he got in his previous home. So build up the distance of your walks gradually with him.

Please keep a close eye on him and don't let him out the front door into your unsecured garden without supervision - a bored collie with the freedom to roam or chase cars/bicycles/passers-by/livestock is an accident waiting to happen. You don't have to learn that the hard way - keep him safe.

perri winkles

Oh Im delighted for you! Im so glad you went down the rescue route. Well done

You have years of fun and friendship ahead of you. Best of luck and enjoy him!

ste2006

Hi All,

Just a small update, He is very happy and well behaved,

I have a long 8M Stretchy lead for him to walk with me but he is very well behaved,

He only looks at cows and sheep through a gate in interest as if he has never seen one before,

I have a fenced off section about 15M long for him and am looking at fencing of the front also to let him roam further,

I bought a small Barna shed for him as a kennel yesterday so he is sitting in there now out of the rain,

Thanks again for all the advice and ill be back with more questions no doubt

S

olaola

ste2006 wrote: »

I was looking at my garden so i can fence it off at about 5 foot high all around, The garden space would be about 15M x 3M and i would build a kennel for it in this also,

I am now looking at perhaps a Collie / Lab cross from a shelter, Anyone any thoughts on dogs from a shelter or will they be fairly wild etc???

We got a lab/foxhound cross from dogs in distress. She is the sweetest, calmest and best behaved dog I've ever met! Everyone loves her, and she loves being with people. As it has been said - most of the dogs are fostered out to families, so they can tell you what kind of temperment the dogs have.

Noz

ste2006 wrote: »

I picked up Tayto today and he is a lovely dog

Congratulations! I have a one year old Lab/Collie cross girl and she is the best dog ever, they have the best of both breeds I think so good choice! Tayto is gorgeous, you will give him a lovely life if you are so concerned about him and looking for all that advice before you even got him, he is a lucky dog.

My dog loves her dinner in Kong balls, we put the dry food into them, run them under the tap for a minute, then pop in the freezer until the morning, it takes her a good half an hour and a lot of effort for her to get the food out and it's good mental stimulation for the collie bit of her.

PaulB91

ste2006 wrote: »

I picked up Tayto today and he is a lovely dog, Very calm and i was told he is not used to working so is happy playing with toys, excercise etc,

Thanks for all the advice,

S

dats superb - feel so happy for you and Tayto! can't believe i posted him and you took him that's what my face looks like at the mo

ste2006

Ah yes thanks for posting him,

I never even knew that dog shelters existed like that,

He is great though, I am now trying to work out bedding and toys for him to keep him busy so if anyone has any suggestions it would be great :-)

Dee_animallover

I HATE to see dogs tied up

Fair play for giving a rescue dog another chance

Just wanted to point out something though - you say you are in rented accomodation? Have you thought about what would happen if you had to move and couldnt find a suitable house that allows pets? Dont mean to rain on your parade but I tried renting a few years ago with my dog (was living at home and needed to get out!) and it was impossible :mad: I even offered to pay triple the deposit incase anything was damaged (my dog was way past the chewing stage and is very well behaved) but no they didnt want to know.

Its just I have seen countless ads for people having to give away their dog coz they are moving to a new house and arent allowed keep pets.

Hope it doesnt come to that but its something you might need to think about

olaola

Ikea is pretty good for all things dog related.
And there is this huge place out in Tallaght - Maxi Zoo
I think Ikea was actually cheaper. We bought a bed, and then loads of fleeces so we can keep swapping them and washing them. Also bought a load of cheapo towels that I can just boil wash. I think they were less than €1.

PaulB91

you can get plastic large beds from argos for €22 - i got four of them, one i have had for about 4 years! as for toys, i'd go for the kong with food stuffed inside and frozen so he'll have fun trying to get it out

dermolara

Border collies are a fab Dog, but are working Dogs, they need to run around a lot, Very intelient dogs as well. If he gets plenty of exercise in the evenings etc, i mean an hour or so of him running mental around he should be fine. Wet collars are not good for the dogs neck area, and leather/nylon smell horrible when they get wet. Good luck with the border, there fab.

ste2006

On the renting house thing do not worry,

I will stay where i am for a few years and then build a nice house in the country, Failing that i have relatives with a huge farm and another few dogs so he could spend some time there,

Im going to put some insulation down over his floor later this week and then put some marine ply over it so hell have an insulated floor

Im also going to pick up one of those red lamps for the shed so i can turn it on if the weather gets too cold,

I do bring him for a walk in the morning and a quick play, A play at lunch and let him walk around the house, A walk in the evening and then let him wander around the house with me again and put him to bed about half ten every night,

Soon he will have the best house there is

terenc

Collies or any breed can be turned from a well behaved dog into attack and bite mode using chains.
Why not train it to stay inside when you are away. It will take time and patience but well worth the effort.

ste2006

Dont worry he is not on a chain :-)

He roams around my fenced in garden