It is no secret that Border Collies are as energetic as the Energizer Bunny, but how much exercise does a Border Collie need? This question has been asked too frequently, and pet owners always have conflicting answers.
Dogs, regardless of the breed, will need daily exercise. The problem, however, is that there is a growing misconception that collies need to run a marathon lest they get a few loose screws. For that reason, new owners are always trying to figure out how to tire out a Border Collie.
Border Collies Can Have Varying Exercise Needs
The Internet is saturated with advice, such as: “Walk your Border Collie first thing in the morning and at dusk. Provide your high-energy pooch physical and mental exercises… and so forth.” This is good generic information, but it leaves you with a ton of questions.
Are Walks Enough for this Energetic Breed?
Yup. I know what you are thinking! Border Collies were bred to become the world’s smartest and best sheepdog. So, it doesn’t feel right that these furry cowboys are only walked by their owners. Right?
Wrong! It may surprise you, but Border Collies don’t need hours of vigorous exercise every day unless you condition your dog to require such a level of activity.
A two-hour walk should suffice for the average, healthy Border Collie. You can accomplish this by having two walks a day — one hour in the morning and another at night. Seniors could be fine with less.
In the end, it all boils down to consistency. It is always better to walk your dog daily than give him a massive workout during the weekend.
Can You Over Exercise a Border Collie?
Of course! Thus, you will need to determine your dog’s limits. I am not saying this high-energy breed can hardly stay active for hours. Border Collies are overflowing with energy and stamina. And with the right motivation, your furry sidekick would finish his mission in flying colors ASAP!
But if doggo is not used to getting a 10-mile morning run, setting him up to do such a physically challenging task might not be a good idea. You should never force your Border Collie to accomplish something right off the bat. Otherwise, you are putting him at risk for injury and mobility issues.
What you will want to do is to train doggo day by day until his body is becoming better fitted to perform more physically demanding tasks. On the other hand, you may have a clear idea of the activity level of your dog if you get him through rescue. The foster family may provide you with vital details.
How Do You Exercise Border Collies Who Do Not Herd?
The vast majority of the modern-day Border Collie is now kept as family pets in suburbias, rather than as working dogs in ranches. However, a dog’s happiness is not limited to the square meters you have. Even Border Collies in apartments have many ways to entertain themselves, provided that their owners go the extra mile to provide for their needs.
What Kind of Physical Exercise is Best for My Border Collie?
Long walks, jogging, and games of fetch are fun, healthy activities to do with your pooch. While doggos love these exercises, there are other enriching things you can do with them, as well.
Swimming
Swimming is an excellent low-impact activity to keep our canine companions fit. Vets recommend swimming to promote faster recovery from surgery and muscle strain in dogs. Swimming, among other exercises, increases muscle mass and helps delay the onset of arthritis and other age-related limitations. Fortunately, Border Collies love to swim! If you live near the coast, you may want to try surfing.
Dog Sports
Consider involving your Border Collie in dog sports. While there are plenty of sports for dogs, the following fit a Border Collie better than other breeds.
⚡⏱ Agility
As you may already know, Border Collies dominate agility contests. This sport is both physically and mentally challenging for your pooch. The obstacle course consists of ramps, teeter-tooters, tunnels, wave pools, and more. There are plenty of Agility clubs out there to help train your collie if you are serious about entering competitions.
🥅⚽ Push Ball
Border Collies are hardcore herders, so I am pretty sure your pooch will love playing push ball! During the game, doggo will gather large balls and move them past the goal line. It is basically soccer for canines. Your Border Collie can do this sport for fun or enter competitions.
🌊🐕 Dock Diving
Also known as dock jumping, it provides your pooch an enjoyable workout while staying cool and refreshed all summer. It doesn’t require an expensive set of equipment beyond the obvious — a dock and a body of water. Likewise, training for this sport is a breeze since Border Collies love to swim.
Cycling
Cycling is a great alternative to jogging, especially if you can’t seem to handle your dog’s energy levels. You will get off easy by riding a bike, while your pooch happily tags along. This might prove slightly difficult at first, but it is a cinch once you can get it down.
Walking on Treadmill
This may not be the most fun exercise for your pooch, as it does not offer doggo a battery of new smells and sights. However, this method is no longer taboo. Even Spitfire, the Michael Jordan of the Canine World, exercises on a treadmill.
While it does lack the element of surprise, it is an excellent substitute for a walk when the weather is inclement or when it isn’t practical to go outdoors.
Frisbee
Frisbee is another fun and competitive game Border Collies excel at. You can make it a weekly staple in the park or kick doggo’s game up a notch and enter competitions. There are local, regional, and national tournaments each year.
How Long Should I Exercise My Border Collie Puppy?
Puppies are like little Gremlins made out of rubber. They bounce off walls, run around, and chew things off without a care in the world! While these little rascals might seem tough, they have fragile bones and ligaments.
Daily walks are not needed for the first six months. Playtime will provide enough physical activity for your fast-growing puppy. Once he is ten months old, you can walk your pooch a few meters away from the house. But before you do that, you want to make sure your pup has completed his core vaccines.
If you have another puppy or consider getting one, the better. One nice thing about having two or more dogs is that the doggos can entertain each other when you are downright busy. It isn’t an excuse for being lazy, but having a furry sibling does make a huge difference.
Mental Exercise is Equally Important for Border Collies
As a pet parent for over a decade, I realized that mental stimulation is equally important as exercise, especially if you have super-intelligent doggos, like the Border Collie. So, how do you keep a Border Collie mentally stimulated? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some suggestions:
📊📋 Give Your Working Breed a Job
Border Collies are workaholics, but their work ethic is not limited to herding poultry and livestock. You can train your furry sidekick to chase away moles in your garden or collect stray socks and other thingamajigs that a Roomba may fail to pick up. Border Collies will gladly challenge themselves and take on any job to please their beloved humans!
🛒📦 Run Errands with Your Pooch
Whenever possible, have your dog tag along when running errands. A change of scenery will pump him up and it provides him plenty of opportunities to engage his senses.
🎲🐻 Purchase Interactive Toys
Border Collies are attention seekers, but on the contrary, they have a short attention span that lasts an average of 15 minutes. That said, ordinary chew toys will not work for them. You will want to bring interactive toys for your smartypants, and fortunately, the market offers a wide variety of these playthings.
Conclusion:
How much exercise does a Border Collie need? The duration will mostly depend upon your Border Collie. Thirty minutes is a fantastic way to start. You may slightly increase the duration from then on. But before anything else, you will want to see your vet and have him run a full check on your pooch to ensure doggo isn’t suffering from a medical condition. Lastly, don’t forget that doggo needs to be mentally stimulated through training and work.