Are border collies good with kids and family? This remains a moot point among the dog owner community, as we have seen families who have had problems raising border collies with kids.
The border collie’s strong desire to keep its family members together can come as an unpleasant surprise to those who may only know of this breed as the most obedient and smartest dog.
Are you considering adopting a border collie? A word of caution: these dogs are high maintenance except in the grooming department.
Are Border Collies Good Family Dogs?
Border collies love their families, but not all families are a good fit for this beautiful breed. For starters, border collies seem to have an endless amount of energy. The biggest challenge, however, is when you are raising border collies with kids.
If the border collie isn’t employed to herd farm animals outdoors, its instinctive skill and drive to control will kick inside the house. Puppies herding children may seem fun and innocent at first, but encouraging this behavior is an accident waiting to happen.
While it is impossible to suppress a border collie’s herding instincts, you can channel it into other outlets, such as games and sports. Thankfully, border collies are smart and eager to please their owners. Therefore, training them is a breeze! However, this is not just about border collies.
Parents should also teach their children to provide the same affection and respect towards their four-legged friends. Border collies aren’t aggressive by nature, but if kids continue to harass them, they may bite out of fear or annoyance. If your children aren’t old enough to understand, you should never leave your border collies with kids unsupervised.
Border Collie Personality & Temperament
As expected of the most intelligent canine, the border collie thrives in constant learning and physical activity. Border collies have astounding levels of energy and stamina, making them the ultimate shepherd dogs throughout history. Due to their heritage, these dogs may chase after anything that moves, including cyclists whizzing by. The border collie is also notable for its magical stare, hypnotizing livestock, and striking fear on other dogs.
Nowadays, you can see border collies enjoying winning streaks in agility contests, sheepdog trials, and other herding events worldwide. As energetic as the Energizer Bunny, these canines always need a purpose, lest they become loud and destructive. A bored border collie often gets into all sorts of trouble, and you certainly don’t want a canine tornado around young children.
Are border collies good with kids and family? Indeed, they are! While these dogs are reserved with strangers, they are affectionate towards their family members. However, these loving dogs are best suited to country living. If you live in a suburb, you want to make sure you have a spacious backyard enclosed with a high fence.
All in all, there is a lot to love about this canine dynamo. However, the border collie temperament is not for everyone. On the other hand, families that can accommodate this breed’s work ethics and high-energy needs can expect a sweet and loyal furry family member.
Can Border Collies Be Aggressive?
Aggression is rare in border collies. Nipping and chasing are vital aspects of herding, but a border collie would never do so with malicious intent. Regardless, there will be occasions when a border collie may growl at humans and other dogs. The following are the most common reasons that may trigger border collies to behave aggressively:
- Resource Guarding
Guarding objects of high value, such as food and toys, is a behavior our domesticated canines inherited from their wild ancestors. Although this behavior is normal, it is potentially dangerous if young children have yet to learn to leave dogs alone.
A puppy wolfing down its food whenever someone approaches is the first stage of food aggression. You can try to nip this habit in the bud by giving your border collie a tasty treat whenever you try to touch the food bowl. Doing so will teach your clever pooch that you aren’t there to take away the food.
- Physical Pain
Any dog recuperating due to an illness or a medical procedure is under a lot of stress. So, don’t be upset if your border collie snaps at you. Your pooch just needs privacy and more sleep.
- Threat
Did you know that fear motivates the majority of dog bites rather than aggression? But as with any dog, a border collie would always show warning signs before it does something drastic. If your furry pal feels threatened by strangers, it will let them know by baring its teeth.
For the most part, aggression is uncharacteristic of border collies. But if your pooch does act aggressively for an extended period, something might be up. You need to determine why your dog behaves in such a way so that you will know how to respond.
Are Border Collies Protective?
Border collies take their watchdog duties earnestly, and they develop a strong attachment to their home. These keen-eyed canines will watch you always and rush in front of you if you need some assistance. Discerning and suspicious, border collies will also stop their family members from going near someone or something these pooches deem dangerous.
Since border collies are incredibly smart, these dogs sometimes like to take situations into their paws. If you don’t’ tell your pooch what to do, it will decide for you. Most of the time, those decisions include driving away guests and growling at every person walking by your house.
Do Border Collies Bark A Lot?
You bet! I find it difficult to imagine border collies staying quiet and composed because these dogs are notoriously vocal and hyperactive.
Barking is a primary way for dogs to communicate with their owners. Generally speaking, a dog will bark to ask for attention, express wants, and emotions, or alert family members of suspicious activity. However, border Collies are more astute and communicative than most breeds.
Since herding involves a lot of barking, it should come as no surprise that barking is part of a border collie’s DNA. Border collies get quickly excited by visual and auditory stimulation, such as the ice cream truck jingle and the rustles of critters stealing your food. For this reason, these shepherd dogs also make excellent watchdogs.
That being said, not everyone appreciates the enthusiasm of these fluffy barkers. Your neighbors will be the first to complain. Understandably, excessive barking is a nuisance, and it gets worse if you have a bored border collie underneath your roof. Bold and expressive, you will hear these canines whine peevishly about many things, including that lousy Netflix show you are watching.
Therefore, your pooch must develop appropriate behavior, starting from a young age. Don’t give training the brush-off even if you have adopted an older dog. As unbelievable as it sounds, you can teach a border collie when to bark on command. Erecting a high yard may also help deflect the barking, as this reduces the number of potential triggers.
Can Border Collies Be Left Alone?
How well would you do if you were confined all day without mental or physical stimulation and social interaction? Border collies in solitary confinement will always find something to do to occupy their minds. I guarantee these clever dogs will find a way to bust the door open and do something you might not like.
Separation anxiety is quite common in border collies. The minute you leave, your furry pal will think you are never coming back. Thus, being left alone breaks their hearts, as well as their minds.
Therefore, don’t leave your furry pal too long. Make sure your border collie has everything it needs to stay happy. Aside from toys, you may want to consider using the Furbo Dog Camera to keep an eye on your pooch and dispense rich rewards for good behavior.
Conclusion
Are border collies good with kids and family? If trained and raised well, border collies can be the perfect life companions for you and your kids. But just because they are smart doesn’t mean they are easy to look after. These canines possess an exceptional work ethic. If you don’t give your border collie a job, it will find one, and I guarantee that you will not like it!
These affectionate dogs also don’t tolerate being left alone for long. If bored or ignored, they will find inventive ways to amuse themselves, and most of the time, these will drive you crazy. But if you can provide these dogs with the necessary stimulation, time, and commitment, I recommend you welcome one home.
All I can say is that border collies are wonderful dogs, and their love and loyalty towards their family are off the scale.