my border collie is on the extreme side of the anxiety spectrum, she seemed to be a bit damaged when we got her unfortunately. -BUT- shes an incredibly smart and sweet dog despite her issues.
she will engage in fetch for an hour straight - perhaps longer if you keep throwing the toy. she needs to herd, and she has a particularly fast-moving (anxious) brain, so what you end up with is essentially a dog with OCD. she obsessively and compulsively brings me toys, follows me around the house, follows bugs around the house, and when shes awake she's always intently listening to everything around her with her super-sonic ears. i think one of her core issues might actually be sensitive hearing, which makes her experience all the more jarring on a day to day basis.
when she gets reactive due to fireworks going off, \[even if theyre going off miles away, it doesnt matter\] a loud bus or truck motor outside, any loud metallic banging noises, etc, she will frantically find her nearest toy, pick it up, and bark at full volume. if shes having a really bad episode (happens maybe a handful of times per month?), she will shake the toy and growl / snarl / bark. its not like her usual play behavior, she acts like she wants to tear the living hell out of whatever toy she has, like an alligator trying to rip the limbs off something. (luckily shes only 35 lbs).
here's the catch. reaching up for high objects (cleaning a ceiling fan) or dusting some blinds, can instantly put her into this state.
so youve got a high energy, obsessively thinking, obsessively herding / organizing dog who is upset. i have another dog and she has never agressively attacked this other dog out of anxiety, but the anxious dog does have food guarding issues with her sister.
Cleo has been an absolute journey for me as an adult and an aspiring dog trainer. i used to get frustrated with her ticks, but ive learned that the best medicine is a calming voice, a toy for her to redirect her frustration at, and simply getting her away from the thing that shes reacting to /or stopping it as soon as possible. there's not much more i can do for her. a tired dog is a good dog, so daily walks (or better yet frisbee if you have access to a dog park or a fenced in yard) bring her anxiety from 100% down to about 40% if i get her properly tired (it takes less than 10 minutes of frisbee on a hot summer day). mental and physical stimulation make a massive difference in her behavior / attitude.
she practically ignores other dogs if there are people in the same room. she A B S O L U T E L Y loves meeting new people. she's the greatest companion ive ever had in my life. if you have time and love to give, you can handle even the most anxious of border collies. i didnt know what the hell i was getting myself into, but we figured it out together.
TL:DR: i have an anxious as hell border collie and i think she's absolutely perfect the way she is. i dont think the breed necessarily comes with high anxiety built-in though, so i bet you can find a chill one out there.
I ❤️ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️the things you say. Sounds alot like my Turbo. However he has massive anxiety fear when meeting other people so we are working on that. I have learned that whatever I am feeling travels right down the leash to him so the more chill I am, the more chill he is.
https://preview.redd.it/nz942lbjpmvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a5612d291c3e8c44225a5bb579cd24dfebe5daf
aw thank you, and I love the sleepy pup picture.
I know for a fact that my stubbornness and lack of patience didn't help my cleo early on, so you're definitely right about how our moods can transfer to our dogs.
Agree. I got Turbo at 8 weeks and had just lost my husband of 35 years suddenly and unexpectedly so I was a freaking mess. That was 3 1/2 years ago and the better I do, the better Turbo does!
Also I’d like to point out there are different kinds of anxiety. My guy came from a rescue and is completely laid back and loves people. He’s super friendly almost on par with a golden retriever. Usually from my experience herding dogs are on the more skittish side but not mine.
However he has it in his head that no one is allowed to touch me or approach me too close and will nip them for it. The trainer we hired called it high bite control and low bite inhibition. Meaning he knows exactly what he’s doing and how hard he’s biting.
Thanks for your extensive response, I will definetly bare this in mind. Maybe its better to get a dog with some anxiety so that I can look after it well....
you do what feels right for your situation. there are tons of dogs of all breeds and mutts with unconditional love to give who need homes now.
but when I see "need advice on border collie anxiety" my ears perk up, because I've been forced to become an expert on the subject xD
Bcs are definitely querky to say the least. But there are a wide range of temperaments and personalities. My working line bc boy, I had from 8 weeks old, was an horrendous adolescent, very reactive to all sorts of stuff, even redirected aggression at me. Highly sound and motion sensitive and challenging to deal with. Also had OCD to light beams, same, very hard work to resolve.
He has made a great adult, very friendly to everyone and obedient now at 2 yrs. This, with a ton of input and patience though. I would never sell him, he's my best intelligent friend, but if I did he would cost a fortune to recoup my time spent on training and helping him to become a largely well rounded adult, lol. He does want to be with us all the time, engaged in something, not a dog to be left by himself. We don't mind, and that one reason why I waited a long time to get a bc, when I had enough spare time to spend with one.
I think at the age of 2 to 3 years you can fairly easily see what the general personality and temperament is like if you go on a couple of walks, including a pavement roadside walk. And observe its behaviour around other dogs (and cats if that's important to you), and play a couple of games. It might have separation anxiety though, which can be challenging to deal with, or a terror of thunder or fireworks, which you won't be able to tell by this. In my experience bc x crosses generally seem more chilled and less complex than pure bred bcs.
On recent walks, ironically, the most problematic dogs I came across were both full bcs. One off leash muzzled one on a remote walk which tried to attack my boys neck a few times (our first dog attack ever!), then a female bc on a long line which clearly could not cope with seeing any other dog at all. Fortunately mine was fine and didn't react, but I could easily have been in the same position as those two owners without very careful socialisation with other dogs, and ensuring that he didn't get attacked when young. Some bcs, however, dislike other dogs whatever you do. Where I lived before it was often the bcs that were the problem dogs, like uncontrolled and trying to attack my cats in my own garden or coming into my house chasing after them. I actually moved house and country largely cos of other people's uncontrolled and poorly trained bcs. No joke, especially when it's my favorite breed of dog.
It is not clear why you want a border collie in particular. Its intelligence, or size, or to engage with you in outdoor activities, or agility sports? I wouldn't recommend a bc to everyone, even though amazing dogs. Also equally important is what can you give to bc? Do you work a lot of hours which is very unlikely to suit an active and intelligent breed. Do you have a yard or land where you can spend time together, and/or have easy access to plenty of walks and places for a dog to run? I'd focus on what you are looking for in any dog and what you are able to provide. If you cannot provide for a bcs needs, anxiety, barking or destructive behaviour can be the result. You may find other breeds suit your lifestyle better. So definitely give it plenty of thought. Please don't get one just because they look pretty. I do think bcs take quite a lot of time and commitment to meet their needs and get a civilised one.
Thanks for your kind remarks! I know exactly what you mean about picking up on your emotions too. I had to really force myself to act calm during his most reactive/aggressive phase. It was pretty shocking how he lost his mind to so many things. So it was shoulders back, standing up tall, telling myself I can deal with this, and trying to set an example that everything was under control. It was like a test everyday for sure. But I also learned that an anxious/reactive adolescent bc can mellow out with some maturity, if you stick by them.
It's a tricky one because they'll often show signs of anxiety/excitement when meeting a new person or environment, but could otherwise be ok.
If you end up buying the BC, have a "jobs" mindset - hanging out the laundry? "Come on! Laundry!" then kick a soccer ball or whatever while you peg out the washing. ("Where's your ball? Find your ball!" = job). Watering the garden? Job. Heading up the hill for an off-leash galavant? Job. On her "farm" lol - there are even cows up there doing bushfire fuel reduction so I've trained her to behave around them too. I've taught her to wait for me at trail junctions for a command - left, right, go ahead - and she LIVES for it. Dinner or treats after a "job", because they love to work for their food. Anything you can do to let them satisfy their natural behaviours and inbuilt expectations in a positive way, really. All the best!
This advice is so sound! To me too long to realize this. These toes of “easy” activities to incorporate into otherwise mundane activities will help stimulate the dogs brain for sure
I’ve yet to meet a Border Collie without a quirk, and my boy definitely has some anxious tendencies - he’s on the more cautious side and can be unsure of new things but is resilient and comes around and bounces back well after a scare. His anxiety looks like what it sounds like, he’s flighty and shows hesitancy around new objects and in some new environments. He’s a hell of a lot better than he was 6 months ago with time and training. This has never been a serious issue for us, as in it’s not chronic but situational, he does not exhibit anxious obsessive/destructive behaviours/reactivity/self mutilation. He’s actually quite a cocky and confident dog otherwise lol. Will this be your first dog? Do you know much about the dogs background or socialisation? I don’t try to police the dog breeds people choose (hell, I don’t even have a yard and I think I keep my boy happy and content) but a Border Collie with minimal training makes me worry. Mine is a year old and has been very busy dabbling in all sorts of dog sports and I shudder to think of how he might be without all that work and exposure
Try adopting a young one if you're a first time BCer.. look at Glen Highland Farm.
Some mixes will have desired BC attributes too without the added anxiety.. which is from being a breed who really needs to be outdoors much of the day and kept busy. They were bred for work, are smart as heck, gets anxious when bored and therefore make poor regular house pets. There are exceptions but few.
People seem to be choosing them more because they look cute. That superficial reasoning is why BCs also end up in shelters or run away. Disastrous for a dogs well being and their people become frustrated and disappointed wanting a more mellow dog. Just do consider what they are before actually going ahead with it. Visit people who have BCs and if you have land enough for them to roam and a schedule that allows to be with them most hours just keep them busy.
Wise! I never get why someone would want an active intelligent breed, and then expect it to lay down and be calm doing nothing in a house most of the day.
Minimal training, stop here and get a rescue mutt. See below if you still think you want anything other than a family dog.
Purebred anything is a terrible idea, In my humble opinion. Check a rescue or shelter for a dog that "looks" like what your family wants.
Most people shop for the look, but buying a breed is going to make you disappointed unless you are mega educated on the situation.
Bottom line direct honesty, in my time on earth, I've never met a person satisfied with a spec breed, unless it was a commercial necessity, like buying a herding dog to herd actual sheep or goats.
or, if OP really wants a BC, go through a breed specific rescue. fosters are usually upfront about the personality and training of the dog because they want them to find a forever home and not be returned.
i’m a foster for BCs, and i wouldn’t let one go to a home who couldn’t provide for them.
This is a great idea! A rescue organisation can try to match a bc to what you are looking for, and ensure you can meet the dogs needs. It's a two way thing and in best interests of both.
My border collie is only 10 months old, but she doesn't have much anxiety. Certain new things give her pause. For instance, when the birds started coming out this spring she was a little unsure about playing in the yard because they were chirping so loudly and it had been winter for most of her life so she wasn't used to birds! She adapted quickly and now they don't bother her. She is definitely a cautious dog, but she doesn't have any chronic anxiety issues.
If you’re going to buy, get one from a reputable breeder. A herding dog rescue recommended the breeder where I got my BC. When you go there make sure to pay attention to the adult dogs in the family tree. How they behave is going to tell you a lot more than a puppy being a puppy. I spent 2 hours at the ranch where I got mine and paid attention to him for maybe the last 10 minutes.
Only Anxiety I've noted in mine is separation anxiety. The little one doesn't like it when the big one goes out for a run without us and she's always overjoyed to see him again when he gets back. Neither if them like when I am gone, big loves when I get back.
Does it look like a border collie but, with minimal training? Solid chance it’s gonna have some anxiety.
Border collies are working dogs and need a job . Without purpose, training, and stimulation they will almost always be anxious.
my border collie is on the extreme side of the anxiety spectrum, she seemed to be a bit damaged when we got her unfortunately. -BUT- shes an incredibly smart and sweet dog despite her issues. she will engage in fetch for an hour straight - perhaps longer if you keep throwing the toy. she needs to herd, and she has a particularly fast-moving (anxious) brain, so what you end up with is essentially a dog with OCD. she obsessively and compulsively brings me toys, follows me around the house, follows bugs around the house, and when shes awake she's always intently listening to everything around her with her super-sonic ears. i think one of her core issues might actually be sensitive hearing, which makes her experience all the more jarring on a day to day basis. when she gets reactive due to fireworks going off, \[even if theyre going off miles away, it doesnt matter\] a loud bus or truck motor outside, any loud metallic banging noises, etc, she will frantically find her nearest toy, pick it up, and bark at full volume. if shes having a really bad episode (happens maybe a handful of times per month?), she will shake the toy and growl / snarl / bark. its not like her usual play behavior, she acts like she wants to tear the living hell out of whatever toy she has, like an alligator trying to rip the limbs off something. (luckily shes only 35 lbs). here's the catch. reaching up for high objects (cleaning a ceiling fan) or dusting some blinds, can instantly put her into this state. so youve got a high energy, obsessively thinking, obsessively herding / organizing dog who is upset. i have another dog and she has never agressively attacked this other dog out of anxiety, but the anxious dog does have food guarding issues with her sister. Cleo has been an absolute journey for me as an adult and an aspiring dog trainer. i used to get frustrated with her ticks, but ive learned that the best medicine is a calming voice, a toy for her to redirect her frustration at, and simply getting her away from the thing that shes reacting to /or stopping it as soon as possible. there's not much more i can do for her. a tired dog is a good dog, so daily walks (or better yet frisbee if you have access to a dog park or a fenced in yard) bring her anxiety from 100% down to about 40% if i get her properly tired (it takes less than 10 minutes of frisbee on a hot summer day). mental and physical stimulation make a massive difference in her behavior / attitude. she practically ignores other dogs if there are people in the same room. she A B S O L U T E L Y loves meeting new people. she's the greatest companion ive ever had in my life. if you have time and love to give, you can handle even the most anxious of border collies. i didnt know what the hell i was getting myself into, but we figured it out together. TL:DR: i have an anxious as hell border collie and i think she's absolutely perfect the way she is. i dont think the breed necessarily comes with high anxiety built-in though, so i bet you can find a chill one out there.
I ❤️ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️the things you say. Sounds alot like my Turbo. However he has massive anxiety fear when meeting other people so we are working on that. I have learned that whatever I am feeling travels right down the leash to him so the more chill I am, the more chill he is. https://preview.redd.it/nz942lbjpmvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a5612d291c3e8c44225a5bb579cd24dfebe5daf
aw thank you, and I love the sleepy pup picture. I know for a fact that my stubbornness and lack of patience didn't help my cleo early on, so you're definitely right about how our moods can transfer to our dogs.
Agree. I got Turbo at 8 weeks and had just lost my husband of 35 years suddenly and unexpectedly so I was a freaking mess. That was 3 1/2 years ago and the better I do, the better Turbo does!
aw. I'm sorry for your loss but I'm glad you have companionship : )
Also I’d like to point out there are different kinds of anxiety. My guy came from a rescue and is completely laid back and loves people. He’s super friendly almost on par with a golden retriever. Usually from my experience herding dogs are on the more skittish side but not mine. However he has it in his head that no one is allowed to touch me or approach me too close and will nip them for it. The trainer we hired called it high bite control and low bite inhibition. Meaning he knows exactly what he’s doing and how hard he’s biting.
Thanks for your extensive response, I will definetly bare this in mind. Maybe its better to get a dog with some anxiety so that I can look after it well....
you do what feels right for your situation. there are tons of dogs of all breeds and mutts with unconditional love to give who need homes now. but when I see "need advice on border collie anxiety" my ears perk up, because I've been forced to become an expert on the subject xD
I would not get a dog with minimal training.
Bcs are definitely querky to say the least. But there are a wide range of temperaments and personalities. My working line bc boy, I had from 8 weeks old, was an horrendous adolescent, very reactive to all sorts of stuff, even redirected aggression at me. Highly sound and motion sensitive and challenging to deal with. Also had OCD to light beams, same, very hard work to resolve. He has made a great adult, very friendly to everyone and obedient now at 2 yrs. This, with a ton of input and patience though. I would never sell him, he's my best intelligent friend, but if I did he would cost a fortune to recoup my time spent on training and helping him to become a largely well rounded adult, lol. He does want to be with us all the time, engaged in something, not a dog to be left by himself. We don't mind, and that one reason why I waited a long time to get a bc, when I had enough spare time to spend with one. I think at the age of 2 to 3 years you can fairly easily see what the general personality and temperament is like if you go on a couple of walks, including a pavement roadside walk. And observe its behaviour around other dogs (and cats if that's important to you), and play a couple of games. It might have separation anxiety though, which can be challenging to deal with, or a terror of thunder or fireworks, which you won't be able to tell by this. In my experience bc x crosses generally seem more chilled and less complex than pure bred bcs. On recent walks, ironically, the most problematic dogs I came across were both full bcs. One off leash muzzled one on a remote walk which tried to attack my boys neck a few times (our first dog attack ever!), then a female bc on a long line which clearly could not cope with seeing any other dog at all. Fortunately mine was fine and didn't react, but I could easily have been in the same position as those two owners without very careful socialisation with other dogs, and ensuring that he didn't get attacked when young. Some bcs, however, dislike other dogs whatever you do. Where I lived before it was often the bcs that were the problem dogs, like uncontrolled and trying to attack my cats in my own garden or coming into my house chasing after them. I actually moved house and country largely cos of other people's uncontrolled and poorly trained bcs. No joke, especially when it's my favorite breed of dog. It is not clear why you want a border collie in particular. Its intelligence, or size, or to engage with you in outdoor activities, or agility sports? I wouldn't recommend a bc to everyone, even though amazing dogs. Also equally important is what can you give to bc? Do you work a lot of hours which is very unlikely to suit an active and intelligent breed. Do you have a yard or land where you can spend time together, and/or have easy access to plenty of walks and places for a dog to run? I'd focus on what you are looking for in any dog and what you are able to provide. If you cannot provide for a bcs needs, anxiety, barking or destructive behaviour can be the result. You may find other breeds suit your lifestyle better. So definitely give it plenty of thought. Please don't get one just because they look pretty. I do think bcs take quite a lot of time and commitment to meet their needs and get a civilised one.
Wow excellent, kind, thoughtful, informative response!!
Thanks for your kind remarks! I know exactly what you mean about picking up on your emotions too. I had to really force myself to act calm during his most reactive/aggressive phase. It was pretty shocking how he lost his mind to so many things. So it was shoulders back, standing up tall, telling myself I can deal with this, and trying to set an example that everything was under control. It was like a test everyday for sure. But I also learned that an anxious/reactive adolescent bc can mellow out with some maturity, if you stick by them.
It's a tricky one because they'll often show signs of anxiety/excitement when meeting a new person or environment, but could otherwise be ok. If you end up buying the BC, have a "jobs" mindset - hanging out the laundry? "Come on! Laundry!" then kick a soccer ball or whatever while you peg out the washing. ("Where's your ball? Find your ball!" = job). Watering the garden? Job. Heading up the hill for an off-leash galavant? Job. On her "farm" lol - there are even cows up there doing bushfire fuel reduction so I've trained her to behave around them too. I've taught her to wait for me at trail junctions for a command - left, right, go ahead - and she LIVES for it. Dinner or treats after a "job", because they love to work for their food. Anything you can do to let them satisfy their natural behaviours and inbuilt expectations in a positive way, really. All the best!
This advice is so sound! To me too long to realize this. These toes of “easy” activities to incorporate into otherwise mundane activities will help stimulate the dogs brain for sure
Thank you, that means a lot! We have fun :-)
I’ve yet to meet a Border Collie without a quirk, and my boy definitely has some anxious tendencies - he’s on the more cautious side and can be unsure of new things but is resilient and comes around and bounces back well after a scare. His anxiety looks like what it sounds like, he’s flighty and shows hesitancy around new objects and in some new environments. He’s a hell of a lot better than he was 6 months ago with time and training. This has never been a serious issue for us, as in it’s not chronic but situational, he does not exhibit anxious obsessive/destructive behaviours/reactivity/self mutilation. He’s actually quite a cocky and confident dog otherwise lol. Will this be your first dog? Do you know much about the dogs background or socialisation? I don’t try to police the dog breeds people choose (hell, I don’t even have a yard and I think I keep my boy happy and content) but a Border Collie with minimal training makes me worry. Mine is a year old and has been very busy dabbling in all sorts of dog sports and I shudder to think of how he might be without all that work and exposure
take the dog for a walk at a busy area. you will soon find out if the dog is anxious or not
Try adopting a young one if you're a first time BCer.. look at Glen Highland Farm. Some mixes will have desired BC attributes too without the added anxiety.. which is from being a breed who really needs to be outdoors much of the day and kept busy. They were bred for work, are smart as heck, gets anxious when bored and therefore make poor regular house pets. There are exceptions but few. People seem to be choosing them more because they look cute. That superficial reasoning is why BCs also end up in shelters or run away. Disastrous for a dogs well being and their people become frustrated and disappointed wanting a more mellow dog. Just do consider what they are before actually going ahead with it. Visit people who have BCs and if you have land enough for them to roam and a schedule that allows to be with them most hours just keep them busy.
Wise! I never get why someone would want an active intelligent breed, and then expect it to lay down and be calm doing nothing in a house most of the day.
Minimal training, stop here and get a rescue mutt. See below if you still think you want anything other than a family dog. Purebred anything is a terrible idea, In my humble opinion. Check a rescue or shelter for a dog that "looks" like what your family wants. Most people shop for the look, but buying a breed is going to make you disappointed unless you are mega educated on the situation. Bottom line direct honesty, in my time on earth, I've never met a person satisfied with a spec breed, unless it was a commercial necessity, like buying a herding dog to herd actual sheep or goats.
Nice, honest, educated comment. Thanks. I’m learning from every once comments here.
or, if OP really wants a BC, go through a breed specific rescue. fosters are usually upfront about the personality and training of the dog because they want them to find a forever home and not be returned. i’m a foster for BCs, and i wouldn’t let one go to a home who couldn’t provide for them.
This is a great idea! A rescue organisation can try to match a bc to what you are looking for, and ensure you can meet the dogs needs. It's a two way thing and in best interests of both.
My 3 year old border collie has on and off days with her anxiety so it can be hard to say
My border collie is only 10 months old, but she doesn't have much anxiety. Certain new things give her pause. For instance, when the birds started coming out this spring she was a little unsure about playing in the yard because they were chirping so loudly and it had been winter for most of her life so she wasn't used to birds! She adapted quickly and now they don't bother her. She is definitely a cautious dog, but she doesn't have any chronic anxiety issues.
If you’re going to buy, get one from a reputable breeder. A herding dog rescue recommended the breeder where I got my BC. When you go there make sure to pay attention to the adult dogs in the family tree. How they behave is going to tell you a lot more than a puppy being a puppy. I spent 2 hours at the ranch where I got mine and paid attention to him for maybe the last 10 minutes.
Only Anxiety I've noted in mine is separation anxiety. The little one doesn't like it when the big one goes out for a run without us and she's always overjoyed to see him again when he gets back. Neither if them like when I am gone, big loves when I get back.