I worked with border collies for a bit that were used to 'herd' geese at office building and neighborhood ponds until the geese got nervous and flew away, they got to circle huge ponds several times throughout the day while working. And boy did they need it, but they were such well behaved and responsive dogs too.
I work in a dog kennel. ALL the border collies we get are mental. Anxious wrecks. They have been forced to curb and internalize all that energy, and they go quietly insane. It is a sad thing to see.
There are more Border Collies & Australian Shepherds in my area rescues than there are Pitt Bulls (and there are a ton of those!). It’s so sad because most people don’t have the space nor the time to devote to these awesome dogs yet they bring high dollars so they keep being bred in obscene numbers. They are beautiful, but it’s a shame that they are being stuffed in apartments just so they aren’t put down. A suburban backyard would be better than what many of them end up with around here. 😔
Gods they are gorgeous! AND YES FFS don't stunt their beauty intelligence or personality if your lifestyle doesn't let a collie have enrichment and outlet of this level. Get a cat, try to train that cat, I promise it will be just as much a challenge and rewarding without the need for your live in a style to have open 5 mile runs and sprints for your collie's needs fulfillment.
we have had 2 border collies. Our current girl, Daisy and our previous girl, Angel. She lived to 18 years old and had the best life on our 2 acres with a pool. Our current girl, loves frisbee and the pool and is not over hyper or bored! Dervoted, loving, playful and our best friend. Best dogs ever. Sooo smart!
I'm afraid I gotta' disagree with you there, this song fits quite well. I just wish the video was a longer cut so that the music didn't need to start at such an odd point.
I have a border collie in a suburban neighborhood. We play frisbee almost everyday and he runs every bit as much as these guys. It's not where you live, it's time and caring.
I have a border collie in the suburbs of Australia. Average back yard but we run with her everyday. I do 5km then the wife does 5km. then the kids play fetch on the oval til she gives up. It's a big job
We have an Australian Shepherd (which I know isn't actually Australian) and same. Husband takes her in the morning, I take her at lunch, kids take her after school. She still begs me to play fetch after the kids are in bed.
Yes! Mals can at least be worked with the right kind of games to burn off some energy but IMHO you should have to prove a use for them (and most working dogs) before you can buy one. After a busy day doing their job working breeds are mostly wonderful animals but without the right engagement and enrichment they often make terrible pets. My old neighbor handled a bomb sniffing dog and I could always tell when she had days off because the dog would start acting up after a day lazing around.
I had a Great Dane. Took her to dog park once and she was able to fully stretch out and run. It was beautiful (and slightly terrifying). Thankfully she was a big baby otherwise.
We traded over overzealous border collie for an Aussie that refused to herd. Bingo the insanity mutt went on to competition, Sarah the uninspired got to sleep and then nap. Both were much happier.
I adopted my border collie when I was 7 years old. We grew up together. I lived in a town of 3500. After she figured out where home was, she was never fenced in, nor tied up. She would run in the mornings with the neighbors, then across town to my dad's shop, and downtown for naps and snacks. She knew when school was out and would be there to play and run some more. Absolute best friend ever, not just to me but a lot of that town as well. Wouldn't work these days though. Best farm dogs by far.
Only downside is sometimes they cannot stop chasing/herding cars/trucks and die by the tire :( happened to one of my friends border collie farm dogs. RIP Georgie.
Have a hound/pit/Anatolian mix named Cow Girl. She takes the hound and pit we live with on two huge trips twice a day. We live well away from any main road, and they pass through three different farms plus Corps of Engineers land to do it. 91 acres, 120 acres, 90 acres, and 35 acres. They cover it all, go for a swim, then run home like clockwork.
My sister's Bengal walks 8 miles to the local cemetery every day to hang out and hunt rats. The volunteers there feed him and send her photos. Then he walks the 8 miles home. She gets so worried, but Bengals got to Bengal. (UK)
Because if the dog comes across a leashed, aggressive dog and they fight, the aggressive dog has to be put down. Also our dog tore his acl when an off leash dog got near him and he lunged forward to protect us. Didn't make contact with the dog, but now he can barely walk and cries when he has to.
I've only known a couple people with border collies. The suggestion from both was: don't get one unless you either devote all your free time to working with them or have an active job they can come along with. Very smart, very high energy, absolutely need stuff to do.
My family has had a few, they're effing awesome dogs - my favourite breed. Absolutely need a huge amount of exercise: both body and mind. It's been a while since I have had the necassary space myself, so I have a Jack Russell at the moment. One day I'll have another BC though. Or three :)
I adored my border. She helped herd my two toddlers and kept all men except my husband, dad, and father-in-law ten feet away from me. We didn't teach her that at all. She just decided those three men were the only ones safe enough.
Had a border collie/malamute mix growing up. Smartest little shit and loved her for that. Figured out how to open the kenel door then would sit by the back door, tail just a going. Also I unintentionally trained her with non verbal commands to go with the verbal ones. We lived on an acre and a half, and I would watch her do laps around the yard as she tried to herd the 2 other dogs we had.
Had a coworker move into an apt with one. Started destroying the house during the day. So he had to keep it in his car with the windows down and walk it every 1-2hrs. It still ate half his car. Luckily that was even an option since it never gets above 60 degrees here.
My brother had one, and it worked out well for him, *but* he lived with 3 other people at the time and they all worked odd hours so someone was always home to run the dogs.
I knew (and briefly lived with) a guy who had one, while I was in college. He was the older brother of one of my classmates, and had already quit school to do his own thing. Which was explosive demolition of beaver dams and trapping of pest animals in the rural areas around the school. He brought his dog everywhere, and was always training her. She was amazingly obedient, but he had already decided to devote all his time to this dog. I know Lady isn't around anymore, but I hope Chuck is ok.
I knew one person with a border collie who did competitive frisbee/dog dancing type stuff with him. He was bonkers for the training, though he wasn't perfect. The other owner ran a small batch dog biscuit company, She brought hers collie when she delivered batches. He passed, and she got a brother/sibling duo. Even then, she only brought the younger puppy siblings after they were pretty trained. Visiting stores while following instructions helped give them a mental workout.
when i worked with my step dad as an on call heavy duty mechanic . i always brought my collie with us on service calls. i would just let her run through farmers fields as we worked on their machines .. sometimes she would run over a km away from where we were. wpuld have to honk the horn on our servicw truck to let her knlw to come back lol
We had a golden retriever which was supposedly half border collie and that dog was quite lazy indoors. She was very active outdoors, however, though not necessarily keen on running like mad around open spaces, opting instead to play with rocks, strip bark off of logs, and go adventuring in the Alaskan forest. She also loved sprayed water from the hose and catching snow kicked off the porch. She also had really long fur on her back legs and would always get tangled really badly in the wild →
Our border collie was the exception to that rule. He never showed interest in herding, retrieving, agility or being handled in general. He knew the basics and that was it. However, he was the most intuitive dog I've known, incredibly sweet and silly as heck.
My border collie/cattle dog herds you in the ways that it's good for him. He'll herd you to where he knows the treats are. Or he'll make an exchange: a dog toy for a treat which he always gets
Same with my collie lab mix who doesn’t like to get dirty, sits on benches with people at the dog park, and regards herself as human. Playing with “dogs” is not in her ideal day. She also thinks of cats as strange small dogs that require frequent butt sniffs. She even had a close, but still safe distant from a protective enclosure, encounter with a hedgehog once. She also understands way too many words for her own good and can selectively hear instructions.
Yea. I think mine is broken too. He just watches TV and snuggles. Only one of my dogs that can tough it through a several day/week backpacking trip though
There's always a handful that have to be completely contrary. We have a GSD/Collie mix we were sure was going to have us running when she was young, but ended up pretty lazy. Very smart and obedient, but happy to amble along. Meanwhile the little lap dog I got expecting a lazy cuddle buddy is the one who never wanted to stop, but she had the most hilarious personality. She was also very agreeable with other dogs unlike other tiny terrors, she just loved to be active.
My wife and I have a border collie lab mix. He’s a little bigger than your normal collie, still smart, but if you want to sit around the lab kicks in and just hangs out with you. If you’re busy and working all day, he’s there helping until you’re done. It’s a great combo.
When my daughter was a toddler, we had one. Dog was a lifesaver because the kid was a runner. She would herd her and keep her safe. One time I dared to go to the bathroom. Well, I thought she was asleep. She decided to wake up mid poo. That day I learned she knew how to open child safety door locks and got outside. Dog kept her in the yard and out of the river she was determined to go in. That was also the weekend she started swimming lessons.
my aunt and uncle had a GSD that they called my first babysitter, Gertie kept me out of the woods and in the yard, this was the 80s so most of the adults were drunk and hanging out on the patio not paying attentions. On Saturday mornings we'd sit in front of the TV and eat cereal together.
I rescued a border collie years ago when I lived in the country. Can confirm, incredible energy and intelligence. If not trained and occupied they will entertain themselves in interesting ways.
I knew a guy who had one but for one reason or another he stopped doing the job he'd originally needed the dog for. Over the summer the dog dismantled his deck board by board out of boredom.
SalvalecRhaplanca
I worked with border collies for a bit that were used to 'herd' geese at office building and neighborhood ponds until the geese got nervous and flew away, they got to circle huge ponds several times throughout the day while working. And boy did they need it, but they were such well behaved and responsive dogs too.
metalrulercid
Now those are zoomies... Damn!
starrs3
My best friends had one growing up because their dad was a marathon runner and he wanted a dog he could practice with.
GrimNyrah
I work in a dog kennel. ALL the border collies we get are mental. Anxious wrecks. They have been forced to curb and internalize all that energy, and they go quietly insane. It is a sad thing to see.
striximperatrix1
+1 for the Woodkid alone.
UnattendedDeviant
Beautiful, especially knowing how happy they are doing that.
padman531
brandonblk
Nyoom
MyDogIsBiggerThanABanana
Can confirm, have border collie, live in the country, never ever, ever runs out of gas.
Rosfmmmhzdrozzley
I believe this is when they were racing to Rivendell with the Nazgul hot on their tails
OneOfTheEnemiesWithin
There are more Border Collies & Australian Shepherds in my area rescues than there are Pitt Bulls (and there are a ton of those!). It’s so sad because most people don’t have the space nor the time to devote to these awesome dogs yet they bring high dollars so they keep being bred in obscene numbers. They are beautiful, but it’s a shame that they are being stuffed in apartments just so they aren’t put down. A suburban backyard would be better than what many of them end up with around here. 😔
almostalone
That dog is living their best life jfc. I want that freedom.
ShadowTeller
Gods they are gorgeous! AND YES FFS don't stunt their beauty intelligence or personality if your lifestyle doesn't let a collie have enrichment and outlet of this level. Get a cat, try to train that cat, I promise it will be just as much a challenge and rewarding without the need for your live in a style to have open 5 mile runs and sprints for your collie's needs fulfillment.
WellAckchually
And humans are not meant to sit looking at a screen all day every day yet here we are
Darkstar318
we have had 2 border collies. Our current girl, Daisy and our previous girl, Angel. She lived to 18 years old and had the best life on our 2 acres with a pool. Our current girl, loves frisbee and the pool and is not over hyper or bored! Dervoted, loving, playful and our best friend. Best dogs ever. Sooo smart!
Myrealnameisunusual
Is this England?
jakedafish
Could be Ireland/Scotland/Wales/New Zealand... I'd love to know though. Frigging gorgeous.
Selgiarc
Nice tune
Mesmes
The song is "run boy run" by Woodkid.
algoritham
Do NOT unmute.
Muffinburgler
What? It's a great song. You people just like saying that to anything that makes noise.
Feralkyn
Hard disagree, solid song & fits the theme of the video perfectly
Bludabeagle
PLEASE.....what is the title of this song? Serious Question.
otiumCatulli
Run boy run
Vortexhelios320
I'm afraid I gotta' disagree with you there, this song fits quite well. I just wish the video was a longer cut so that the music didn't need to start at such an odd point.
Mesmes
The song is "run boy run" by Woodkid.
CaptainDashQuinlan
Live action Princess Mononoke looks great!
amalgarhythm
DrSharkbite
captainyesterday11
I have a border collie in a suburban neighborhood. We play frisbee almost everyday and he runs every bit as much as these guys. It's not where you live, it's time and caring.
funniestusername
I have a border collie in the suburbs of Australia. Average back yard but we run with her everyday. I do 5km then the wife does 5km. then the kids play fetch on the oval til she gives up. It's a big job
tubbers06
We have an Australian Shepherd (which I know isn't actually Australian) and same. Husband takes her in the morning, I take her at lunch, kids take her after school. She still begs me to play fetch after the kids are in bed.
funniestusername
OMG yes they are obsessed with fetch
Phislammajama
They are so intelligent. I watched a lady use sign language to guide her collie to retrieve a toddlers toy that floated out in a pond. It was so cool.
ThePunishersVengefulBrother
We teach our dog hand gestures in case there's a situation with a lot of noise.
Phislammajama
My puppers does better with have gestures than voice commands. I'm very spirited with hand gestures lol
justplainvanilla
virtguy
😍
goforthandconquer
strong desire to be that doggo for a day.
ThePunishersVengefulBrother
I feel that.
chronicbionictonic
they make speedy gonzales look like regular gonzales
ChallengerDeep
Same thing with malligators (Belgian Malinois) and sled dogs.
MagisterGrimbart
And working line gsds ...
blinkie79
Yes! Mals can at least be worked with the right kind of games to burn off some energy but IMHO you should have to prove a use for them (and most working dogs) before you can buy one. After a busy day doing their job working breeds are mostly wonderful animals but without the right engagement and enrichment they often make terrible pets. My old neighbor handled a bomb sniffing dog and I could always tell when she had days off because the dog would start acting up after a day lazing around.
janelPieSmuggler
God... I could watch dogs running all day.
OhIfIMust
https://youtu.be/sUFsqgohGeA
q2grapple
I had a Great Dane. Took her to dog park once and she was able to fully stretch out and run. It was beautiful (and slightly terrifying). Thankfully she was a big baby otherwise.
shorttaldutchguy
need huskies for that, the rest can't maintain the pace.
chiechien
My 1/3 husky 2/3 miscellaneous is good for about 100ft and then he's had enough running for a week, lol
Dannyalcatraz
Even Burder Collies can be lazy. Source: my current grrrl.
tinytinkingdom
We traded over overzealous border collie for an Aussie that refused to herd. Bingo the insanity mutt went on to competition, Sarah the uninspired got to sleep and then nap. Both were much happier.
PhailRaptor
Grrrl, from the planet Omicron Perscii 8?
Dannyalcatraz
Alas, our lass is not THAT Grrrl.
StewedTomaters
So she's a riot grrrl, like a 90s feminist punk who puts out her own "zine?"
Dannyalcatraz
Alas, our lassie is illiterate. But she CAN sound “furrocious” from the wrong side of our door!
ElbowDeepInUserSub
Why does the slow one run like a skinwalker?
smashasaurus
Possibly hip dysplasia, it starts to crop up in some collies as they age.
staceyjorgenson31415
Sshhhh 🥺
CaptainDashQuinlan
I think you just answered your own question
blinkie79
Barks like a skinwalker, runs like a skinwalker.... probably a skinwalker.
Baltzdelirium
Slow...
q2grapple
Only like 30 mph
Baltzdelirium
Casual jog
Nnoodles
I adopted my border collie when I was 7 years old. We grew up together. I lived in a town of 3500. After she figured out where home was, she was never fenced in, nor tied up. She would run in the mornings with the neighbors, then across town to my dad's shop, and downtown for naps and snacks. She knew when school was out and would be there to play and run some more. Absolute best friend ever, not just to me but a lot of that town as well. Wouldn't work these days though. Best farm dogs by far.
Ultratoxic
Only downside is sometimes they cannot stop chasing/herding cars/trucks and die by the tire :( happened to one of my friends border collie farm dogs. RIP Georgie.
theinternetkeepsmealive
That is beautiful. What an amazing life for a border collie.
UnapologeticTeaEnjoyer
Have a hound/pit/Anatolian mix named Cow Girl. She takes the hound and pit we live with on two huge trips twice a day. We live well away from any main road, and they pass through three different farms plus Corps of Engineers land to do it. 91 acres, 120 acres, 90 acres, and 35 acres. They cover it all, go for a swim, then run home like clockwork.
Firestar002
My dad has an indoor/outdoor cat and he goes around. Has a tracker thing on him to see where the cat is.
Panahet
My sister's Bengal walks 8 miles to the local cemetery every day to hang out and hunt rats. The volunteers there feed him and send her photos. Then he walks the 8 miles home. She gets so worried, but Bengals got to Bengal. (UK)
graceinsheepsclothing
You weren't in Ojai, were you? There used to be a dog that walked around like that in the 80s.
CT1space3DX
why the hell would this get down voted? Seriously want to know.
arawhotdogsuspendedinatupperwareofvaseline
Because if the dog comes across a leashed, aggressive dog and they fight, the aggressive dog has to be put down. Also our dog tore his acl when an off leash dog got near him and he lunged forward to protect us. Didn't make contact with the dog, but now he can barely walk and cries when he has to.
hugyourhedgehog
The one down vote was probably someone who didn't agree with letting a dog run free and not secure idk
brandonblk
wdym, it has 7 upvotes?
hugyourhedgehog
You can hit the three little dots and the thing that says analytics and it shows you how many people down voted and upvoted
brandonblk
I only get permalink, context, mute user and report
arae8
Omg I’ve been so annoyed by that since they changed the main view. I had no idea there was still a way to see this. Thank you!
caldella
I've only known a couple people with border collies. The suggestion from both was: don't get one unless you either devote all your free time to working with them or have an active job they can come along with. Very smart, very high energy, absolutely need stuff to do.
Isthe4thtimethecharm
Yeah, a friend has one, and that dog will play fetch until its paws bleed. It will keep going there, but he tries to stop it before.
narniasreal
Meanwhile my dog
PhailRaptor
Give them a job, or they will find themselves one. You may not enjoy what they find.
dogmatix
My family has had a few, they're effing awesome dogs - my favourite breed. Absolutely need a huge amount of exercise: both body and mind. It's been a while since I have had the necassary space myself, so I have a Jack Russell at the moment. One day I'll have another BC though. Or three :)
kilgoth1
They are working dogs - like a few breeds. You NEED to WORK them.
mustbethedragon
I adored my border. She helped herd my two toddlers and kept all men except my husband, dad, and father-in-law ten feet away from me. We didn't teach her that at all. She just decided those three men were the only ones safe enough.
Aarta
Had a border collie/malamute mix growing up. Smartest little shit and loved her for that. Figured out how to open the kenel door then would sit by the back door, tail just a going. Also I unintentionally trained her with non verbal commands to go with the verbal ones. We lived on an acre and a half, and I would watch her do laps around the yard as she tried to herd the 2 other dogs we had.
gozer90
Also Blue Heelers, AKA Australian Cattle Dogs. They need room and a job.
poultrylord
We got lucky and our Heeler was a couch potato, smarter than hell though.
poultrylord
Had a coworker move into an apt with one. Started destroying the house during the day. So he had to keep it in his car with the windows down and walk it every 1-2hrs. It still ate half his car. Luckily that was even an option since it never gets above 60 degrees here.
JustAnotherPOG
My brother had one, and it worked out well for him, *but* he lived with 3 other people at the time and they all worked odd hours so someone was always home to run the dogs.
incubisexual
My friend has an Aussie/Collie mix and that dog needs to be doing something every damn second of his life or he WILL devour the couch
Waidonut
My aunt rescued an older one and she lived out her golden years in forested land by a lake, still high energy but such a sweet old girlie she was.
digitalaaronscustoms
I knew (and briefly lived with) a guy who had one, while I was in college. He was the older brother of one of my classmates, and had already quit school to do his own thing. Which was explosive demolition of beaver dams and trapping of pest animals in the rural areas around the school. He brought his dog everywhere, and was always training her. She was amazingly obedient, but he had already decided to devote all his time to this dog. I know Lady isn't around anymore, but I hope Chuck is ok.
caldella
I knew one person with a border collie who did competitive frisbee/dog dancing type stuff with him. He was bonkers for the training, though he wasn't perfect. The other owner ran a small batch dog biscuit company, She brought hers collie when she delivered batches. He passed, and she got a brother/sibling duo. Even then, she only brought the younger puppy siblings after they were pretty trained. Visiting stores while following instructions helped give them a mental workout.
The3rdwheel
when i worked with my step dad as an on call heavy duty mechanic . i always brought my collie with us on service calls. i would just let her run through farmers fields as we worked on their machines .. sometimes she would run over a km away from where we were. wpuld have to honk the horn on our servicw truck to let her knlw to come back lol
EchoOfSnac
We had a golden retriever which was supposedly half border collie and that dog was quite lazy indoors. She was very active outdoors, however, though not necessarily keen on running like mad around open spaces, opting instead to play with rocks, strip bark off of logs, and go adventuring in the Alaskan forest. She also loved sprayed water from the hose and catching snow kicked off the porch. She also had really long fur on her back legs and would always get tangled really badly in the wild →
EchoOfSnac
roses, ripping their long thorny tendrils right out of their base and dragging them along. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ
Anyadogz
Our border collie was the exception to that rule. He never showed interest in herding, retrieving, agility or being handled in general. He knew the basics and that was it. However, he was the most intuitive dog I've known, incredibly sweet and silly as heck.
Ashrieka
My border collie/cattle dog herds you in the ways that it's good for him. He'll herd you to where he knows the treats are. Or he'll make an exchange: a dog toy for a treat which he always gets
epicfail88
Same with my collie lab mix who doesn’t like to get dirty, sits on benches with people at the dog park, and regards herself as human. Playing with “dogs” is not in her ideal day. She also thinks of cats as strange small dogs that require frequent butt sniffs. She even had a close, but still safe distant from a protective enclosure, encounter with a hedgehog once. She also understands way too many words for her own good and can selectively hear instructions.
ElectricRattleSnake
Yea. I think mine is broken too. He just watches TV and snuggles. Only one of my dogs that can tough it through a several day/week backpacking trip though
ladyjigglebutt
There's always a handful that have to be completely contrary. We have a GSD/Collie mix we were sure was going to have us running when she was young, but ended up pretty lazy. Very smart and obedient, but happy to amble along. Meanwhile the little lap dog I got expecting a lazy cuddle buddy is the one who never wanted to stop, but she had the most hilarious personality. She was also very agreeable with other dogs unlike other tiny terrors, she just loved to be active.
oracle9999
My wife and I have a border collie lab mix. He’s a little bigger than your normal collie, still smart, but if you want to sit around the lab kicks in and just hangs out with you. If you’re busy and working all day, he’s there helping until you’re done. It’s a great combo.
MangoisaFatPootinsBiiitch
I have a border retriever mix, most beautiful dog in the world, crazy voracious, doesnt have a center in brain for not being hungry
mustardcutter
Pictures please ♥️
MangoisaFatPootinsBiiitch
Here
MajorNikon
I’ve had at least one and usually two for the past 30 years and can confirm
bassaro
The trick is to have six and try to get them to all herd each other.
MajorNikon
One BC I had wanted to play fetch all day long and the other wanted to herd him the entire time. It was easy to keep them occupied
Camali45
When my daughter was a toddler, we had one. Dog was a lifesaver because the kid was a runner. She would herd her and keep her safe. One time I dared to go to the bathroom. Well, I thought she was asleep. She decided to wake up mid poo. That day I learned she knew how to open child safety door locks and got outside. Dog kept her in the yard and out of the river she was determined to go in. That was also the weekend she started swimming lessons.
plinkey
my aunt and uncle had a GSD that they called my first babysitter, Gertie kept me out of the woods and in the yard, this was the 80s so most of the adults were drunk and hanging out on the patio not paying attentions. On Saturday mornings we'd sit in front of the TV and eat cereal together.
OGServersNET
Ye Good Auld Thymes
Camali45
All kids need dogs, cereal and Saturday morning cartoons.
charondaboatman
I’m 64 and I still need them.
blueyedwineaux
I rescued a border collie years ago when I lived in the country. Can confirm, incredible energy and intelligence. If not trained and occupied they will entertain themselves in interesting ways.
blaghart
I knew a guy who had one but for one reason or another he stopped doing the job he'd originally needed the dog for. Over the summer the dog dismantled his deck board by board out of boredom.
alyssaaac
Board-dom
cantthinkofaclevernameatm
Ugh...take it and get out +1
Pikkupanda
Nailed it.
sinogard
The deck certainly isn't anymore.
alyssaaac
I’m so glad I didn’t screw up