Hot Weather Tips For Your Border Collie & You

Woof, woof, from me and my human. It's been a while. I am happy to tell you all that I have successfully become a well trained, well adjusted city dog.

My human's new job has him working 10 hours a day, during which time I am kenneled. Trust me though, this isn't a bad thing, in fact it is the safest place for me. When he says, "Time to go.", I willingly go to my kennel on my own.

Spring went by so fast and summer is almost over! We have had record breaking temperatures this year, with 23 days so far being +30° C or higher! Yesterday hit +38° C! Unless you are from a desert area you'd have to agree that is hot!

Speaking of hot weather I have some tips for you and your human.

My Dog Is A Kleptomaniac!

I did not want to believe it. It couldn't be true. Could it? My precious Ali a thief? Not just a thief but a kleptomaniac!

Border Collie Training Videos

Training with Ali.

Training is always something Ali and I work on. No matter what we are doing I always incorporate reinforcement of the commands she already knows. Practice makes perfect.

Ali comes from a line of working dogs but she is not used for work (herding) as I have no need of this skill. The commands I use with her are not traditional herding / sheep dog commands. Due to the unique characteristics of the breed though the commands seem secondary to her instinct of knowing what to do.

The intelligence of a Border Collie also means they are easily able to learn, understand and perform many things other than just herding animals.

Tips For Moving With Your Dog

Moving With Your Dog.

Moving is stressful, there is no denying it. Your dog (or cat) is no exception. They are going to feel the stress of a move as well, perhaps more so as they do not have the understanding of what is happening.

Fortunately there are some things we can do to make the transition easier on our four legged friends.

5 Reasons You Should Adopt A Dog

5 Reasons To Adopt A Dog.

When considering getting a dog people often overlook the adoption option. There are a lot of misconceptions about adopting a dog. Here are 5 reasons you should consider adopting a dog.

1. Saving A Life
2. Help Reduce The Unwanted Pet Population
3. Saving Yourself Money
4. Don't Support Puppy Mills
5. Make A Friend For Life

Adopting a dog is a great option!

Ali Posing For The Camera

Ali In Action!

If you own a Border Collie than you already know the high energy these dogs have. Ali has no shortage of get-up-and-go. She will spring up from a dead sleep at the first sign of movement to the door.

I enjoy taking pictures of her in whatever we do. Action shots are some of the most fun. They are not always easy to catch, I am not a professional photographer by any means. I use my phone for pictures.

Rescue Dogs: Ali's Tail

My Name Is Ali & I Want To Tell You About Rescue Dogs.

I am a 2½ year old, purebred border collie. I come from a line of working dogs, bred to love, respect and help my human work. This is the life I want to live.

Humans Can Be Cruel.

Border Collie Training

Training A Border Collie.

I have read a lot of articles about training a Border Collie. I won't say they are all wrong but I will say, from my experience with Ali, I disagree with most of them.

I understand each dog is different and each situation is unique. My sister runs an animal rescue, Ridge Rescue Society, this is where I adopted Ali from. Around these parts Border Collies get surrendered often. It is not an issue with the dogs but the people not understanding what they were getting into. Some of the dogs certainly have had some obediance issues, again not the dog's fault.

What I have learned though is these dogs all have certain characteristics that are almost always consistent from dog to dog.

I am not a professional dog trainer but I know what works with my dog.

Here kitty, kitty..

Mentally Stimulate Your Dog

Mental stimulation is important for all dogs.

Dogs are thinking animals and, like you and I, they can become bored.

This is even more true with your Border Collie. These dogs have a high, very high, level of intelligence. Without proper mental stimulation, along with exercise, unacceptable and destructive behaviors are going to become an issue. This is not because your dog is bad, your dog, like a child, is bored and acting out. Idle paws do the devil's work.

The good news is with a Border Collie it is easy to give them a good brain workout. In fact there is one way you can do this by slightly altering something you likely do already.

Breaking The Herding Instinct

Breaking the herding instinct of your Border Collie.

I will start by saying anything stated here is based on my experience with my own dog, Ali. For the record she is a purebred Border Collie from a line of working dogs.

Understanding the herding behavior.

Herding behavior is a trait in dogs that has been bred into them over centuries by man. The natural predatory instincts have been bred out while still maintaining their instinct to herd their quarry. This produces a very effective helper. I won't go into detail on this behavior, if you want to know more you can read up on it here.

Understanding that this is a natural instinct they are born with is the first step in managing it.

A Border Collie & You

The Border Collie is a unique breed of dog. They are as much fun as they are work. All dogs require a commitment of their owner but this breed demands it. If you are not prepared for this then you may find yourself in trouble with yours.

What does a Border Collie need?