How to Adopt a Border Collie in Pennsylvania
How to Adopt a Border Collie in Pennsylvania Border collies are incredible dogs: they’re super smart, super athletic, and super...
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Border Collie
Breed Stats
Weight/Height:
18 to 22 inches tall, weighing 30 to 55 pounds
Coat Type:
Double coat, rough or smooth texture
Grooming Needs:
Shedding:
Temperament:
Intelligent, eager to please, loyal, devoted
Good With Kids:
Good With Other Animals:
Intelligence:
Easy To Train:
Energy Level:
Barking Habits:
Lifespan:
12 to 15 years
How to Adopt a Border Collie: A Concise Guide
Border collies are highly active working dogs that were originally bred to herd livestock in the border counties of England and Scotland. While this breed has long been utilized for herding duties, most border collies now enjoy life as family companions.
If you’re considering adding a border collie to your life, you might be wondering how to adopt one. There are many border collies looking for their forever homes in shelters, rescues, adoption centers, and foster homes, but finding a border collie through adoption can be a little challenging due to how popular these dogs are.
According to the American Kennel Club, the border collie is the 30th most popular dog breed in the United States. It might not sound very popular, but this means that there are tens of thousands of border collies registered with the American Kennel Club. Therefore, they have a high demand, and if a border collie ends up in a shelter, they likely will find a home sooner than many other dog breeds.
However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any border collies for adoption for you – there are hundreds of border collies looking for a home, if not thousands. It is only a matter of finding one that is looking for their forever home. Although this process might take time, there are various sources that can help you find your future best friend, such as our website, online listings, shelters, border collie rescues, adoption centers, and more.
It is also important for prospective border collie owners to understand this breed’s unique care needs and the possible challenges they bring to determine if the border collie is the right dog to bring home. You should also be aware of the costs associated with having a border collie. In addition to the adoption fees, which can range between $150 and $600, a border collie owner will spend up to $1,500 to $3,000 a year on expenses that include food, health, grooming, and supplies.
Here’s more about adopting a border collie and what it is like to have one of these dogs in your life. Understanding these will ultimately help you decide whether or not you should move forward with adopting a border collie.
How to Care for an Adopted Border Collie?
Border collies are high-maintenance dogs that require an involved owner. In fact, border collies are considered to be one of the most demanding dogs with all their care needs. All prospective border collie owners must set realistic expectations on whether or not their life circumstances will allow them to meet their care needs. This is perhaps the most important factor in determining if the border collie is the right dog for you.
First and foremost, border collies require an active owner who can provide the physical exercise these dogs need. Due to their background as herding dogs, they are highly energetic dogs with a strong work ethic. This makes these dogs need daily walks of at least one to two hours with lots of playtime throughout the day.
While walks are crucial for their well-being, it simply isn’t enough to satisfy these dogs. Border collies are also highly intelligent dogs that require an outlet for their sharp minds. Exploring new sights, solving dog puzzles, playing interactive games, training, and giving them a job are some of the ways owners of this breed can provide their dogs with adequate mental stimulation.
Border collies also have high socialization and training requirements. This must be prioritized if adopting a puppy, as they need it the most to ensure they grow up to become confident, well-mannered dogs. If the border collie you adopt isn’t socialized properly, you will also need to invest heavily in training to address any potential behavioral issues they might have, which may require significant effort to fix.
Along with these, border collies have basic care needs, such as a high-quality diet that supports their health, regular grooming, vet check-ups, and a safe and loving home for them to flourish. Next to these care needs all border collies have, the dog you adopt might also have specific needs due to their individual temperament or background.
For instance, a retired border collie that was utilized as a herding dog may require immense training to help them adapt to the life of a loving pet. Similarly, the border collie you adopt might come from a background of neglect and abuse, which can lead any dog to develop behaviors like being scared of touch and extreme food aggression. All these require close attention and adjustments to help a newly adopted border collie adapt to their new life.
Given all their care needs, border collies call for an owner who’s willing to put in the required hours each and every day for the well-being of their precious dogs. Prospective owners must carefully consider what it takes to care for a border collie to determine if they are making the right choice by adopting one of these dogs.
Is It a Good Idea to Adopt a Border Collie As Your First Dog?
Border collies have many traits that every dog owner wants to see in their dogs. They are affectionate, highly intelligent, trainable, and deeply loyal dogs that bond strongly with every member of their family.
However, border collies aren’t the best choice for first-time owners due to their intense care needs. Since these dogs were developed for herding livestock, they have an unmatched work ethic, unlike any other dog breed, that makes these dogs require lots of daily mental stimulation. If they don’t receive enough of this each and every day, border collies are quick to experience boredom, which can lead to unwanted acts like excessive barking, destructive chewing, and reactivity.
Along with daily mental stimulation, one of the most demanding care needs of a border collie is meeting their exercise needs. These dogs need more than just a casual walk or playing fetch. Border collies thrive on activities like agility training, interactive games, herding trials, and dog sports. Since these are difficult for a first-time dog parent to manage, border collies are more suited for experienced owners who can handle a dog with high demanding needs.
Although border collies are highly intelligent dogs that absorb training like a sponge, inexperienced owners may not have the hands-on experience to channel their eagerness to please productively. Just like a lack of exercise and mental stimulation, this can also lead to an anxious dog, making them difficult to control.
With all these to consider, the border collie isn’t a breed for first-time dog parents. They thrive in the hands of an experienced owner who understands their care needs and can provide their dogs with adequate attention.
Despite these, for those with minimal life commitments who are living an active life, the border collie can be an ideal companion. If you’re an inexperienced dog owner but your life circumstances allow you to put in the effort these dogs need, consider adopting a border collie from an organization or individual that offers a trial run. This can help you decide if having a border collie meets your expectations as a first-time dog owner.
Adopt the Right Border Collie for You
There are many border collies looking for their forever homes, but adopting one based on your preferences and experience level is essential to bringing home the right dog. If you’re not careful when selecting a border collie, you will end up with a dog that fails to meet your expectations and quickly becomes a burden.
When searching for border collies to adopt, review the dog’s description thoroughly and contact the foster home or the organization rehoming the dog to get your initial impressions straight. If you think it could be a possible match, meet the dog in person to get to know them. If allowed, take the dog for walks, play with them, and learn about their personality and quirks by asking the foster parents or the shelter workers.
Understanding the background of the border collie you plan on adopting will help you determine if you’re making the right choice. For instance, if you’re an experienced owner but have never had to deal with a dog with behavioral issues, and the border collie you’re interested in adopting has severe problems, you might want to look for another dog.
When you finally find the dog you want to adopt, and you’re confident in your decision, you can then begin the application process. This last step usually involves submitting an application form that includes typical adoption questions on work arrangements, family, income, and past experience as a dog owner. You might also need to answer questions related to the dog you want to adopt. If you’re accepted to adopt the border collie, you will start this new chapter in your life.
While the above summarizes the entire process, it is essential for prospective owners to take their time when adopting a border collie. Meet the dog you’re interested in adopting and take them out for a walk whenever possible to get to know their personality. If you’re set on your decision, ask if there could be a trial run to ensure you won’t be left without options. This will ensure you can return the dog if you later regret your decision.
