Our neighbours, with whom we are on very good terms, are getting a border collie pup. A pup from working stock. We were talking about it, and they were asking why we don’t have my dog living with us. She lives with my parents, because I feel very strongly that a small flat with no green around is no place for my lovely bouncy labrador. (And because my papa needs her to get up in the morning :D)
We sort of had to stop talking there, because I would’ve had to have given my opinion on their getting a border collie in a tiny flat with no time to allow it the exercise and challenges it needs.
So I thought I’d look for opinions here, where I am not offending the people who live downstairs, just strangers on the internet
I’m fairly sure a pug would be happy here, they seem like social little dogs that need stimulation but little exercise. I’ve never owned border collies, but from what I know of them they are working dogs. They need lots of exercise and challenges. Not being locked inside all day with two short outings to a small strip of green. But perhaps I am wrong?
My lab would be miserable living here. She loves coming to visit. When I say “in the garden” she runs to the balcony and then looks entirely confused as to where the rest of the “garden” has gone.
When do you feel it isn’t right to have a dog? What conditions do you think should be met? And how does it change per breed? Perhaps your dog is the exception? Or do you make an extra effort to make it work?
I wouldn’t necessarily say big dogs should never live in an apartment. It really depends on the involvement of the owner and the breed of dog, not so much the size.
If the owner is willing to shoulder the responsibly of making sure the dog has enough stimulation and exercise, the size of the living quarters don’t particularly matter. Having a large backyard doesn’t mean the dog is going to be exercised either. It is easy to take a dog to the park to find green areas.
Some large dogs don’t particularly like exercise and would be happiest sitting on the couch ie large Mastiff evolved breeds. Others like sight hounds (Greyhounds etc) play really hard and then sleep. They don’t need constant exercise and do fine with 30-60mins at the dog park per day. Some small breeds like Jack Russell need a lot more stimulation then many large dogs.
Small dogs are easier to ignore when their energy stimulation needs are not met, but it doesn’t mean they like being ignored any more than a larger breed.
In short, I think you can provide any dog breed a good and meaningful life, in any living arrangement, if you are willing to devote the time.
Not even older dogs, if you are, as we are, up on the second floor with no lift. We decided already that next time my lovely old lady lab comes over I will carry all 25kg of her up the stairs. Her 13 y/o back legs struggle too much now. Partially because she gets really excited and tries to run up at full gallop
While I would carry her to the end of the world if necessary, I don’t think it’s a good idea to do it 3x a day, everyday.
We had a border collie-lab mix living in a house with a big yard, and she’d still do a lot of unwanted chewing when we were at work - like furniture legs and plastic dog dishes. She was a real sweetie, but it wasn’t until her last few years of life that she quit trying to herd us all the time. So, IMHO, bad choice for a small, confined space.
FWIW, we have a pug now and she loves her 2-acre yard, but on days like today, when it’s raining, she’ll run amok in the house, emphasis on RUN!!! She’s about 10 months old - we’re hoping she calms a bit when she gets out of the puppy stage. My daughter’s pug is 3, and he’s a mellow lap-baby.
Seems to me if you want a low-energy, low maintenance dog that’s great in the tiniest residence, you need one of these.
not where we are. They don’t have a car and the park is a 15-20 min walk away. They might go on weekends, when it isn’t raining.
I tried to dissuade them when they first brought it up. I said that border collies are not dogs for a small flat. They said they had done their research, and that they are dogs that like being alone in a flat for a long time
It’s the breed she grew up with, that’s why she wants one. They don’t seem to take into account that she gets what she always wanted, and the dog gets what it really didn’t want.
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom]
We had a border collie-lab mix living in a house with a big yard, and she’d still do a lot of unwanted chewing when we were at work - like furniture legs and plastic dog dishes.
[/QUOTE]
I’m already imagining what it will be like. I’m home more than they are, and I have their key. I’ll hear the poor little thing whine and tear the place apart. And then I’l have to debate: go down to comfort and play? but then the behaviour is reinforced and they won’t have to deal with the consequences. So I will have to sit and listen. Play some music, I guess. (Yeah, I should probably stop imagining the worst )
I REALLY hope the breeder is dedicated enough to ask about the new owner’s living space and how they plan to keep and train the new puppy. A good breeder would probably not sell a working dog into that sort of home.
That said, it CAN work if the owners are dedicated enough. Lots of mental stimulation in the form of training, plus a daily walk to the park on top of regular pee walks would probably keep the do happy, especially if there were longer weekend outings.
It’s a shame about the car, doggie day-care would be a great solution but I bet there isn’t one within daily walking distance.
Sounds like if they can’t be bothered to walk the dog to the park only 15minutes away, maybe they should reconsider dog ownership. It sounds like their priorities aren’t very dog friendly at the moment. Ideally any dog needs time and attention, not just because they aren’t big enough to become destructive.
I read once that the best gift an owner can give their border collie is 40 acres and a herd of sheep.
I think a border collie is a bad choice for an apartment.
Nobody would ever think to get a chihuahua to herd sheep or a great dane to retrieve ducks, or a pekinese to hunt quail.
Yet lots of people will get herding, hunting and retrieving breeds and expect them to be couch potato companion dogs.
I had a friend who got a border collie. At the time, she lived in a small house with pretty much no yard at all. I think they had a small patio. She and her boyfriend were not the type of people to take the dog for long walks twice a day - between the two of them, they had 3 kids, and both worked fulltime.
When they were at work, they left the dog in the garage. I think they tried leaving her in the house, but (predictably) the dog destroyed stuff.
I think she eventually destroyed stuff in the garage, too.
They had the border collie for maybe 2 months before they brought her back to the shelter. Very sad story, and I tried to tell them before they brought the border collie home, but they didn’t want to listen.
Oh it was the breeder who said they are great dogs for being left alone in a flat :rolleyes: “they entertain themselves” apparently… Now gimme yer money! Puppy is all picked out now.
I’ve read that there are some big dogs that can actually do well in apartments, and don’t need much exercise, but I don’t remember which breeds. Border collies certainly weren’t among them.
I feel sorry for both the dog and the neighbours who will probably soon realize they’ve made a mistake.
It can work if the owner is committed to the dog, but it sounds like this is a situation headed for disaster. Like watching a slow motion train wreck and being powerless to do anything about it because nobody is listening.
I suspect that your neighbour’s pup will spend a lot of time in a crate. Sad.
I have had big dogs in small apartments and when I did, I spent a lot of time at the dog park. I currently have three high energy shepherds (two are mine, the third is a foster) in a small city house with a small yard. It works because I have no life and spend a lot of time ensuring they get a chance to run off leash and work their tiny brains every day. They are expected to be quiet in the house, and are for the most part, but that didn’t just happen magically, it took work to teach them that.
I don’t have specific answers to the questions at the end of your post, but. . . this just sounds like a really bad idea. Personally, if the dog lasts, I expect it’s gonna go nuts, and chew on anything in sight to burn off some energy.
I’ve had 3 BC’s since 2000. They have always had a yard and cats to play with, in other words plenty of mental and physical stimulation. A bored BC in a small apt is a recipe for problems. If they live close, maybe I can adopt the dog once they give up on the dog.
A BORDer Collie in an apartment is a horrible idea.
We have two mix breeds that are about half Border Collie. We live in the mountains and they have the run of the place, a doggie door and can go out any time they want 24/7. No fences here.
They still expect their walk every day.
Still, when they where pups, they destroyed lots of stuff. The two king size feather pillows that ended up as a two inch goose down floor covering in the bedroom comes to mind.
)