Growing up I was never allowed anything more than a Goldfish, my parents believed that having a dog would be too much work. A couple of family members had land at the back of their houses which were next to each other and my half cousin had kennels there where he would breed Border Collies until they were old enough to be sold on to farms as working dogs, he even took me along once to heard the sheep, I was amazed at how obedient and intelligent the dog was and I had hours of fun playing with them all in the yard. There were three grown Collies, Ben, Jen and Cole, a German Shepard called Lance and my trusty sidekick Cindy who was my grans 11 year old Jack Russell who followed me everywhere. Even though I didn’t actually have a dog, I still grew up with them around, however I would go home each day and daydream of when I would have one of my own.
Almost twenty years on and I now have two female Border Collies (Thank you Universe!), Meg who is 8 and Bella who is 3 they are in no way related and you couldn’t get two Dogs with more different personalities if you tried. Today I just want to introduce them and give a little background info.
Meg/Megatron
Meg was an adorable ball of terror, we got her a 6 weeks which is very early but the conditions she was in were not ideal and the breeder just wanted her gone. She loved to chew paper (she still enjoys unwrapping presents to this day) and nip you with her needle sharp teeth, she was very energetic and I remember the first day that she was allowed out into the back garden a couple of weeks after her vaccinations, we had heavy snowfall overnight, she was absolutely in her element and we couldn’t get her back inside for hours.
For a while affection wasn’t something she particularly craved from us, maybe it was the working dog in her that made her only focus just to be outside running in all directions, she was particularly difficult to lead after a walk and would often run away to the other side of the field. After she had been spayed she calmed considerably, she was still your typical Collie with bouts of energy but her temperament towards us changed and she became incredibly affectionate and very sensitive. Meg is an extremely intelligent dog, she has mastered the powers of manipulation and understands English in a way I’ve never seen in a dog before, you can often have a conversation with her and she will listen intently, she knows a lot of tricks too, this is largely due to the hours of training that my sister in law and fellow Steemit companion @amavi put in during her infancy.
Fast forward to today and Meg is still as adorable as ever, young in mind but a little older in body, she has mild hip dysplasia which can often leave her stiff and sore but regular exercise and a good swim in the lake seem to help, she’s very much a water baby. She is very cautious with strangers and likes who she likes she will ignore anyone who is not part of the “pack”, this is due to a particular visit to a specialist vet a few years back, the unfamiliar sights and smells left her nervous and we had to leave her for the day while she went under anaesthetic, once she came around she was very distressed. It took her a good 6 months to trust that when she got in the car it was to go to the field not the Vet. These days once she has met someone a few times in the comfort of her own home she tends to gain a sense of familiarity and will usually warm to them but the short of it is she’s just a bit of a grump who likes her space.
Bella/Bellatrix
Bella is the social butterfly of the two who loves children and adults alike. We adopted her from a local animal rescue in March 2015 when she was about 4 months old, no one really seemed to know her backstory but I don’t think she got a great deal of attention as she likes to make herself heard a lot of the time. She too was a chewer but had an eye for expensive item, such as games console remotes and headphones. We often despaired at the path of destruction she left in her wake, but we couldn’t stay mad at her for long no matter how naughty she was and, like Meg, she calmed and stopped chewing after being spayed.
Whereas Meg is clearly from a working dog litter, Bella couldn’t be further from it, she is now fully grown but in comparison to Meg still looks like a puppy we think this is because she has been bread for agility, her mannerisms are different too, the way she carries herself is very Fox like. She is basically a big baby who likes constant cuddles and strokes and does not like to share with Meg but will happily steal her food. She has a playful and inquisitive nature and likes to get involved in what you’re doing especially if you’re trying to work.
See, no sharing!
Need any help?
A personal account of what to expect if you’re getting a Collie
The first thing i would say is, if you are getting from a puppy expect a lot of chewing and biting. They’re very mischievous and extra active and they will easily run rings around you so you’ve got to keep an eye on them all the time.
Their hair will get EVERYWHERE, they malt ridiculous amounts so make sure you have a hoover and a whole lot of lint rollers
You will need to walk them a lot! They do not tire quickly and they need a good run, find a nice nature trail or a big field and if they are not trained off the lead use a horse rope so they can get a bit of range. The beach is a great place to walk our dogs as we are coastal and Meg loves the water, just be sure to check that dogs are allowed as some beaches forbid them.
They need mental stimulation so teaching them tricks and commands early on is beneficial for their wellbeing and teaches them obedience, its not just fun for them but fun for you and you will be surprised how quickly they learn. It should also establish a hierarchy so they know that you're their “pack leader”
As long as you raise them with the love and attention they need, as with most dogs, you should expect a loyal and affectionate dog in return with a bagful of tricks under its sleeve to show off.
Thanks for reading any resteem and upvotes are much appreciated!
I just realized after reading 2 of your posts that you have 2 border collies. Love them!
Awww they remind me of my Becky who is a border collie black and white mixed with Akita. She looks like a border collie except has up ears and a curly Akita tail! Thanks for sharing!!
Collies have such unique personalities don't they, she sounds like a beautiful dog i love Akita. Thanks for commenting :)
A wonderful post of life with dogs!
Thank you very much, it’s hard work at times but definitely worth it
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STOPOh my goodness I know that "NO SHARING" look SO well! My mom's dog is also a working breed and sometimes their stare is so intense it looks like they're looking through you instead of at you.
Always at the ready for "what's next!" super intense but also so so loving and loyal.
Your girls are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!