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Showing Original Post only (View all)Why there are so many border collies at animal shelters [View all]
Border collies are just not well suited as pets for most people. I've lived with at least two border collies at all times for the past 20 years. All of them have been rescue dogs. The problem is these dogs are high maintenance when placed in a family situation. They need a high degree of mental and physical stimulation. Most of them I have seen have a strong herding instinct, which means they will try to herd you, your children, and other pets if they can. One of their strategies is to nip at your ankles which can terrify small children. Because they are so smart, their minds need frequent activity. A working dog situation is ideal for them. Absent this, they need a high degree of interaction or otherwise they will often resort to bad behavior that is difficult to correct without a high degree of mental stimulation.
They are popular because they are frequently listed as the smartest dogs by people who rate such things. They are wonderful dogs and make great pets in the right situation. I absolutely love the breed. However, I don't think enough people realize what they are getting into when they get a border collie and that's why so many wind up in shelters. Just my $0.02 worth.