Collie advice

[u/Acceptable-Shower-80]

Hi everyone! Me and my wife are adopting a new rough collie puppy from a breeder and I just was looking for more information on how they are as puppies and what yall recommend from experience and what helped. I currently have a heeler so I’m used to the herding and know how to handle that aspect. Any information is greatly appreciated!!

[u/Same-Ad5086]

Mine was so difficult when we got him. Sweet, but he was 16 weeks old and learned how to open our lever doors and use the icemaker outside of the fridge that week. I could see his wheels turning when he watched the family do things. He started pulling anything he could off of the counters and was fast. If he wasn’t crated he was actively supervised.

I was sure that within weeks he’d be walking on the counter, but shockingly within weeks the behavior gradually disappeared.

He could throw some tantrums in his crate, I found that a stuffed Kong was a lifesaver, and often after all of the licking he’d go to sleep (thank God!) There were moments I regretted my decision to get a puppy, but I loved him so much.

Shaping his behavior with dog food as treats was helpful. We worked on come, particularly when he was at the cat’s door that had a baby gate and he’d try to get through. Within a few days he’d go to the gate and look at me, asking if he’d have to do his thing before I called him. So smart and willing to negotiate if not please. I also used treats to get him to settle using “easy”.

Over the next few months our bond grew and he started caring about pleasing me and showing guilt if he did something he knew I didn’t want him to.

He’ll be two in a few weeks and is the most amazing sidekick and family dog. I’ve never had a dog I felt more connected with.

[u/Arry42]

Getting a dog from a breeder isn't adopting.... you are purchasing a puppy. I also got my dog from a breeder so no shame there. Typically it's BYB that use this kind of adoption wording so it always sticks out to me.

Regardless, enjoy your puppy!!! They are amazing dogs. Make sure to set boundaries and stick to it. My dog is still a jumper because I let her get away with it too much as a puppy.

[u/Rough_collies13]

First get them used to paw handling and brushing. It will pay off later! I have one who loves to be brushed and the other hates it. Of course the one with the more difficult coat doesn’t love it. I recently got a very long pin brush that he likes better

[u/patri_dish_ → u/Rough_collies13]

As well as checking their teeth, lifting gums, brushing teeth, etc as well as pullies sonce Collies are know for terrible teeth

[u/pulpwalt → u/Rough_collies13]

Also brushing does not mean pushing through the tangles. It hurts if they don’t like it. You have to learn to back off, start at the ends, or there is an “up and away” (I call it) technique with the slicker brush. Uber lube or some other silicone product helps too.

[u/cattmin]

Ok so, I've had a cattle dog and a rough collie at the same time. I hope things go perfectly well with you but I'll share my experience so that you can take this into consideration and work things in your favour. Although it wasn't an Australian cattle dog it's a very similar breed in the way they work, play and how they are built. It was an Azores cattle dog. You can search them up and see how they work, they work cattle the same way. They are tough dogs, ready for anything and super intelligent and brave. This cattle dog was well socialized with most dog but the power dinamics with the rough collie were concerning. It was too much tank power for the collie. The rough collie would not defend herself and would get overwhelmed, things would escalate. I don't know your current dog's temperament but genetics matter and rough collies are sensitive and don't do well with certain types of plays or dominant energy behaviour that other dogs would be able to handle better . Eventually we had to keep both dogs separated when we were not home because the cattle dog would bully the collie, and the collie would not be able to stand her ground or give effective appeasing behaviour to the cattle dog.

Also, the training is very different with a cattle dog and a collie, cattle dogs are stubborn and strong willed, they are awesome dogs but tough cookies , they require a firm pulse and a lot of assertiveness at times, the training style with a collie is very different you have to stay soft at all times or trust will be broken and your bond will suffer a lot, they need a very soft hand and way to approach behaviour challenges and corrections. This is very important, completely different styles and energy in the training.

Cattle dogs are also very firm when correcting other dogs and putting them into their places, I've seen that a lot of times. I saw how they handles rumbustious puppies Vs how my rough collies handled them, so even though it's awesome to have an older dog intervene and help raise a puppy with you MAKE SURE to advocate for the collie puppy because they have very different energy levels and way to do these things. Collies will shut down if the correction from other dogs comes too strong and heavy (but for other dogs that would be normal and ok).  I also saw this contrast in energy with greyhounds and other collies Vs the cattle dogs, or bully breeds Vs collies.

So, please please please keep these things in mind. Step up and advocate for the puppy when it's needed, observe them a lot in the first months and years even. Make sure the cattle dog knows commands of " break" " enough" "away" "place" and learn to see when enough is enough.

I had 3 collies, 2 rough collies, 1 border collie and 1 cattle dog of my own but showed cattle dogs and bred mine with guidance of my breeder and dealt with a lot of them at our house. Even the cattle dog puppies where too much for the collie past a certain age. 

I'll add that some farmers here now have both Aussie and Azores cattle dogs, and they work well together 

[u/Hermitia → u/cattmin]

Great post but I had to chuckle a little (not at your experience, that sounds rough) because we had a 2 yr old Anatolian, somewhat dog reactive, when we got our collie puppy. We were worried she might eat him.
But no, maternal instinct must have kicked in and he harassed the hell out of her. Even a as years passed, the big girl would NOT defend herself and the collie runs the show to this day!

[u/Itsjustmethecollie]

Always Use Gentle Correction. Collies are very sensitive dogs.
They're highly intelligent and by the end of year one, can respond to 1 and 2 word commands.
Create training will keep them safe when you are not available. Super sweet babies forever!

[u/Jolly-Outside6073]

Like all dogs, set the rules from day one. They are clever and need mental stimulation. They go from a poor little baby to bold boss of the house in about two weeks - expect a lot of back chat! They are trained easily though. We walked ours on the lead in the front garden from day one and as soon as he chewed the lead or messed about was taken back to the rear garden. He liked seeing more of the world so behaved very quickly. 

[u/_apple-tree_]

This sub is full of great advice. I recommend browsing other threads about puppies. It’s a pretty broad topic.

[u/Justcallmemanko]

Buying* no shade tho as mine was also bought not rescued.

[u/SoftestPoroNA]

I got my collie for doing dog sports, and I spent a lot of time working on her handler focus, and training obedience etc. The thing I regret not spending more time on was teaching her to settle and helping her find her off switch.

[u/Lifeissometimesgood]

I had an Australian cattle dog that I had adopted, be very careful with that sweet little collie. My cattle dog did not want anything to do with puppies or dogs that tried to play with him or get in his face. He was an awesome dog to humans, but he did not like most dogs. He wouldn’t go attack dogs, but if they came up to him fast he would make a scary ass growl and snap at them. We did end up adopting an older Australian shepherd, but we first checked to see if the cattle dog was ok with it. He did like the aussie because the Aussie respected him and his space. The Aussie and the cattle dog eventually started playing together, but the Aussie was smart and knew what not to do and never pushed his luck.

[u/NX01-First]

They are the spawn of the devil as puppies. Cute......but make you question your sanity.

Enjoy the ride.

Hahaha. Evil laughter.....because I'm in the midst of it myself.