The first thing you need to understand is that border collie dogs were bred with a herding instinct.  Their main purpose was to herd livestock and even today they are considered to be the best herders of any dog.  The second thing you need to realize is that no matter what you do, you will never train this characteristic out of this canine.  It is part of his genetic makeup.

The instinct is stronger in some than in others, but the need to round-up and herd sheep will almost always overtake the dog and, the reality is, in the mind of this pooch, children are simply wool-less sheep.  Thus, without knowing how to control the issue, kids and border collies can be a disaster waiting to happen.

Why?  Basically the reason is the natural instincts of the two are completely incompatible.   Consider the following situation:  An excited child who was minding his/her own business or was playing with their sweet four legged friend, runs out the front door or into the backyard.  Suddenly, the border collie dogs herding nature kicks in and he wants to re-collect the escaped “sheep”.  He runs full tilt and blocks the child’s path, looking very threatening.

The child’s natural reaction is to become frightened, scream and run.  Unfortunately, this response only furthers the collie’s desire to put the “livestock” back in line and he will become even more ferocious, nipping at the kid’s heels or grabbing on to them to drag them back into the home.  Though the animal will find nothing wrong with his actions, the poor little boy or girl and any onlooker will be traumatized by the ordeal.

Therefore, in order for a child and border collie dogs to pleasantly exist together, you need to make sure you don’t inadvertently train your family pet to treat your children as farm animals.  This can be achieved by…

• Teaching him obedience and dominance training.  You need to make it clear to your canine where his place is in your pack.   Make sure you feed him after you and your family eat, walk through doors before him, etc.
• Telling your child to stay quiet, calm and stand still when the pooch attempts to herd them.  This will make him less likely to nip or bite and he’ll no longer think of the kid escaping and turn back into “normal” mode.
• Do not leave your kids unsupervised with the dog.   Especially those under the age of 10.

Thus, the answer as to whether or not border collie dogs are a good family pet is something that can only be determined by the individual owner.  If you are willing to fully understand this breed and are ready to put a full-time effort in to train this dog, as well as educate your children on how to react and respond to the pooch, you should have no major problems creating a happy and healthy environment where everyone gets along.

The following is a breakdown of the type of equipment you need for border collie care, and how often each task needs to be done:

Brushing – There are two coat types that a border-collie may have.  The first has sleek and relatively short fur, while the second has thick and course hair that can grow as long as three inches.  Both coats should be brushed often to help reduce shedding and move oils through the dog’s skin to keep the flesh moist and healthy.  That said, the longer haired variety should be brushed daily to ensure their fur stays free from knots.  Ideal tools include: steel pin and/or bristle hair brush and steel comb.

Nail trimming – As part of your regular border collie care routine, have your pet’s nails clipped once per month.  If you have difficulty performing this task yourself take him to a professional groomer or have your vet do it.  Tools that you can use for clippings are: scissor-style, guillotine-style or plier-style dog nail clippers.  In addition, you may also want to obtain a doggie nail file to round sharp edges and a canine solution that helps to clot blood in case you accidentally cut the quick.

Ear cleaning – Once every two weeks you should take a peek inside your pooch’s ears to make sure they are healthy.  Smell them for any strange foul odor, and pluck out some of the hairs by quickly pulling with your fingers to prevent hair from becoming matted, which can plug the ears and cause infections.  Do not stick a Q-tip inside your collie’s ear to collect wax.  If you notice wax on the surface simply use a clean, soft damp cloth to wipe the area.

Tooth brushing – Every few days you need to incorporate teeth brushing into your border collie care regimen.  Use a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs.  Be sure to pay special attention to their back teeth where plaque tends to buildup.  Oral hygiene is very important because you don’t want your dog suffering the symptoms of tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Bathing – Only bathe your border collie when it is absolutely necessary and refrain from washing him at all during the cold winter months.  On average, this breed should not be washed more than twice per year and a dry shampoo is often recommended.  To bathe your pal you should use tepid water, and shampoo and conditioner made especially for dogs.  Never use human hair care products on your animal as this could lead to serious skin problems.

As you can see, border collie care is really quite simple and not a time consuming process if done on a regular basis.  Therefore, instead of looking at the grooming process as a chore, make it a positive bonding experience for you and your companion.