games for hyper BC?

Anyone have any recommendations for ways to tire out a very, very, very energetic young Border Collie? I was thinking about getting a second dog so they could wear each other out, but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. One is exhausting enough!

Border Collies are very smart and need to excerise their minds too so you could try some indoor games like find it. Hide the favorite toy and make a game of finding it. Or hide yourself and do a find it. For out side if your dog likes to get the ball, get 3 or 4 balls and as soon as they bring the first ball back, have him drop it and thorw another right away. If you have room in your yard, get a bale of hay. Make it part of the playing time, it takes energy to jump on it and it could be a start to agility. Put him on a leash and get a back pack for him and walk, walk, walk!! This gives them a job and makes them feel special. We do this at the shelter where I volunteer and when the backpack goes on you can just see the dog feel more imortant. If your dog just wants to herd, get another dog that loves to play ball and your herding dog can herd the ball playing one. At my house, we had that combination and it worked great!

My second dog was a border collie. Had he been my first, I probably would not have thought about getting a second. He was so much work and, lord have mercy, that energy! They warn you about the energy – but you just can’t be prepared for it. This is one of the reasons so many border collies get surrendered and have to be rescued. Now I cannot even imagine having any other kind of breed!!! They are so special, and if you invest the time in them they need for exercise (physical and mental) they will pay you back in spades – in the form of total devotion and loving affection. Our other dog was first, and an alpha female, so our border collie luckily just defers to her. He herds her while she plays fetch the ball. We also built an agility course with old bike tires and PVC piping we bought at Home Depot, as well as ply wood for see-saws and steps. It’s a very cheap way to create some fun for both you and your border collie. I also recommend a book called “A Dog Year” by Jon Katz. I could go on FOREVER – Border Collies are THE BEST! Lastly, I am a big fan of two dogs over one – since they have each other when you can’t always be there. But you may want to consider a mellower but flexible breed to tame some of that energy.

Oh Julie Hackett, you are so right! No matter how many times you hear about border collie energy, NOTHING prepares you for the real thing. It’s not (necessarily) the bouncing off the walls type of energy that some terriers and hunting breeds have. It’s the relentless energy. No matter what you’ve been doing, the BC is always looking for the next adventure. You could be sitting there catching your breath and you shift your weight in the chair and they’re like “What are we going to do now? Huh? Huh? Huh? Is it going to be fun? Let’s go!!!” All day long. No matter what. They are extrememly reactive to sights and sounds. They have an intensity of focus that boggles the mind. They aren’t being obstinant when their targeting mechanism is locked onto a squirrel half a block away; quite frankly they can’t hear you. So bottom line is that you will never ever be able to physically tire out a border collie…even another dog can’t do that. I find that making them think works better, whether it’s exposing them to new sights and experiences, teaching them tricks, or playing games like “Hide the Kibble.” But another dog would help take the edge off and would certainly provide first dog with companionship. Just don’t expect the second dog to “solve” your problems.

My dog Lucky Is A Border Collie Welsh Corgi Mix so he is twice the herding dog of a regular border collie. to tire out my dog I took my Nephews little walker car thing an put a board in the bottom so my nephews feet dont hit the ground and i tied a rope to the car and attached the other end to lucky’s harnness. even with lucky on the leash i get my excersize and lucky gets his, plus it wears im out because my nephew is 2 and ways about 15 to 20 pounds more then my dog but they both love it. this is a perfect way to walk through a fair park or beach especially if you dont want a 2 year old to run off.