Garie Beach

Border Collies (Australian Cattle Dogs & Shetland Sheepdogs) in Terraced Houses?

Does anyone know how well the breeds mentioned above could cope in a cluttered terraced house with a small yard? I'm thinking of getting a pup sooner rather than later, & although I live next to a row of beaches, am interested in dog sports such as agility & frisbee & have the countryside within reach, I worry about the lack of space for the dog.

Public Comments

1. As long as you can provide plenty of exercise outside it should be fine. Make sure you can take your dog outside daily (probably even several times a day). And not just for a walk, but maybe to a field or park where he can run and you can play with him. Agility sounds good. That will give him a lot of exercise as well.
2. Those dogs are all very smart and extremely high maitenance and energy. They can live in that situation but only if they get TONS of excercise and mental stimulation. If both are not provided, they can become bored, frustrated, and aggressive.
3. They will need a lot of exercise...since they're bred to be working dogs, they're really suited to a nice big yard. But since you have the countryside within reach that should be more than enough!
4. These are all herding dogs and are high energy when young especially. They would be great for agility and their size is good in your situation. The amount of time needed to train and just to be with a pup is enormous, think two year old child, so be sure you can spend enough time with this new (hobby) family member. Talk to some breeders at shows and contests and see what will work for you. The small yard will be OK for the occasional pee run but public walks will probably be the order of the day. Several times a day for an adult, at least every few hours for a puppy.