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The intelligent and affectionate Border Collie has many traits that make them undeniably appealing. One thing you must know about Border Collies is that they have more energy than a 5-year-old child on Christmas morning! Also, a Border can quickly be whipped into a maniacal frenzy when excited. That leads many owners to ask, when will my Border Collie calm down?
The answer for most Border Collies is around 3 years or more. That’s when the average Border Collie finally matures to the point where they can stay calm and cool under most circumstances, but this will also greatly depend on their personality and training. However, your BC will still be more energetic than most dogs, likely for several years.
If you’re curious about when your Border will finally calm down (and why they’re so energetic, to begin with), read on.
Are All Border Collies Hyperactive?
While not all dogs, even dogs of the same breed, are alike, anecdotal evidence suggests that many Border Collies will be hyperactive for at least the first few years of their lives. Border Collies have been trained repeatedly to be vigilant and attentive herding dogs for hundreds of years. They were bred to be agile, athletic, and fast dogs with high levels of endurance and tenacity.
In other words, Border Collies have been trained to be hyperactive, so expecting them to be anything besides that isn’t logical. Many Border Collies don’t start to calm down until the 2nd-half of their life, around 5 to 7 years of age, and only then because their aging body demands it. You might occasionally find a Border that’s not hyperactive, but that’s the exception, not the rule.
Do Border Collies Calm Down after Being Neutered or Spayed?
Many pet owners believe that spaying or neutering a dog will help them calm down. However, the answer here isn’t that clear-cut. This will greatly depend on the dog’s personality and lifestyle, as well as their age and overall health. While many dogs will remain as active and playful as before, some may calm down a little bit after being spayed or neutered. Research has shown that castration will generally reduce the male dog’s desire to roam and seek a mate, which impacts their level of activity.1 Besides this, there are many benefits to getting your dog spayed or neutered and the ideal time to get it done will depend on your dog’s individual temperament, age, and size, so speak to your vet about the pros and cons, as well as the best timing for this procedure.
For Border Collie females, spaying will reduce the likelihood of certain health issues connected to their heat cycle, but it won’t necessarily turn a hyperactive Border into a calm dog. Neutering a male BC might also make them less prone to roaming and domineering.
How Can You Calm Down a Hyper Border Collie?
The best method to calm a Border Collie down is to engage them in regular exercise and mental work for several hours a day, as long as they are healthy. If your BC is under a year old, they should not engage in long walks, hikes, or strenuous exercise as this may damage their joints, so speak to your vet about the adequate amount and type of exercise best suited for your pup depending on their age.
A Border Collie with a job to do, like finding a toy that’s been well-hidden, performing scent work, doing agility or going on hikes, fetching toys, and more will stay occupied and use their massive stores of energy.
Below are some of the activities you can engage in with your adult Border Collie to burn off their energy and help them calm down (at least a little):
- Long walks, runs, hikes, or bike rides
- Agility training on an agility course
- Playing with other dogs at an off-leash dog park
- Playing tug-of-war
- Playing fetch, flyball, or frisbee
Agility training is a fantastic way to calm down a BC by giving them something to learn and master, as it keeps their brain occupied as well as provides physical exercise.
Who Should Adopt a Border Collie?
To calm a Border Collie down, you need to help them burn off energy and keep them mentally sharp. That’s why veterinarians don’t recommend the breed to owners who don’t have time or energy to spend with their dogs. The Border Collie isn’t a breed that’s content to lie around and wait for something fun to happen. The average Border will quickly turn to destructive behavior to keep busy if they become bored.
You should note that any activity you engage in with your Border Collie must last for several hours if you want to run down their energy and keep them calmer. You should also note that, after a good night’s rest, your Border will wake up the next day fully re-energized. In short, hours of activity on a daily basis will be necessary, at least for the first few years of your Border Collie’s life.
Adopting a Border Collie is not a good idea for those without the time or energy. This dog would be best adopted by someone with many hours of free time, a work-at-home schedule, and an interest in outdoor activities and sports.
Conclusion
Asking when your Border Collie will calm down is similar to asking when a storm will stop howling; it depends on many factors. Typically, a Border will start to calm down around 3 years old, but many have been known to stay hyperactive for 6 to 7 years. Since all dogs are different and have different personalities, it’s tough to say precisely when a Border Collie will calm down.
When you adopt a Border Collie, you must be prepared to spend several hours a day training, playing, and engaging with them if you want them to be happy and healthy. If you have the time, energy, and willingness to be a highly devoted pet parent, the Border Collie will make an excellent pet and adoring companion.
Featured Image Credit: JGaland, Pixabay
