Is it because of their working drive? Meet Cindy P., writer and editor (ret. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 37, Shiela read about service dogs in the MS Newsletter and through the Delta Society, and learned about Kings Valley Collies Service Dog program. 3. Shiela and Sega completed their team training in November 1998 and Sega cheerfully assumed his role as Shielas service dog partner, allowing Blessing the luxury of a life of leisure as Mike and Shielas family companion. My answer is generally, YES. Focused, not overly friendly, can preform intelligent disobedience. ), and busy retiree, and her service dog Sera, Kings Valley Seraphina, HS, TC, CGC, TDI, ptd. The Versatile Collie - the Collie in Agility, A collie named Lassie, a place called Sunnybank, The Versatile Collie - Collies as Therapy Dogs, The Versatile Collie - How to choose a Service Dog. Please leave us a comment on one of our recent posts so we know you were here! After reading the characteristics of Border Collies, you might be attracted to these cute herding dogs. But, to each their own, of course. If Im working on a behavior that my dog is not enjoying, then we change, I work around it or find a way to make it fun for my collie. My current dog has had to retire, and was just diagnosed with the beginnings stages of dementia due to his old age. Most case studies indicate that the trained Collie can detect bodily changes caused by diseases likePTSDordiabetics, and alert the owner of an impending seizure attack by nosing, licking, or barking. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. Besides daily walks and exercises, another way to consume their energy is to give them proper training, such as agility, obedience, or intensive service dog training. Although Rough Collies also have many benefits, I dont think Im willing to take another chance that they wont act negatively towards my condition. I've heard they are best as balance assist mobility dogs. Sometimes I give him a visit command and he just wants to stay with me and i have to apologize . This post will take you into the world of Border Collies and analyze whether they are great service dog candidates by looking at their characteristics and trainability. I always consider what my dog actually wants to. Today we are sharing our second guest post, in our new series, The Versatile Collie. Great training info & examples!Your Pals,Murphy & Stanley, Loved this post! I dont think I have any preference for either personality type :) My BC is a goof and I love it but I wouldnt mind a calmer dog. Shiela partnered with Kings Valley Blessing, HC, TC, CGC, TDI, BPDX, VC, Service Dog (retired). My current SD is a Border Collie who isnt a cuddlebug but allows me to pet and hold him during psychiatric episodes. Not a habdler myself, but I know some balance walker dog programs specifically use collies because they have a distinct gait that is preferable for some people. Thanks :). Th For our second review, we were sent this fun game created by Outward Hound from the awesome folks at Chewy.com . The positive dog introduces the kids to outdoor activities where they can fight depression, which also benefits the kids health. Phaser was a natural fit for service work, he had already been doing therapy work, was confident and happy. Before you can swim, you have to get your paws wet. I think collies can b, e a great fit for this role when matched with the right owner. I use a combination of lure reward techniques and clicker training to train my collies. Gradually, they have developed some brilliant characteristics due to their working heritage: smart, sensitive, protective, energetic, and hardworking. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They are incredibly smart. Golden retrievers would be a stronger bet in that they have a great track record as service dogs and are less prone to the nervousness and guarding issues that many herding dogs tend to pick up. For instance, finding a particular toy in the toy pile is just a piece of cake for them. They are very protective. JavaScript is disabled. I know Collies are good at herding and a great family dog, but had no idea about being a service dog. The Collie Breeds first Champion & Versatility Champion Kings Valley Select, Service Dog, Cole., Read how Stasha assisted Shiela in Yellowstone National Park, Read another story about how Stasha helped Shiela on vacation. I'm not totally sure I'd recommend a first time GSD owner to get one as a service dog prospect, either. I especially dont know much about Rough Collies as SDs, and wanted to hear more information from reliable sources on here as well as anyones experiences here with a Rough Collie as their service dog. You'd want to choose a breeder whose dogs have extensive health testing and hopefully a pedigree with a decent amount of health testing on several generations of dogs behind them. To be honest, if you find a collie with the right temperament, it would be fine. Cosby is a full brother of Brynn and Barry whose pictures and stories you can see below. Good luck! Id pick a golden (well bred of course) than a collie, Thats definitely true and something I am worried about. Originally, Border Collies were bred to work with farmers, herding flocks and guarding the farm. Read Ramseys story, as told by Scotts partner Jenny. Honestly it is personal preference in my opinion. That allows her to take medication and get to a safe place before the pain hits she says Indy is really opening up my possibilities.. I would tend to agree with you on the friendliness to strangers. Of course this depends on what you are using the therapy dog for. Some collies can perform brace/balance work as well. Sometimes, these dogs tend to get bored and frustrated if they are not stimulated enough. Outdoor activities are of great benefit to modern people and patients. But a Golden might be better in that aspect! Many others have stated that herding dogs tend to be reactive to anxiety. Need to have a good foundation to start with. However, some owners complain that their Collie is learning too fast and coping with all the challenges you set up too quickly. My CGC, holds titles in Rally and works as my service dog. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents. When it comes to choosing the ideal dog breed as a companion in the family, the affectionate Border Collie wins a lot of votes and is often listed among the smartest dog breeds. I have to admit, I had never thought of Collies for service work, so I'm excited to learn this! if you dont mind me asking what breeder is your collie from? All of this is good for your health and well-being. FWIW, I had a smooth collie (who passed in January at age 14) and she was aloof once she matured. Im 100% fine with grooming for both breeds! Soon after Hannah began working with Indy, she learned that he could actually identify when a headache was coming before she feels it! Something to consider, if youre equally torn between both breeds, would looking at breeders in your area help out? They both meet my personal requirements in height, weight, and fur type, and they are both recommended as service dogs, but I still dont have any idea which breed I should go for. The smart Border Collie quickly learns the words of humans and masters the content of the service dog training sessions efficiently. depending on the disability, living environment, and financial situation. That allowed them to cooperate with humans hundreds of years ago. agency. Border Collies have a high level of intelligence in learning new skills such as words, cues, hand gestures, and whistles. Service dogs are specially trained to assist people with physical or mental disabilities and improve their quality of life by performing tasks and providing emotional comfort. I have a smooth collie mix. For a dog to even be ready and bomb-proof would be at about 3 years old. Is there a way to test this beforehand when youre looking at the puppies? Collies are a good size for mobility work as they can open doors, pick up objects and assist with activities of daily living like dressing. I find the average well bred Golden to be less reliable in that way than a well bred collie. Very focused on me and doesn't really want to interact with others. However, it should be noted that shedding is a serious and unavoidable problem for this breed. Does a Border Collie make a good service dog? If you are already viewing the web version, it will show "View mobile version" which is lower quality but is more mobile phone friendly. The Border Collie can easily feel fulfilled and content when chasing, supervising, or feeding sheep for a whole day. This page was last edited on 3 September 2020, at 10:39. All these good qualities make a Border Collie both an affectionate pet and a trainable service dog. 4. Because most illnesses and disabilities occur suddenly with no obvious signs, service dogs can protect their owners from unpredictable risks and respond quickly to seizures everywhere. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong. In her retirement, Blondie fine-tuned her skills and streamlined her appearance. 1. Their stamina and strong work ethic are the result of their former herding job and can be used in different ways today. Blondies granddaughter, Kings Valley Silhouette, HIC, TC, called Silly, kissing her beloved new partner, 12-year-old Meghla of beautiful Washington state. there are breeders of German Shepherds who do put working , not sport , as a top priority. However, some of their innate traits remain and could make them excellent service dogs to help people with disabilities. Read a news story about Shiela and Blessing. Read how Stasha assisted Shiela in Yellowstone National Park. The science is the same. The positive dog introduces the kids to outdoor activities where they can fight depression, which also benefits the kids health. In addition, a Collie puppy might be more active and uncontrollable. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. It is fun to learn about the capabilities of other breeds.hugsHazel & Mabel, I'm sure collies are perfect to support people they are supersmart and they are able to make the right decisions within a blink of an eye ;o). If you have ever read Albert Payson Terhune's books, about his Sunnybank collies, you know that HIS collies seemed to enjoy swimming. Plus, hes an excellent dog for the entire family. The show dogs have been bred for excessive coat for many generations, and require constant brushing to keep them mat-free. They are good at memorizing objects and scents. I definitely do enjoy a focused dog Thanks! Ive been torn between choosing a Golden Retriever and a Rough Collie as my next psychiatric service dog. Stasha served as Shielas next mobility collie after Sega retired. Karen and Sammy are the happy 2010 graduates. I have noticed the Seeing Eye Institute in NJ isn't using gsd anymore. As someone else mentioned, he doesn't have the "goofiness" associated with goldens and labs. This breed has plenty of affection for its loved ones but does not require too much emotional stimulation. Stack the odds in your favor. Many herding breeds have adverse reactions to a particular list of drugs, and collies are known to be one of these breeds. Just labs and Golden's. Rough collies require a good deal of grooming to maintain their coat so they aren't appropriate for people with pain/fatigue issues who can't routinely pay a professional groomer. Thats actually really interesting! I've had a service dog next to me for 20yrs and got my first when I was 9, and this will be my 4th dog I will be having trained. However, I do have a good grasp on dog training and behavior now so that might not be true for the average person. However, it is recommended to choosea suitable breed dogdepending on the disability, living environment, and financial situation. Rough Collies immediately snatched my heart, and Im still trying to force myself to fall in love with Goldens, but I just want whatever breed will work out best for me. In short, as much as my service dog collies help me, I make sure Im serving them too. He is beautiful, sensitive and does extensive work demonstrating behaviors to my clients who are also training service dogs. Yeah thats definitely something to be wary about. Im guessing that Goldens would probably be a better bet as well. 5. A lot of the things you mentioned are also things Im looking for. I could spend Phaser on Stun CD, CGC, I got with the goal of competing in obedience. That being said, Goldens are my heart breed so I think theyre the best They can be very versatile and less coat work than a Rough Coat Collie. Service Dog,Therapy Dog & Emotional Support Animal Registry not affiliated with the ADA or any government :). Read Brynns story, as told by Scotts partner Jenny. Hes completely unreactive to my psychiatric disorders except in completing his trained tasks (in other words, he doesnt feed off anxiety or become nervy when Im stressed). Thanks for all your info! The grooming isn't an issue for me, my husband is taking care of it for me. Learn more about Reddits use of cookies. I would love a dog that could pick up on my anxiety and alert me that way but its just a luck of the draw Im assuming? One thing I can tell you from my experience watching grooming being done in my kennel, and assisting with the grooming when needed: the coats of rough collies are a real challenge to keep groomed!