One will have to go due to neighbors

[NCSunshine]

We have a Border Collie that is so beautiful, but we have to keep her tied up in our fence because she jumps it.  So then she gets tangled up and barks almost continously until we get home to untangle her.  Another reason why she barks is that she sees other dogs in the other neighbors fence.

So we had one neighbor that is right next to our land to come and complain about her barking.  I tried to take her to training but due to time restraints with kids and college, it has become impossible to work it in.

So now I am looking for a new home for her.  I can call the Humane Society that we got her from, but then she will just go to a home that fosters the dogs and they have about 16 dogs right now.  I would really like to find a home myself.

She is one year old and has not been spayed.  She is mostly white with two big black spots, one around each eye.  Then she has a big black spot at the top of her tail.  She has smaller spots throughout, and not as black.  She is a active dog, and loves attention.

If you know anyone that could give her a new home, please let me know.  We are in NC, close to Charlotte.  E-mail address is acthunter@vnet.net

[Miss-Teri]

There are probably into the hundreds of young purebred Border Collies that get euthanized in Oklahoma shelters every day (no, I am not exaggerating), so I can't help you there, but if you'd like some solutions here are some ideas.

Border Collies are very active.  They are not happy unless being told to do something.  I even heard an owner/trainer on Animal Planet once say that if you can, you really should buy sheep for your BC, lol.  

The main reason a dog barks is boredom.  Excercise helps a lot - lots of walks, playing frisbee, etc.  Border Collies are absolutely wonderful in Agility and Flyball and if you can find a class nearby your family and the dog will have a TON of fun doing one or both of those, and it will keep her occupied.  

Getting her spayed will help a lot as well, as she won't be wanting to leave the yard looking for love, and it will also prevent unwanted puppies.

The very last course of action for barking would be debarking.  People consider it cruel, but I feel if it's between getting rid of the dog and debarking, the debarking is much easier on the dog.  As I said, as a very last option before getting rid of the dog.

As far as the fence, have you tried an electric fence?  If she's going over, simply put the insulators sticking out from the top of the fence and run the wire along there so she HAS to touch it if she goes over.  It can also be run along the bottom of the fence, of course, if she's going under.

To me, the best solution to all of the problems (preferably with the hot wire) is taking her through obedience classes and bringing her into the house with the family.  She will be a much better pet, more fun for the family, and better able to protect you should an unwanted "visitor" enter the house.  She can be crated during the day, and let outdoors when you're home to supervise if you don't get the fence fixed.  

Anyway, just some solutions if you're interested.  

[jpreiser]

Cant you keep the dog inside when you are not home? much better then getting rid of her or debarking etc...  Our dogs are inside when ever we go out.
I hate it when our neighbors dog barks all the time ,they leave her outside in the rain, snow, heat etc... not a good thing for a dog..   Hopefully you will be able to find a good home if you cant keep her inside when you go out.
Our animal rescues asked us both time, when adopting where we were going to keep the dog..  And out right told us if you plan on keeping the dog outside with out supervision then  they would not allow us to  adopt, they have seen many dogs come in hurt  by fences, chains cought on one fence killed the dog, it got tangled and hung it self.
 Good luck looking  for a new home...

[NCSunshine]

My first concern with electric fence are my 3 and 5 year old.  I had thought about that but where concerned for my young girls.  What are your thoughts on this?

[brainpause]

My first concern with electric fence are my 3 and 5 year old.  I had thought about that but where concerned for my young girls.  What are your thoughts on this?

An electric fence won't kill or injure or maim. It just teaches a good lesson. Trust me. I've had the lesson several times (I'm a slow learner). It gives a mild jolt that just gets your attention.

Larry

[jpreiser]

An electric fence won't kill or injure or maim. It just teaches a good lesson. Trust me. I've had the lesson several times (I'm a slow learner). It gives a mild jolt that just gets your attention.

Larry

slow learner that crackes me up..
 
plus a 5 and 3 year old would not be outside by themselves anyway....

[angelsmom10]

Wish we could help, but with us having 5 already another one is out of the question.  My MIL has had 2 border collies and loved them both dearly; when she had to put the 1st one down due to cancer, she said she would only get another one as it was the best dog she had ever had,  Finally she found another one at our local shelter.  She can't take another one either, but I can tell you that her border collies were the best.

[MommaMia]

Wasn't Copcarguy looking for a pooch?

[Ernhrts3n8]

My first concern with electric fence are my 3 and 5 year old.  I had thought about that but where concerned for my young girls.  What are your thoughts on this?

An electric fence cannot hurt humans.  The dog has a collar on while the electric fence is in place.  If the dog goes past the designated area, the collar should first give it a warning, and if it doesn't stop, it will then shock the dog.  The only way that your children could get hurt is if they had the special dog collar on themselves.

[Jim in Michigan]

An electric fence cannot hurt humans.  The dog has a collar on while the electric fence is in place.  If the dog goes past the designated area, the collar should first give it a warning, and if it doesn't stop, it will then shock the dog.  The only way that your children could get hurt is if they had the special dog collar on themselves.

I was thinking the same thing as we have an electric fence for our dog (underground) but an earlier post was discussing attaching electric wire (cattle fence) to their existing fence, thats a whole different animal.

I would go for the underground wire.  Our dog in her youth learned how to take a four foot fence and that is how we contained her.  We keep her inside when not at home however.

[Jeffrey]

An electric fence cannot hurt humans.  

Unless? you get extra collars for your kids?

The other kind of electric fence, isn't legal for residences in most cities anyway. Neither is barb wire, moats with gators, or watch towers with gunman.

My BIL had a Border Collie for a couple weeks too. They are right when they say they need activity. I thought it was a great dog. But they aren't the right dog for everyone.

You have to admit for most neighborhoods tieing a dog outside all day would be a problem. I don't think for any breed, that is right.

[Miss-Teri]

Yes, they are legal in every city I know of (though you might check yor particular city as that is a valid point).  It's the high voltage for cattle fences, etc, that isn't legal in some cities.  I've never heard of a city where the low voltage dog wires are not legal, but of course the ones that knock you flat wouldn't be.

The problem with an underground fence (the "other" wire you're talking about) is that it is quite a bit more expensive, and really should be professionally put in as the dog needs to be trained to use it by someone that understands it well.  When the dog has already caused a lot of trouble (and has the neighbors complaining), most people don't want to go through the expense of the underground fence.

[Jeffrey]

Yes, they are legal in every city I know of (though you might check as there are some odd rules in other places).  It's the high voltage for cattle fences, etc, that isn't legal in some cities.  .

Yes, that's what I said or meant.

electric DOG fences, yes - good idea!
 like the brand ... "Invisible fence"

electric Cattle/prison fences - not so good, (at least in my opinion)

You can try the moat with gators, but they made me take mine out.

[MommaMia]

The problem with an underground fence (the "other" wire you're talking about) is that it is quite a bit more expensive, and really should be professionally put in as the dog needs to be trained to use it by someone that understands it well.  When the dog has already caused a lot of trouble (and has the neighbors complaining), most people don't want to go through the expense of the underground fence.

We purchased a do it yourself underground fence that work extrememly well!  It cost about $150 and only took and afternoon to install.  We used the flags and followed the included training video to a T and it was just a few weeks of training  for  the dogs to learn what it was all about.

[tlhdoc]

Dogs are pack animals, they don't like to be alone.  I hate to see any pet tied outside and left alone.  You can't blame the dog for barking because it is tangled up.  Do you really feel that the neighbors should have to listen to your dog bark all day?  If they were making noise all day ex:blasting a radio, or running an engine wouldn't you complain?  Have you ever tried putting an overhead cable between the house and another object in the yard so the dog couldn't get tangles up?  Do you exercise the dog so that it has its extra energy burned up?  Is there a reason you will not allow the dog in the house?  

Good luck with finding a new home for the dog.  I hope you can find someone that will want it and give it a nice home.