Top Activities For Borderneses

Introduction

One part Border Collie and one part Bernese Mountain Dog, the Bordernese is a hybrid dog that was specifically bred to possess the best traits of both of the parents. Also known as Bernese Collies, Borderneses are very friendly dogs who have big brains as well as big hearts. These attributes will allow you to train a Bordernese in virtually no time at all; a young Bordernese puppy can learn house rules and proper etiquette in a matter of weeks if they're training is consistent and thorough enough. These dogs are very energetic as well, meaning you'll want to get creative with the sorts of activities you introduce this busy hybrid to.

Treat Toys

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

20 - 30 min

Items needed

Treat Toys

Treats

Activity description

Borderneses are sharp dogs. While most dogs get their fill for mental stimulation after playing with their favorite toys for a few minutes, Borderneses will need much more intricate tools to work with. This is where dog treat toys can come in handy - they're basically dog-friendly puzzles with dog treats inside of them. These dog treat toys come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels. Many of the best dog treat toys were developed by the Swedish toy making company Nina Ottosson, so we'll be zeroing in on a number of their products for this guide. Dog treat toys tend to cost about $20 or so, making them very cheap and affordable tools that a person caring for a Bordernese ought to add into their arsenal. Dog treat toys also make for great indoor games that can be brought out on rainy days.

Step

1

Outward hound puzzle

This Nina Ottosson puzzle can be quite challenging for a dog that's inexperienced with treat toys but it'll be challenging in a good way. You'll have to set the puzzle up by placing some treats inside of it, but otherwise, it'll be up to your Bordernese to figure out this strange contraption. Your dog's neurons will be on fire as they twist and tug at levers and nozzles to try and get at the tasty treat inside.

Step

2

Tornado puzzle

Another Nina Ottosson treat toy, the tornado puzzle is a multilayered contraption that requires dogs to gradually unlock the device one level at a time. Each compartment in each of the toy's layers can be filled with treats at your discretion. You can fill the higher levels with fewer treats to encourage your dog to delve deeper into the puzzle.

Step

3

Treat dispensing ball

Treat dispensing balls are made by all sorts of brands and are probably the simplest form of dog treat toy there is. You don't really even have to buy an expensive toy if you don't want to as these devices are just that rudimentary by design. All you have to do is fill one up with treats, hand it to your dog, and watch as they essentially shake their treats out.

Bordernese Bikejoring

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Expensive

Normal

60 - 90 min

Items needed

Bicycle

Joring Harness

Activity description

Based on the sound of this activity alone, some of you have probably been able to glean that this activity originated from Northern Europe. Bikejoring is an urbanized version of Skijoring, an activity that was created by Norwegians a few hundred years ago. Both Skijoring and Bikejoring, as well as any activity with the "joring" suffix added to it, are activities that are centered around canine powered travel - dogs tethered to humans via harnesses are encouraged to escort their human companions across all sorts of terrain by charging forward and following certain commands. This can be an expensive activity, as you'll need at least $500 to get a good bike and harness, but it isn't the most difficult in the world either. It can theoretically be done during any weather condition that you're willing to endure, but is best attempted during sunny days.

Step

1

Joring commands

During a joring session of any kind, riders are able to steer themselves and their pets by giving out certain commands. The difficulty lies in actually a teaching a dog what a certain command means and what they're supposed to do when they hear it. Borderneses are very smart dogs, so they'll be able to figure out commands fairly quickly - you'll just have to teach them the meaning of a command and show them the corresponding maneuver they need to make.

Step

2

Command practice

After you've taught your dog a specific command, you'll need to practice with them to really drill certain concepts into their minds. The neat part is that you don't even need to hit the road to practice either; the next time you're walking your dog, issue joring commands and see if your Bordernese actually executes them. Even at home, you can practice the commands for speeding up and slowing down when your dog is moving about your place of dwelling.

Step

3

Test time

It's been said that the best way to learn is doing. The practices that you and your dog have completed were necessary for laying down a solid foundation, but they really just amount to theory. When you and your dog first ride out together using your bike and your dog's harness, it'll actually be time to put those concepts into practice. Our best advice during this stage is to be patient and cautious at all times - even with all the training, you and your dog still will need to log plenty of field hours in to become bikejoring pros.

Visit Lucerne

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Expensive

Easy

8 hrs

Items needed

Dog Leash

Travel Gear

vaccinations

Food and Water

Activity description

The city of Lucerne is a very scenic hamlet that's got a smorgasbord of sights to see, food to eat, and culture to experience - especially if you're a first time visitor. Located near the Swiss Alps, the birthplace and stomping grounds of the Bernese Mountain Dog, Lucerne has become a very popular tourist attraction over the years. The city is also quite dog-friendly, with many of its hotels and restaurants providing accommodations for dogs and their human companions. You'll need to save up quite a bit of cash to visit Lucerne, however, as the average flight and hotel package can be pricey depending on the time of year you try to visit. You can visit during any season that suits your fancy, but you're likely to find better deals during the spring and early summer periods of the year.

Step

1

What's for dinner

As a general rule of thumb, dogs are allowed in most of the restaurants in the city Lucerne so long as they're leashed and well behaved. While there aren't too many restaurants that are specifically catered to dogs, canines accompanying their humans for a meal is generally accepted by all.

Step

2

Hotel heaven

Lucerne also has a number of dog-friendly hotels that will let your dog spend the night with you for no extra cost. Some of these hotels, like the Grand Hotel National Luzern, will even provide your pet with areas that they can play around in so long as you remain by their side.

More Fun Ideas...

Skijoring

This activity will require you to teach your dog a few commands but it's otherwise fairly intuitive, easy to pick up, and hard to put down. Skijoring will require you and your Bordernese to head out to a place that's got plenty of snow and is cold enough to keep it all from melting, so bring your winter clothes for this activity.

Park Plays

Depending on where you live, it may not be too uncommon for local theater troupes to perform plays in the middle of the park for all to see. Dogs aren't often allowed to sit in on traditional plays, but if you see that a troupe will be performing in a park near you then consider checking them out for a few minutes. If your Bordernese is able to stay calm and quiet for the duration of the show, the two of you may even be able to watch the entire performance from start to finish. If your dog starts getting too restless, then that just means that it's time to play.

Banana Slamma

Turns out that dogs can eat bananas in small quantities, so you can add some flavor and potassium to your pet's menu every now and then. The best thing about bananas is that they're very versatile and can be used to make all sorts of snacks with little effort. You can blend some bananas with some peanut butter and milk to make a banana smoothie - provided your pet isn't lactose intolerant. Otherwise, chop up a banana and give your dog a piece over the course of a few days.

Conclusion

We can't really say which breed of dog is the best in the world, as every one of them are special and unique in their own distinct ways. Couple that with the fact that not every dog will appeal to everyone, and the matter gets complicated even further. With all that being said though, we feel that the Bordernese is a flexible, intelligent and friendly enough breed that they could easily appeal to just about anyone. We mean, who wouldn't love a dog that's intelligent enough to learn complex commands, friendly enough to warm even the coldest of hearts, and brave enough to protect their families from any potential threats? While we won't say that the Bordernese is the best dog in the world per se, we're hard-pressed to think of any other hybrids that are as versatile, loving, and valorous as a Bordernese.