Activities For English Borsetter Collies
Introduction
English Borsetter Collies are not a very well-known dog breed. This hybrid is part Border Collie and part English Setter. Though this isn't your typical breed of dog, they're known for their energetic and intelligent nature, making them sought-after pooches. The purebred Border Collie is renowned for their intelligence and obedience, as these dogs have herded for centuries. English Setters have a long history of hunting, having been gifted with exceptional speed and detection skills. Both dogs require vigorous physical and mental stimulation, and they adore having a job or purpose.
Expect to be kept on your "paws" with an English Borsetter, as a lack of exercise can lead to unwanted and destructive behaviors. As a result of being equipped with the mental and physical capacity to accomplish a series of complex tasks, this unique breed requires an owner comfortable with utilizing a variety of activities. These activities must mentally and physically challenge the pooch.
Agility Course Training
Border Collies are top contestants in national agility competitions held nationally and worldwide because of their speed, intelligence, and obedience. Like their parent breed, the English Borsetter Collie is agile and quick-witted, making agility course training an optimal activity option.
Depending on your location, finding an agility course for training can vary in difficulty. If you’re fortunate, your municipality may be home to many dog courses and training centers. Jump online and use your "paw-ferred" search engine to find a course that suits your budget and is conveniently accessible. Courses range in price, depending on the length of lessons, duration of training, and whether the handler (you) need training as well.
Flyball
Flyball is a popular sport, particularly for energetic, jump-loving dogs, making it ideal for the English Borsetter Collie. The sport of flyball combines collaboration with speed, as it forces teams of dogs to work together to accomplish one goal -- that is, to retrieve the tennis ball after navigating the course full of jump obstacles.
Usually, dogs work in teams of four, and the course consists of four jumps. The dog must complete all four jumps, without faults. They then retrieve a tennis ball from the flyball box and clear the obstacles once again to make it back to their owner. At this point, the next dog is set to tackle the course. The team with the fastest group wins. This sport is "pawfect" for intelligent and socially apt dogs, appealing to the English Setter side of this dog breed.
Tracking
As English Setters are known for their superior olfactory abilities, making them phenomenal hunters, games and activities focusing on honing these skills are bound to engage them. Tracking involves exposing your pup to a certain scent and setting them loose to track it down.
This activity is just like hunting; however, it removes the aggressive aspect of the sport and replaces it with rewarding stimulation. This is especially true if you have your English Borsetter Collie track a tasty treat.
Depending on your cost in treats, this activity is relatively cheap. The most important demand the activity has for you is that you be patient while your pooch is learning the process. Some dogs may catch on right away. As English B.S.C. are extremely intelligent, it’s likely they'll catch on quickly. You can play both indoors and out, depending on how long of a “track” you prepare.
More Fun Ideas...
Dock Diving
Add a little excitement to the traditional swim by tacking on jumping. Dock diving, as its name suggests, requires your pooch to jump off a dock into the water to retrieve an object. Dock diving competitions also judge competing canines on their jump height and distance, adding a fun, competitive element to the game.
Frisbee
Frisbee is pretty self-explanatory, but the end goal of this game is to teach your English Borsetter Collie how to catch the disc in mid-air! Practice makes pawfect, so play this game often with your pup to help them burn some of that endless energy.
Conclusion
English Borsetter Collies are intelligent and energetic hybrids, craving both physical and mental stimulation. With a handful of activities to keep your pooch busy, you'll likely never run into the issue of destructive behaviors. Keeping your English Borsetter Collie active is essential to maintaining their happiness -- and your own!
With the intelligence of a herding dog and speed of a hunter, agility training as well as any type of active sport training, such as frisbee or flyball, are "pawfect" for this breed. From jumps to fetching to running at high speeds through an obstacle course, there's no better way to burn energy and challenge your pup's mind. Dock diving and tracking are other great ways to explore your pup’s endurance and intellect. Try out each of these activities and you'll never get bored spending time playing with your English Borsetter Collie!