How Much Exercise Do Border Collies Need?

Border Collies typically need a lot of exercise because they are high-energy dogs. Anyone who has owned a Border Collie knows that it is almost impossible to tire them out, no matter how much they run. However, it’s not just plenty of physical exercise they need. Border Collies require a fair amount of mental stimulation. Therefore, training your Border Collie might be essential to their mental wellness. After all, they are one of the most intelligent dog breeds around.

If you are wondering how much exercise your Border Collie needs, we have the answer here. However, to answer the question about how much exercise a Border Collie needs, it’s vital to know more about this sheep-herding breed.

Border Collies were bred to be energetic, intelligent, hard-working dogs with an instinct to herd sheep. These highly intelligent and trainable canines have athletic prowess rarely seen in other dog breeds. Additionally, Border Collies are even-tempered and eager to please. And if socialised early on, Border Collies get along well with other dogs and even cats.

Border Collie makes excellent family pets if they get enough exercise. These black-and-white athletic canines respond well to training and praise and learn exceedingly fast. These traits make Border Collies loyal pets that thrive on companionship and stimulation. In addition, because the pooches have a natural herding instinct, they are protective of their family and will protect children.

However, there are a few things to look out for. First, their sheep-herding instincts can make them somewhat snappy. So, they may snap at a stranger’s heels like when herding sheep. But with the proper training, these tendencies quickly disappear.

Ideally, you should walk Border Collies for two hours of exercise every day. You can achieve this by an hour-long walk in the morning and another in the evening. If possible, most of the walking time should be off the lead to let your four-legged athlete run off pent-up energy.

But the key to keeping a high-energy breed like a Border Collie happy is consistency. Therefore, regular daily walks are essential to your Border Collie’s physical and mental well-being.

Border Collie puppies benefit from a moderate amount of daily exercise. However, because their bones and joints are still developing, you shouldn’t give them too much exercise. A rule of thumb is to exercise your Collie pup for five minutes every day per month of age.

The goal of exercising a puppy is to satisfy its inquisitive nature. The daily exercise should be a mixture of teaching manners, recall, positive reinforcement, environmental enrichment and socialising them with other dogs

Getting the right amount of exercise is crucial for healthy adult Border Collies. While you should aim for two hours of activity, 90 minutes of exercise is the minimum. Collies love to run, chase balls and play fetch. This form of exercise ensures your energetic four-legged friend gets plenty of physical and brain exercise regularly.

Senior Border Collies require less daily exercise as they get older. However, getting out for daily walkies is still vital for their physical and mental health. Therefore, monitoring their fitness and activity levels is a good idea.

For example, your dog may no longer enjoy playing fetch because it cannot run fast enough anymore. Or its energy level may drop because of stiff joints, and it takes more effort to sprint.

If you notice changes to your Border Collie’s health or level of activity, it’s worth paying a visit to the vet for a check-up.

Border Collies thrive on mental and physical stimulation. So, the best kind of exercise for your spirited pet should be highly active and stimulating at the same time. Therefore off-lead walkies are essential to burn off excess energy. As a good pet parent, it’s good to include some of the following activities:

• Playing fetch
• Flyball
• Frisbee
• Agility training
• Obedience training
• Swimming
• Disc Dog
• Sheepdog trials

All dogs – but especially Border Collies – require mental exercise along with the physical activity. This is especially important with Border Collies because it helps prevent separation anxiety if you are away for most of the day.

What are the best ways to keep your four-legged furry friend stimulated? Here are a few ideas for enhanced mental enrichment:

• Use interactive toys to provide your Collie with lots of stimulation at home
• Teach new commands and tricks
• Give your Collie puzzles to solve, like a puzzle food dispensing toy
• Herding balls
• Nose games to stimulate their sense of smell
• Take your Collie on new walks to enrich their senses

Although your Border Collie seems like a never-ending dynamo full of energy, they have their limits. Of course, the chances are that your pup will outperform you in endurance trials. However, any type of exercise must be in line with what they are used to. If you want to increase activity levels, it’s best to do this gradually.

At Royvon, we know that every dog and family’s circumstances are different! That’s why we’re dedicated to helping as many Border Collie owners as possible. Check out our Residential Dog Training Programme for Border Collies or book a training session with us right away!