If you are sharing your life with a Border Collie or are contemplating acquiring one, you’ve likely landed here in the Big Dog Den in search of strategies to help calm the breed renowned for being highly energetic. Well, you’ve landed in the right place, I’m glad you’re here! There are strategies to calm a Border Collie, and today I’m going to share the top 5 with you!
In this article, I will be citing the latest and most accurate information I’ve gleaned from the experts in the field of all things canine. This includes (but is not limited to) the American Kennel Club (AKC) the Border Collie Society of America (BCSA) Pet Md and from Wikipedia. I’ve read the works of dog behavior specialists like Cesar Milan and gathered advice for you from the people in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). I’ve also interviewed sources I’ve come to trust through personal experiences such as my own dog’s veterinarian and folks who currently own a beautiful Border Collie of their own!
Today you’ll discover:
- Why Border Collies can “Border” on “Hyper”
- How Exercise is Crucial for Achieving Calmness
- Training Methods that Promote Calmness in Your Border Collie
- How Aroma Therapy can Help Calm Your Border Collie
- How to Stimulate Your Border Collie’s Mind to Help Him (or her!) Self-Calm
- The Benefits of Massage for Calming Your Dog
In addition, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ), add a helpful hint or two, and (as always) provide some interesting facts about this loyal and loving dog breed you may not have known.
…As an added bonus, I’m including a mini-massage manual so you can utilize massage techniques for calming your Border Collie in just a few minutes!
We’ve got a lot of juicy bones of information to chew on today, so let’s dig in and learn the
5 Strategies most recommended by experts and owners for calming a Border Collie.
Before we begin though, I want to touch on 2 critical points.
- Your Border Collie’s Health: Everything you will learn here today is information to utilize after you have had your Border Collie examined by a veterinarian to rule out any health issues potentially lurking behind your dog’s hyperactive behavior. This article is to help an “average” and healthy Border Collie to calm down.
- The Importance of Your Patience when Training Your Border Collie to be Calm: Your dog isn’t misbehaving because he (or she) is spoiled, trying to get more attention, or for any reason other than he’s filled with more energy than he (or she) can contain. The two primary factors in teaching him (or her) to be calmer are time and patience. Any angry tone from you will confuse and frustrate the dog (and probably yourself, as well!). Instead, speak softly and calmly. And I can’t stress this fact enough: punishment will never be an effective solution for calming a hyper dog.
There, we have that out of the way and can now focus on promoting calm from chaos in your Border Collie.
FAQ: Why are Border Collies so “Hyper”?
Hard to believe that a body can generate as much energy as some Border Collies exhibit, isn’t it? Sometimes I wish I had energy like that, LOL! However, I am fully aware that so much energy can be disruptive, and even destructive.
Border Collies have been around much longer than the 1900’s when the breed we know today received their name. They are descendants of Collies in the British Isles that were developed specifically to herd sheep. They’ve also been used for search and rescue missions throughout history. Imagine how much energy and endurance jobs like those demanded? The same energy that can be disruptive when exuding from our (very) domesticated version of his ancestors is the energy that allowed them to be successful herders and rescuers (even to this day). High energy is an inherent trait, bone-deep in the Border Collie.
Treating hyperactivity in Border Collies medically is complicated by the fact that Border Collies can carry the MRD1 gene. This genetic trait causes an adverse reaction to the tranquilizers typically prescribed for hyperactivity in dogs. Herbal supplements formulated to promote a calming effect are a great alternative. These supplements are made of natural herbs and other ingredients that encourage the release of naturally-occurring hormones that help to calm your dog without the risks known to be associated with narcotic tranquilizers. Click here to see one option on Amazon.
The 5 Strategies for Calming Your Border Collie
#1) Calm Your Border Collie with Exercise
Border Collies that aren’t receiving adequate time to exercise in their day are bound to express the energy they’ve pent up. This energy will likely manifest as nervousness, destructive behavior, or nuisance barking.
Your Border Collie will need the most exercise while in the adolescent phase of his life-cycle, between 6 months and 15 months of age. During this time, ensure he (or she) receives about 90 minutes daily, with a little bit of that time being “off-leash” in independent play.
Your adult Border will most benefit from at about an hour of daily exercise. Each dog is unique and some are less motivated, no doubt about it! As a responsible pet owner, make sure he (or she) is getting at least 30 minutes a day. In addition to creating pent-up energy that can come out in destructive ways, too little exercise promotes obesity and other health concerns.
A Border Collie is considered a senior in about the eighth year of his (or her) life. A natural slowdown will progressively occur in energy level, movement, and strength. Increase the frequency of veterinary exams for him to twice a year, and be sure to discuss exercise on each visit. The healthier the dog from his (or her) youth, the easier the transition through the years as age begins to take its toll. Exercise your senior Border Collie for as long as, and as many times as a day as he can comfortably tolerate.
Never exercise your dog at any age to the point of pain! Always work within the dog’s limitations. The total daily requirement for exercise is best broken up into at least two sessions, and ideally would be three (or more!). Find the frequency and pace that works for both you and your dog.
To get the most results from exercise in the shortest time, invest in a Frisbee-like toy. Your healthy dog will receive a much more effective work-out chasing a Frisbee than he will from a routine walk alone. (Grab a Frisbee-Toy Here from Amazon) Don’t forget the importance of that off-leash time! If you don’t have a back yard, find a dog park or pet-friendly park or hiking trail where you live and take advantage of it at least once a week.
#2) Training Your Border Collie to be Calm
I have learned that the best day to begin training your dog is on the day after you bring him (or her) home. Your first concern will be in training your Border Collie where he will eat, sleep, and use the bathroom. Next will come the 5 Basic Commands. I recommend you add a portion of calmness training right in with the five! We will go over these commands, but a word about training first.
With a dog breed that carries such a high potential for hyperactivity, the best thing you can do for both of you is to enroll your dog in a Basic Obedience Class. Not only will you both learn the most effective ways to instill obedience in your dog, but it will also provide an excellent opportunity for socializing him (or her).
All training should combine a verbal command with a hand gesture. Both should be consistent, and both should be taught to anyone who will interact with your dog on a regular basis. Be patient when your Border Collie doesn’t immediately catch on to a command, and reward every bit of progress he (or she) makes in the right direction. It won’t take long to know what behaviors please you, and that will always be your Border Collie’s goal! Praises and affection are the greatest rewards, but do add healthy treats if you so desire!
Here are the 5 Basic Commands:
- Come! Your dog will learn to come when he (or she) is called.
- Heel! Training your dog to walk alongside you and at your pace.
- Sit! Your dog will learn to achieve the sitting position on command.
- Down! From the sitting position, you can train your dog to lay completely down.
- Stay! Your dog will learn to maintain his position when commanded, even if you leave the room for a few minutes.
Some owners of Border Collies have utilized the “Down!” command when they want their dog to calm down. Absolutely nothing wrong with using that method! If you’d like to add a specific command for calming, that is perfectly fine, as well. Pick your verbiage, pick your hand-gesture and you’re set!
DID YOU KNOW? Border Collies are excellent swimmers! Used throughout history as search and rescue dogs, the Border Collie is apt at diving under the water to retrieve a victim, and some are even dropped in the water from helicopters to facilitate their mission!
#3) Using Aroma Therapy to Calm a Border Collie
Dogs have 40 times more receptors for scent than humans, and their sense of smell is 100,000 times better as well! I suppose it’s no surprise to learn that scents can be effective motivation for your Border Collie!
The experts and veterinarians agree aromatherapy is useful in calming dogs when combined with the other strategies you are discovering here today. There isn’t a magic spray that will take a dog who is destructively hyperactive and change him (or her) into a couch potato. That being said, aromatherapy can be a valuable “tool” in your overall efforts to train your dog to calm down and to remain calmer all-around.
Whether you opt for a canine lotion, spray, essential oil or use an atomizer, you may want to experiment with scents such as lavender, orange, and chamomile to discover which one(s) has the best calming effect on your Border Collie. If you’re new to the concept of aromatherapy, I’ve done the research and read the reviews (and use the aromatherapy strategy with my own dog). From what I’ve learned, here are links to some helpful scent solutions to try:
FAQ: Will my Border Calm Down as He Ages?
Without question, an adolescent Border Collie will be at the “peak” of his (or her) energy level. Some calmness will occur naturally as the dog ages, but your time, patience and assistance can hasten the process. The younger your dog is when you step in with the calming techniques you learn here today, the better.
The combination of your training and the natural calming that will come when your Border Collie reaches about 15 months of age will help produce a pet who is healthy, calm, and that has a well-rounded personality.
#4) How Mental Stimulation Helps Calm Your Dog
Sounds counter-productive, doesn’t it? Stimulation to promote calmness? Yes! Like humans, Border Collies are susceptible to boredom and loneliness. Either one of these two conditions can cause your dog to experience stress and anxiety. The energy produced by this stress and anxiety can result in your dog becoming disruptive or even destructive! Mental stimulation combats both boredom and loneliness!
Your dog is mentally stimulated every time he (or she) interacts with you! You will always be the primary (and favorite) source of your Border Collie’s mental and emotional stimulation. Interact with your dog often verbally and with plenty of affectionate petting. Interact when you feed him (or her) when you’re out walking together, interact through play and through training, and for a few minutes at bedtime. Your dog’s mental and emotional health is directly connected to his (or her) physical health. Just like ours.
HELPFUL HINT: Interactive toys are an excellent and beneficial option for occupying your dog and stimulating his mind when you have to be away from home. After doing exhaustive research, I found a great interactive toy for my furry buddy right on Amazon! It’s highly rated and has satisfied thousands of pet owners with its quality construction and budget-friendly cost. You can grab one for your Border Coller right at the other end of this link.
#5) Calm Your Border Collie Through Massage
Have you ever experienced the calm that falls after a great massage? I have! It stands to reason, doesn’t it (?) that a massage would be equally beneficial to an over-stressed Border Collie. Massage calms the body, mind, and “soul”. You can schedule routine canine massage sessions, but they can be costly and inconvenient to your schedule. Why not invest in strengthening the bond you share with your Border Collie and massage him (or her) right at home? Keep reading to learn how!
DID YOU KNOW? A Canine Massage Therapist in the United States makes a median annual salary of $41,420.
The Benefits of Canine Massage
Massaging your Border Collie (or any dog) provides enormous psychological benefits for his overall well-being. Bonding with you and being shown affection will make your furry buddy blossom! It helps build his (or her) confidence, trust in you, and sociability. Additionally, there are physical benefits to massage such as:
- Calming a nervous Border Collie
- Helping your dog’s muscles get warmed up before sports and cooled down after
- Heightening the Immune System
- Improving muscle tone
- Promoting good circulation
- Slowing the deterioration process
- Reducing pain in the event of sore muscles or joints
- Aiding in any healing process
- Promoting longevity
BONUS:
Mini-Massage Manuel to Clam Your Border Collie
With the knowledge that some Border Collies are prone to experiencing joint issues as they age, beginning a massage regime early in your dog’s life will benefit him (or her) greatly later in life! Learn to massage your faithful companion in 5 Easy Steps!
The All-Over Basic Massage
Step 1: Massaging Your Border Collie’s Face and Head
Some dogs like to have their faces touched and some do not. Respect your Border Collie’s preference! If he (or she) DOES like it, you use your thumbs to gently massage the face. Begin where the muzzle ends between his eyes. Using both thumbs, gently massage in a circular and upward motion. Move your thumbs upward and with each thumb on one side of his forehead, repeat the motion there.
If your dog enjoys it, use the thumbs in the same way along the sides of his muzzle. On his head, alternate between wide gentle strokes with your whole open palm and using the pads of your fingertips in smaller, more concentrated strokes. Your dog’s moans and sighs will let you know the motions he (or she) most enjoy!
Step 2: Massaging the Large Areas of Your Border Collie’s Body
Using long broad strokes made by the “heels” of your hands, spend at least a minute administering petting strokes. Find the perfect combination of gentleness and firmness and work from neck to tail.
Step 3: Massaging Your Border Collie’s Muscles
Gently lift and squeeze your dog’s large muscles, beginning around his shoulders and working your way downward and backward. This resembles kneading bread dough. Only apply the amount of pressure your Border Collie enjoys.
Step 4: Massaging Your Border Collie’s “Undercarriage”
Caution: This is an “invitation only” event. When your dog exposes his belly to you, he (or she) is displaying his trust in you and his overall feelings of safety and contentment. Your Border Collie “speaks” with his body language, and you’ll quickly become accustomed to what he is saying to you.
When he does offer you belly by laying on his back broad long strokes from the chest to the abdomen made with open palms will delight him (or her)! This technique is helpful in circulation and digestion, and can even aid in gas-relief.
Step 5: Massaging Your Border Collie’s Legs and Paws
Some dogs are sensitive to having their legs or paws touched. Respect the boundaries body language “draws” while gently encouraging him (or her) to become accustomed to having the legs and paws massaged. Experiment with what technique produces the most cooperative Border Collie. The most common techniques for massaging a dog’s legs and paws are:
- Long gentle but firm strokes with both your hands encircling the leg and working downward to the paws.
- Short squeezes working from the top of his leg downward with your hands in the same position.
- Tiny “pinches” that gently lift the skin away from the muscle, working from top to bottom and tiny squeezes of his entire paw.
- Gentle Stretches can ease joint pain and improve your Border Collie’s overall range of motion in his legs. To do this, hold the top of the leg in one hand and your dog’s paw in the other. Apply the slightest stretch, pulling the paw away from the leg. Hold the stretch for 3-5 seconds, and repeat on each leg 3-5 times.
Massage to Calm a Nervous Border Collie
Using both hands with palms open, gently stroke from the base of your dog’s head to the “peak of his hips, alternating your hands. Make several passes, while speaking in calm tones. When you sense your Border Collie relax slightly, leave one hand on the base of his head, and the other on the “peak” of his hips. These two areas help regulate the rest and relaxation responses in your dog’s body. Apply as much pressure as your dog enjoys without pushing hard.
Massage for Calming Your Border Collie’s Pain
It’s common for some Border Collies to develop joint issues as they age. Your dog can even sprain a muscle during vigorous play. Whatever the cause of your Pooch’s discomfort, massage may provide some relief. Begin with softly petting around the sore area to warm up the tissue and muscle. With open palms down, begin a gentle compression motion, “pumping” the sore area with your hands.
This stimulates circulation by moving fluids through the muscle, relieving tension on the tendons. Do not apply force or make a sudden movement, this is a slow and gentle “pumping”.
Wrap up your massage time with rewards of praises or a treat. You may even find yourself calmer after such a relaxing session, LOL!
(Mini-Massage Manual Adapted from a previous Big Dog Den article found here.)
Were you relieved to learn there are ways to help your Border Collie calm down and stay calmer overall? I hope so! The heart of the Big Dog Den is to arm responsible dog owners with as much information and as many helpful tips as possible to help you have the best relationship possible with mankind’s best friend… the dog. Stop by again soon!
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
