How to Entertain a Border Collie

Of the many dog breeds, the Border Collie may be the most challenging to entertain. Why? Border Collies tend to be intelligent, lively, and very high strung. They're always looking for stimulation and challenge. To keep a Border Collie happy, you have to involve them in learning new tasks and skills as well as give them a way to expend their considerable energy.

Here are some suggestions if you want to entertain your Border Collie dog.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Play Ball or Frisbee With Your Border Collie.
   
   Border Collies are natural athletes with a Frisbee or ball. Spend 20-30 minutes a day throwing the ball or Frisbee with your dog. Not only will this release some of his pent up energy, it'll also help to keep him slim and healthy.

2. Give Your Border Collie Agility Training.
   
   Attend an agility training class with your dog. Once he learns the moves, you can design an agility course for home use to keep your dog stimulated.

3. Challenge Your Border Collie With Games.
   
   Entertain your Border Collie dog by hiding treats throughout the house and then show your Border Collie how much fun it is to find them. This kind of mental challenge will keep your Border Collie happy for hours. You can also play a quick game of hide and seek with your dog. This can be as much fun for you as it is for your Border Collie.

4. Take Your Border Collie to Your Local Dog Park.
   
   This is another way for your dog to expend some excess energy. Once you've socialized and trained your Border Collie to interact successfully with other dogs, he can benefit from the opportunity to play with other energetic dogs in a controlled setting.

5. Take Your Border Collie to Dog Day Care.
   
   These facilities are designed to give your dog a day of fun and stimulation by allowing him to exercise and interact with other dogs. Border Collies thrive on this type of interaction. You can drop your Border Collie off on the way to work and pick him up in the afternoon. Even a high spirited, energetic Border Collie tends to be docile after a day at dog day care.

6. Take Your Border Collie on a Walk Twice a Day.
   
   Border Collies need more exercise than most dog breeds. One walk per day may not be enough to satisfy their need for exercise. Try walking your dog at a fast pace for thirty minutes twice a day, if possible. This will help to relieve some of his nervous energy. Plus, it will help to keep in you in tip top shape also.

7. Buy High Quality Chew Toys for Your Border Collie.
   
   Some Border Collies will stay happily occupied with a chew toy for hours, while others become bored of them rather quickly. You'll have to test your own dog to see how he responds. Don't make the mistake of buying cheap dog toys that won't last. Border Collies can destroy a chew toy rather quickly which means you'll end up spending more money in the long run. One chew toy that seems to hold up well for an enthusiastic dog with a tough jaw is the Nylabone aggressive chewer pacifier.