What Age Do Border Collies Calm Down?

Thanks to their intelligence and unique characteristics, Border Collies are considered one of the best family dogs in the world. These dogs are attentive, loyal, affectionate, intelligent, and above all, they are energetic. 

These dogs are so vibrant that sometimes owners start to wonder when these dogs will slow things down.

Border Collie dogs start to come down when they are about six years old. As the life expectancy of these dogs is about twelve years, they begin to slow down in the second half of their life. During this time, these dogs begin to become less active and adopt a somewhat relaxed demeanour.

The truth is the Border Collie is a dog breed that requires the proactive intervention of the owners. Otherwise, it will be impossible for the owner to handle their energy, and these dogs will remain hyperactive throughout their lives.

It does not matter whether you perceive hyperactivity as a problem or not. It would be a bit difficult to handle a Border Collie if you lead a hectic lifestyle or do not have enough time to exercise and play with your dog. You need to adopt another approach to keep your dog healthy.

If you want a Border Collie, you must learn more about the breed and its energy level. The more detailed knowledge you have about them, the easier it will be to understand them.

Do all Border Collies have high energy?

The Border Collie dogs are active and have a high energy level. As the energy level and hyperdrive are Border Collies’ breed traits, you can expect almost all Border Collie dogs to have high energy.

The route of the ancestry of the Border Collie dog breed can be traced back hundreds of years ago. Traditionally, these dogs were bred to help their owners manage sheep flocks.

Want to learn more about the history of the Border Collie? Find here a detailed timeline of them. 

A Border Collie’s high energy level and athletic body is a general breed trait. Additionally, endurance, alertness, and agility are coveted traits. 

But for some people, the energy level of the Border Collie dog does not create any problems. 

The energy level of the dog matches with their active lifestyle. 

You will be well suited to a Border Collie if you are athletic yourself or love to spend quality time outdoors.

However, to curb any unwanted hyperactivity, training almost always helps. You should start training and socialising a Border Collie to give them a more balanced personality.

Most Border Collies tend to calm down when they become around the age of six. However, the attitude of the dogs mostly depends on various factors. 

Border Collie dogs are easily trainable and respond to multiple forms of training pretty well. The level of training your dog will receive up until this age impacts its behaviour significantly. 

Exercise is another factor you need to consider if you want to curb the energy levels of a Border Collie. The dogs that get one to two hours of daily exercise tend to be less hyperactive.

While most Border Collie dogs tend to get calmer in the second phase of their life, some owners have reported that their pets remain hyperactive. 

This continued hyperactive behaviour can occur if you do not offer your dog sufficient stimulation. 

Border Collies dogs are extremely intelligent and actively seek jobs and activities. So, if you do not give your dog a job or ensure sufficient exercise, getting a handle on their energy level can be challenging.

Males vs Females

Even though many people believe that female Border Collie dogs are calmer than male ones, there is no solid evidence. The experts have noted no significant energy difference between the male and the female Border Collie dogs. 

The energetic demeanour of these dogs is a breed trait which both the male and the female breed members share equally. 

Compared to the males, female Border Collie dogs are more reserved and aloof. However, the female dogs are less stubborn than the males, making it easier to train them.

On the other hand, male Border Collies retain their puppy-like behaviour for a long time, which can stoke their hyperactivity.

The male dog wants to engage more physically with their owners and other household pets than the female dogs. Female Border Collies enjoy more independence and individual life.

This behaviour creates confusion about the difference in energy levels between male and female Border Collie dogs. While male dogs can be a bit more stubborn and difficult to handle than females, we need to concentrate on how they direct their energy. 

Male Border Collies are very food motivated. That makes it easier for the trainers to train the male dogs than the females. 

Both male and female dogs require ample exercise to stay healthy for the rest of their lives.

With the correct training, both male and female dogs can make excellent herders and loyal, loving pets to their owners.

You can train your Border Collie to herd chickens if you have any chickens. Find here an article I wrote about Border Collies and Chickens.

Will my Border Collie calm down after getting neutered? 

Some Border Collies can get a bit calmed down after getting neutered. However, this is not always the case. The reduction of energy level after getting neutered is not guaranteed. It may not create even a dent in their hyperactivity level. However, some owners have reported a significant change in the energy levels of their Border Collies after they get neutered. However, it depends on the dog already in place, active or non-active life, and how much or how little it could calm your Border Collie.

Neutering/Spaying

There are many behavioural and health benefits of neutering or spaying. That is why veterinary professionals recommend this procedure to pet owners. 

For male Border Collies, neutering reduces the chances of testicular cancer, urine infection, and prostate problems. 

Spaying female dogs reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. Spaying your dog also prevents her from getting a womb infection called pyometra. Many unspayed female dogs have false pregnancies, which can cause behavioural and medical problems.

It also dampens some aggressive behaviours and territory marking. However, there is no guarantee that neutering will reduce the aggressiveness of a Border Collie. 

The only way to change this untoward behaviour is to train these dogs properly.

Neutering is like surgery. It can be risky. Complications are infrequent, but they depend on your dog’s health and age.

When to neuter a Border Collie?

Generally, Border Collies are best to be neutered within four to nine months of their life. However, other professionals think it is wiser for the owners to wait until a Border Collie reaches puberty. If you are doubtful about neutering, better get in touch with veterinary professionals for further tailored advice. You can also ask the question to more than one veterinary professional to get plenty of advice to decide the best time for your Border Collie. It also depends on your situation; say, if you have other female dogs and want to avoid unwanted pregnancies, then spaying can’t wait.

Recommended Read: How Soon Can I Walk My Dog After Neutering?

Calming Help

As mentioned earlier, regular training and daily exercise are the most effective way to calm your Border Collie down. 

These activities will help these dogs burn down some excess energy and give them the mental and physical stimulation they need.

Recommended Read: Why does my dog shake?

Always remember that neutering is not the quick fix to their behaviour issue. The high energy level of Border Collies is embedded in their genes, and it is impossible to correct that just by neutering them.

It may seem a bit unbelievable, but border collies are working dogs, and they tend to thrive if you keep them engaged. Understandably, most owners do not find any jobs for their Border Collies. 

But if you think out of the box, you can develop exceptional ideas to keep your dog engaged for a long time. 

If you do not do this, the chances of hyperactivity or acting out increase significantly. 

The dogs can start to channel their energy through unnecessary jumping, nipping on the furniture, excessive barking, or unwanted digging in the garden.

Is a Border Collie dog breed right for me?

Before getting a Border Collie, you need to consider whether this dog breed is right for your family and lifestyle. 

You will need to consider your living arrangements. Getting a Border Collie is probably not the best idea if you live in an apartment, whether or not you can dedicate the time and effort to physical training and mental stimulation. 

If you are in two minds about getting a Border Collie, the article I wrote here will help you decide.

Health Issues

Excessive energy can often make your dog showcase unpredictable behaviour. For example, an unexcitable Border Collie may not sit down or continue peeing everywhere. While this can occur due to their excitable nature, it can also be a symptom of underlying health problems. 

So, instead of blaming everything on their energy level, you should take proactive actions to ensure that your pet Border Collie is not suffering from potential health problems. Once you are sure that your dog is of robust health, you can move on to other energy reduction solutions.

There is no doubt that Border Collie is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. But they are very energetic as well. 

Thankfully, you can get a Border Collie to calm down with the proper handling approach and training. 

Border Collies make truly unique pets; however, they are not good dogs for everybody. So before getting a Border Collie, you should consider your lifestyle and living conditions and check whether you can meet all the dog’s care requirements. 

Raising a Border Collie is not an impossible task, but it will demand significant energy, consistency and time on your part. 

You will have a best friend to make many happy memories with after successful training.

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