Camp Lisa

02/21/2026

Yes yes yes

02/04/2026

this is very informative

Sarah Hedderly - DingBatt Dog Training
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Border Collies vs Kelpies: Same Job, Very Different Minds 🐾
Border Collies and Kelpies are often spoken about in the same breath.
They’re both herding breeds.
They’re both intelligent.
They’re both energetic, athletic, and bred to work all day.
And because of that, they’re frequently recommended or warned against for exactly the same reasons.
But while they may share a job description, living with a Border Collie can feel very different from living with a Kelpie. Understanding those differences can be the key to better training, fewer behaviour struggles, and far less frustration on both sides of the lead.
Whether you’re choosing between the two breeds, or already living with one and wondering “why is this so hard?”, this post is for you.
Different Origins, Different Priorities
Both breeds were shaped by work but the work they were shaped for wasn’t the same.
Border Collies
Border Collies were developed in the UK, bred almost exclusively for their ability to control livestock, particularly sheep, using eye, precision, and responsiveness to a handler.
They were selected for:
* Sensitivity to pressure
* Ability to read movement and space
* Close cooperation with humans
* Sustained concentration over long periods
A Border Collie’s job wasn’t just to move animals it was to think, constantly.
Kelpies
Kelpies were developed in Australia, where the environment, stock, and working conditions demanded something different.
They were bred to:
* Work independently for long periods
* Cover huge distances
* Cope with heat, pressure, and harsh terrain
* Push livestock with confidence and physical presence
Where Border Collies were refined specialists, Kelpies became hardy, self-sufficient problem solvers.
That difference still shows up very clearly in pet homes.
Intelligence: Analytical vs Practical
Both breeds are extremely intelligent but their intelligence is expressed in different ways.
Border Collie Intelligence
Border Collies are analytical thinkers.
They:
* Notice tiny environmental changes
* Anticipate patterns very quickly
* Learn behaviours after very few repetitions
* Think deeply about outcomes
This can make them:
* Incredible learners
* Highly responsive to training
* Extremely perceptive
But it also means they’re prone to:
* Overthinking
* Anticipatory anxiety
* Obsessive behaviours
* Struggling with unpredictability
Many Border Collies don’t just respond to the world, they monitor it.
Kelpie Intelligence
Kelpies are practical problem-solvers.
They:
* Learn quickly, but through doing
* Tend to focus on action rather than analysis
* Are confident making decisions independently
* Thrive when they have a job to complete
They’re often less emotionally delicate than Border Collies but far more driven to do something with their bodies.
Drive and Energy: Intense vs Explosive
Both breeds have high energy, but the quality of that energy matters.
Border Collies
Border Collie energy is often mentally intense.
They may:
* Appear calm physically but be mentally over-aroused
* Struggle to switch off indoors
* Become hyper-focused on specific triggers
* Show reactivity rooted in anticipation rather than excitement
Many Border Collies don’t need more exercise they need clarity, predictability, and emotional regulation.
Kelpies
Kelpie energy is often physically explosive.
They:
* Move fast, often and enthusiastically
* Thrive on running, jumping, climbing, and pushing
* Are more likely to seek physical outlets when bored
* Can become destructive if underworked
A bored Kelpie doesn’t usually freeze and stare, they go.
Sensitivity and Stress Responses
This is one of the biggest differences between the two breeds and one that explains a lot of behaviour issues.
Border Collie Sensitivity
Border Collies are highly sensitive dogs.
They:
* Feel pressure deeply
* Are affected by handler stress or frustration
* Often internalise emotional conflict
* Can shut down or become reactive under stress
This makes them incredible partners but also means they need:
* Calm, consistent training
* Clear expectations
* Emotional safety
A stressed Border Collie often becomes quieter, tighter, or more reactive. They can also resort to inappropriate herding as a need to control to make themselves feel better.
Kelpie Sensitivity
Kelpies are generally more emotionally robust.
They:
* Tend to shake off stress more easily
* Are less affected by minor handler mistakes
* Often express stress through action rather than withdrawal
* Can tolerate pressure sometimes too well
This resilience is useful in working environments, but in pet homes it can lead to people accidentally pushing them too hard, too often.
Herding Style and Behaviour Challenges
Herding instincts show up in pet dogs — but how they show up varies by breed despite these 2 breeds being generally the best all round herding dogs.
Border Collie Herding Traits
Border Collies herd using eye, stillness, and control.
In everyday life, this can look like:
* Fixating on cars, bikes, runners
* Freezing and staring before lunging
* Difficulty disengaging once focused
* Heightened reactivity to movement
These behaviours are often mislabelled as “obsessive” or “neurotic”, when they can actually be expressions of instinct combined with stress.
Kelpie Herding Traits
Kelpies herd in a looser, more forceful style.
This may show up as:
* Chasing movement
* Barking while working
* Nipping at heels
* Using physical pressure rather than stare
Because this behaviour is more overt, it’s often noticed earlier but it can also escalate quickly without guidance.
Trainability: Precision vs Momentum
Both breeds love training but they need different approaches.
Border Collies in Training
Border Collies thrive when training is:
* Structured
* Clear
* Low pressure
* Thoughtfully progressed
They can struggle with:
* High arousal games without regulation
* Inconsistent criteria
They want to understand the task, not just perform it.
Kelpies in Training
Kelpies thrive when training is:
* Active
* Purposeful
* Physically engaging
* Varied
They often enjoy:
* Shaping through movement
* Task-based training
* Jobs with clear outcomes
They can struggle with slow, overly controlled sessions unless their physical needs are also being met.
Settling and Switching Off
This is a major pain point for many owners with much overlap between the breeds but generally there are subtle differences.
Border Collies
Border Collies often struggle to settle because:
* Their minds stay “on”
* They anticipate what might happen next
* They monitor their environment constantly
Teaching a Border Collie to settle is rarely about tiring them out it’s about teaching safety and predictability.
Kelpies
Kelpies often struggle to settle because:
* Their bodies still want to move
* They seek physical outlets
* They’re used to being active for long periods
For Kelpies, settling often improves once:
* Physical needs are appropriately met
* Clear boundaries around rest are taught
* They learn that stopping is part of the job
Social Behaviour and Relationships
Border Collies
Border Collies often:
* Bond very closely to one or two people
* Are selective with dogs
* Prefer predictable social interactions
* Can find busy environments overwhelming
They don’t need lots of social interaction they need secure interaction.
Kelpies
Kelpies often:
* Are more socially confident
* Enjoy interaction and activity with others
* Can cope better with novelty
* Are less likely to internalise social stress
That said, under-socialised Kelpies can still develop reactivity often expressed through overexcitement rather than avoidance.
Grooming and Practical Care
Both breeds are relatively low-maintenance compared to some others, but:
* Border Collies vary hugely in coat length and type
* Kelpies usually have shorter, weather-resistant coats
Both benefit from:
* Regular brushing
* Nail and joint care (they’re very active dogs)
* Thoughtful workload management to prevent injury
So… Which Breed Is Right?
Neither breed is easier.
They’re just different.
A Border Collie may challenge you emotionally and mentally.
A Kelpie may challenge you physically and structurally.
Choose a Border Collie if you:
* Enjoy training and observation
* Appreciate sensitivity and nuance
* Can provide routine and emotional consistency
* Want a deeply responsive partner
Choose a Kelpie if you:
* Love being active
* Want a dog who thrives on physical work
* Can provide outlets for drive and momentum
* Appreciate independence and resilience
Final Thoughts
Border Collies and Kelpies are both incredible dogs but they’re not interchangeable.
When we stop expecting them to behave the same way, and start supporting them based on how they’re wired, everything gets easier:
* Training feels clearer
* Behaviour makes more sense
* Relationships become more enjoyable
Because a dog that feels understood doesn’t need to shout to be heard 🐾

Send a message to learn more

01/29/2026

Yes!

01/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/LisaGGillett/posts/pfbid0EvsV92YQAmb29iQfWfr9NetPhTV32zchZt5zetybYGTVVo8ZNf5RRL7xmcdxAGBPl
I love and understand this breed and this is so spot on.

Dog parks are one of the worst places you can take a German Shepherd, and insisting otherwise is about owner ego, not the dog’s needs.

They’re marketed as social spaces, but for shepherds they function like chaos labs with no rules and too many variables.

The idea that all dogs benefit from unstructured socialization is a myth people repeat because it sounds kind.

German Shepherds were not built for free-for-all environments where boundaries shift every thirty seconds.

They were built to read order, respond to hierarchy, and track responsibility.

A dog park offers none of that.

What it offers is unpredictable dogs, inconsistent human intervention, and constant pressure to assess threat levels without clear authority.

People call it “letting them be dogs.”

What it actually is is asking a working breed to stand down in a situation that keeps demanding engagement.

Most shepherds don’t play at dog parks.

They patrol.

They hover.

They correct.

They watch entrances and exits instead of chasing balls.

Owners misread that as dominance or anxiety.

It’s neither.

It’s a dog doing a job it was never relieved from.

Dog parks reward dogs that disengage easily.

German Shepherds don’t disengage easily.

They stay switched on because that’s how they’re wired.

So when something inevitably goes wrong, a scuffle, a snap, a dog crossing a line, the shepherd gets blamed.

Not because it started the problem, but because it finished it.

This is why you hear the same story over and over.

“He’s great everywhere else.”

“He’s never done that before.”

“He just doesn’t like dog parks.”

That last one is the only honest sentence in the entire conversation.

Shepherds don’t thrive in environments where no one is clearly in charge.

Dog parks are built on the assumption that dogs will self-regulate.

That assumption works for some breeds.

It does not work for a dog bred to regulate others.

People who insist their shepherd “needs” the dog park are usually trying to outsource stimulation.

They want the dog tired without having to be involved.

They want enrichment without responsibility.

That’s not enrichment for a German Shepherd.

That’s abandonment with witnesses.

This is also why so many shepherds come home from dog parks overstimulated, reactive, or on edge.

Not because they’re fragile.

Because they were asked to maintain control in a space that actively resists structure.

You can love your German Shepherd and still put them in situations that work against their nature.

Dog parks are one of those situations.

If your shepherd avoids other dogs, scans constantly, or positions itself between groups, it’s not failing to socialize.

It’s doing exactly what you brought it there to do, whether you admit it or not.

German Shepherds don’t need more chaos.

They need clarity.

And dog parks are the opposite of that, no matter how friendly the sign at the gate looks.

12/31/2025

12/31/2025

Anybody else always fall asleep before 12 hehe

12/19/2025

Important read for my little dog friends

The Lepto Vaccine
For owners of toy breeds—such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Yorkies, and Maltese—the decision to administer the Leptospirosis (Lepto) vaccine is often met with significant caution. Many breeders and small-dog advocates argue that for these tiny companions, the potential for severe adverse reactions far outweighs the likelihood of infection.
The following article outlines the specific risks and lifestyle factors that make the Lepto vaccine a point of concern for toy breed owners.
The Danger of Adverse Reactions
The primary argument against the Lepto vaccine in toy breeds is its high rate of Vaccine-Associated Adverse Events (VAAEs). Small dogs are physiologically more vulnerable to vaccine reactions than large breeds, and the Lepto shot is frequently cited as one of the most "reactive" injections in veterinary medicine.
* Hypersensitivity and Anaphylaxis: Toy breeds are at a statistically higher risk for Type I hypersensitivity. This can manifest as facial swelling, hives, and acute vomiting, or escalate to life-threatening anaphylactic shock shortly after the injection.
* The Dosage Disparity: Currently, vaccines are not weight-adjusted. A 4-lb Yorkie receives the exact same volume of antigen and chemical adjuvants as a 120-lb Mastiff. This creates a massive over-stimulation of the toy dog's immune system, which many believe leads to systemic inflammation.
* Localized Vasculitis: In small breeds, the Lepto vaccine has been linked to localized vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) at the injection site. In tiny dogs, this can result in permanent focal alopecia (hair loss) or skin necrosis.
Why it is Often Unnecessary
For many toy dogs, the actual risk of contracting Leptospirosis is virtually zero, making the dangerous side effects of the vaccine an unnecessary gamble.
* Low-Risk Lifestyles: Leptospirosis is typically spread through the urine of wildlife in standing water, marshlands, or soil. Most toy breeds live strictly indoor lives, walk on city pavement, and are rarely—if ever—exposed to the rural or suburban environments where the bacteria thrive.
* Limited Strain Coverage: There are over 250 known "strains" (serovars) of Leptospirosis. Most vaccines only cover four. If a dog is exposed to a strain not included in the shot, they remain unprotected despite having taken the risk of the injection.
* Short-Term Efficacy: Unlike core vaccines (like Rabies or Parvo) which can provide years of protection, the Lepto vaccine requires annual or even bi-annual boosters. This subjects a small dog to the cumulative risk of a reaction every 12 months for a disease they are unlikely to encounter.
Hidden Risks: The Cumulative Effect
Toy breeds often face "vaccine fatigue" because their small bodies struggle to process multiple antigens simultaneously.
* Combination Shot Dangers: The Lepto vaccine is frequently bundled into a "7-way" or "5-way" combo shot (DHLPP). Research suggests that the more antigens given at once, the higher the risk of a reaction. For a tiny dog, the addition of the Lepto component to a standard booster can be the tipping point for the immune system.
* Autoimmune Concerns: There is ongoing concern among some holistic veterinarians and breeders that the aggressive adjuvants used in the Lepto vaccine may trigger long-term immune-mediated diseases in genetically predisposed small breeds.

Protecting Your Toy Breed
If you choose to decline the Lepto vaccine based on these risks, you can minimize environmental exposure by:
* Avoiding stagnant water or puddles during city walks.
* Ensuring your yard is free of rodent attractants.
* Focusing only on "core" vaccines (Rabies, Distemper, Parvo) that offer long-term protection with fewer boosters.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/322967551247441/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT