7 Common Blunders: What Not to Do With Border Collies if You Want a Calm Home

Understanding the specific needs of the world’s smartest dog breed is the first step to a peaceful household, and knowing what not to do with border collies is just as important as knowing what to do. While these dogs are celebrated for their incredible work ethic and agility, they are also notorious for “making their own fun” when their needs aren’t met—which often results in shredded pillows, herded children, and a home that feels like a whirlwind. To achieve a calm environment, you must first stop accidentally triggering their high-drive instincts through common management mistakes.

According to experts at Border Collie Rescue, providing security and clear leadership is the most important gift you can give a Border Collie in a new home. Without this structure, their intelligence quickly turns into anxiety or bossiness. It is a common misconception that these dogs just need “more room to run,” but as many specialists like That’ll Do Academy point out, simply increasing physical activity can often backfire, creating an over-stimulated athlete instead of a relaxed companion.

Common Blunders: What Not to Do With Border Collies

Blunder #1: Relying Solely on Physical Exercise

The first major mistake in understanding what not to do with border collies is assuming that physical exhaustion equals a calm dog. Many owners attempt to “tire out” their Collie with hours of fetch, long-distance running, or high-speed chasing. While physical health is vital, relying only on movement creates a significant problem: you are essentially building a high-performance athlete with a massive stamina threshold.

When you focus exclusively on physical output, you often find that the dog returns home more “wired” than before. This is because high-intensity exercise spikes their adrenaline and cortisol levels. As noted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), this breed was designed to work all day; they have a nearly bottomless gas tank. If you don’t engage their brain alongside their body, they will simply wait for the next “hit” of adrenaline.

What to do instead:

To achieve a calm home, you must prioritize “mental miles.” A 15-minute training session or a scent work game can be more exhausting for a Border Collie than a two-mile jog. Organizations like The Border Collie Society of America emphasize that mental enrichment is the key to preventing the “overdrive” state that leads to destructive behavior indoors.

Blunder #2: Ignoring the “Off-Switch” Training

A common error when learning what not to do with border collies is assuming they come with a built-in “off-switch.” Because this breed was selectively bred for centuries to be hyper-vigilant and ready for work at a moment’s notice, many individuals do not naturally know how to relax on their own. If you wait for a Border Collie to simply “decide” to nap, you might be waiting all day while they pace the floor or stare at you for a task.

Ignoring the need to actively teach relaxation is a recipe for a restless home. Without an internal regulator, these dogs remain in a state of constant “environmental scanning”—reacting to every car that passes or every floorboard that creaks. The training experts at That’ll Do Academy explain that teaching a Border Collie to settle is just as important as teaching them how to work, as their nervous systems can often get stuck in a state of constant hyperactivity.

What to do instead:

Implement a structured relaxation protocol or “Place Training.” This involves rewarding your dog for lying down and staying calm in a specific spot, such as a bed or mat, even when there is activity in the house. As highlighted by Gemma Fisher Dog Training, teaching a dog to settle is a cognitive skill. By rewarding the absence of activity and catching your Collie “doing nothing,” you help their brain shift from “work mode” to “rest mode,” which is essential for a peaceful household.

Blunder #3: Encouraging Herding Behavior in the House

One of the most disruptive mistakes regarding what not to do with border collies is allowing their natural herding instincts to take over inside the home. It might seem harmless or even “cute” when a puppy tries to “round up” the kids, nips at the heels of guests, or stalks the vacuum cleaner with intense focus. However, allowing these behaviors to go unchecked is a major blunder if you want a calm environment.

When a Border Collie herds people or objects, they are in a high state of arousal—a “working” mindset that is the opposite of calm. If this behavior is reinforced or ignored, the dog begins to view the movement of family members as a job to be managed. This can lead to increased anxiety for the dog and potential “nipping” incidents for humans. Veterinary experts note that herding is a predatory motor pattern that, in a domestic setting, can become an obsessive behavior if not correctly managed.

What to do instead:

Redirect that intense focus toward appropriate “jobs” that don’t involve family members. Use tools like flirt poles for controlled chasing or engage in “Treibball,” a sport designed specifically to give herding dogs a productive outlet for their instincts. Professional trainers recommend using “interrupt and redirect” techniques to break the dog’s intense stare before the herding behavior escalates. Providing clear boundaries on what can and cannot be “worked” is essential for maintaining peace and safety in a multi-person household.

Blunder #4: Lack of Mental Enrichment (The Boredom Factor)

A frequent mistake in the list of what not to do with border collies is assuming that a toy box full of standard rubber bones is enough to keep them satisfied. Because of their high intelligence, a Border Collie without a mental challenge is like a high-performance computer being used only as a paperweight. When these dogs aren’t given “problems” to solve, they will invent their own—which usually involves destructive chewing, digging, or obsessive pacing.

If you fail to provide daily mental enrichment, your dog remains in a state of high mental tension. Experts explain that this breed requires interactive play that challenges their problem-solving skills to truly reach a state of rest. Without this, their “work drive” has no outlet, leading to a frantic rather than a calm home.

What to do instead:

Transition from standard toys to “work-based” play. Use puzzle feeders that require the dog to slide, flip, or pull parts to get their meal. Scent work—hiding treats around the house for them to find—is another excellent way to burn mental energy. Mental stimulation is often more effective at settling a high-drive dog than physical exertion alone, as it satisfies their biological need for a “task” and leaves them feeling fulfilled. Shop for puzzle feeders here.

Blunder #5: Relying Solely on High-Arousal, Repetitive Games

A common misconception in the world of high-energy breeds is that “a tired dog is a good dog.” While true in principle, the way you tire them matters immensely. A major mistake regarding what not to do with border collies is relying exclusively on repetitive, high-intensity games like fetch or frisbee for hours on end.

While these activities provide physical exercise, they often keep the dog in a state of hyper-arousal. Constant ball-throwing triggers a predatory chase drive that floods the dog’s system with adrenaline and cortisol. Instead of helping the dog relax, you may inadvertently be “building an athlete” with unlimited stamina who never learns how to bring their heart rate back down. Over time, this can lead to an obsessive fixation on toys and an inability to settle.

What to do instead:

Integrate impulse control into your play sessions. Instead of mindlessly tossing a ball, ask your Border Collie to “sit” or “stay” while you throw it, only releasing them to retrieve it once the ball has stopped moving. You should also “interleave” physical play with mental tasks. For example, play fetch for two minutes, then switch to a three-minute “find it” game where the dog must use their nose to locate a hidden treat or toy. This forces the brain to take over from the body, leading to a much deeper and more restorative state of tiredness. For advanced training on this check out this Brain Training For Dogs course.

Blunder #6: Inconsistent Routine and Boundaries

A significant mistake regarding what not to do with border collies is maintaining a “loose” or unpredictable schedule. Because these dogs are bred to work in close partnership with humans, they are constantly looking to us for cues on what happens next. When rules are inconsistent—such as being allowed on the furniture one day but scolded for it the next—a Border Collie’s high-functioning brain goes into overdrive trying to solve the “puzzle” of your expectations.

Inconsistency creates a “vigilant” dog rather than a relaxed one. If they don’t know when they will be fed, walked, or put to work, they will stay in a state of constant readiness, pacing the house and watching your every move. This breed thrives on a sense of purpose and clear structure; without it, their intelligence can manifest as neuroticism, anxiety, or bossy behavior.

What to do instead:

Establish a “predictable flow” to the day. You don’t need to follow a rigid timetable down to the minute, but the sequence of events should be consistent (e.g., wake up, quick training session, breakfast, then “quiet time”). Setting firm boundaries helps reduce the dog’s “decision fatigue.” When a Border Collie knows exactly what the rules are and what the daily routine looks like, they can finally let down their guard and truly relax.

Blunder #7: Over-Stimulating Their Environment

The final and perhaps most subtle mistake regarding what not to do with border collies is keeping them in a state of sensory overload. Because Border Collies are bred for extreme sensitivity to sound and motion (to detect a stray sheep on a distant hill), their nervous systems are essentially “wide open” all the time. If your home is a constant whirlwind of loud television, shouting, or high-traffic windows where they can watch cars and squirrels all day, their brains never get a chance to reset.

Over-stimulation leads to a dog that is “wired but tired.” They may become reactive to small noises, snap at shadows, or develop obsessive-compulsive behaviors like light-chasing. When a dog’s environment is too busy, they stay in a state of chronic stress, which makes it impossible for them to learn or exhibit the calm behavior you’re looking for.

What to do instead:

Create a dedicated “Zen Zone” or “Decompression Space.” This should be a quiet area of the house where the dog can retreat from the family’s hustle and bustle. Use white noise machines or calming music to mask outside sounds that might trigger their guarding or herding instincts. Additionally, consider using window film or drawing the blinds on windows that overlook busy streets to reduce visual triggers. By lowering the “sensory volume” of their daily life, you allow their nervous system to recover, leading to a much more emotionally stable and relaxed companion.

Conclusion: Balancing the Brilliance

Owning a Border Collie is a journey in understanding one of the most complex minds in the canine world. The biggest takeaway from these seven blunders is that mental management is just as important as physical exercise. When you stop trying to “wear them out” and start focusing on teaching them how to settle, think, and respect boundaries, you unlock the true potential of the breed.

A happy Border Collie isn’t just a tired one; it’s a dog that feels understood, has a job to do, and knows exactly when it’s time to clock out and relax. By knowing what not to do with border collies and  avoiding these common pitfalls, you aren’t just preventing behavioral issues—you’re building a deep, intuitive bond with a partner that is truly second to none.

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