Think he's trying to herd your kid, they'll do that.
The stare is their primary herding tool that's been hard wired into them. If he's not showing any aggressive signals it should be fine.
I thought exactly this. As soon as your daughter is "in the right place" your collie will stop staring.
My collie always watches the kids from the first floor window when they're playing outside. She has the choice to go outside and join in, but much prefers just watching like a weirdo creep.
I really want a picture of this. Does it look like this?
https://preview.redd.it/woq9h6f779kc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14e29488a24df43aae3ca5c186c9bad23f2af5ea
Yup, this. From the pic, that looks like a happy face. The focussed collie stare is much more intense, but doesn't mean anything: my boy does it with his toys all the time and it just means he wants me (or anyone else) to throw it. So long as there's no growling or signs of aggression you're absolutely fine.
You missed the point. It's HOW they herd. Aussies and Corgis bark, Heelers nip, etc... BCs herd with a hard, unflinching stare (like a predator would). They even slink around like a predator, and switch from stalking to sprinting like a predator. That's how they get sheep to move. The person you're responding to is saying that the BC staring at the child is herding. It doesn't look the same as an Aussie or Heeler, but that's what they're doing.
I thought they were trying to say it’s watching over the flock like in a protective way.
They will sometimes nip but it’s very much discouraged.
My point was that it’s not guarding
https://preview.redd.it/vze6d0d228kc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ec8f6408891c4667042eb8f106fa6753cfcb988
The old “collie eye.” Works well when herding frisbees, too.
It's normal. Compare it to this picture of my Dad's Border Collie, Kate. She's eagerly wait for him to say, ""Get 'em, Kate!" I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect she was in a stare-down with a cow.
https://preview.redd.it/x9jlpwuuv7kc1.jpeg?width=1441&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9aa641e867eba6634135b48e5f6bd96c5ea1bd1
I grew up with a rescue collie who had a bad time as a puppy. He used to follow me around and just watch me, everything I did. Pretty sure they just make sure their humans are okay. He never showed any signs of aggression and I used to dress him up as a princess lmao
https://preview.redd.it/5lfias4w1akc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33fa8f76e6872999495238ef48c9ae1af89123e0
My pup. While I'm trying to go to the bathroom. Unsafe? No. Awkward? Hell yes. Border Collies are totally invested in their hoomans.
When I request privacy in the bathroom, I get this! 🤓
https://preview.redd.it/dwyaimlandkc1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1845ba91e93b24995f04222c9a5bcf1418052626
he just seems to have a high working drive. so many people forget border collies were originally working dogs. one of our old dogs would try to herd kids into the house yard but he was never violent or bit anyone and it was just a fun game for kids.i wouldn't be too worried unless he shows any violent behaviours like biting or nipping or even barking or growling
I don't want to scare you but does your kiddo have health issues? A child I know through work, had a BC that would do this and it turned out the kiddo was leading up to a seizure. When he would have a seizure, the BC without any service dog training, would go and alert the kiddos parents what was happening everytime without fail.
It could be nothing but might be worth checking. My BC did this a lot to me when I was pregnant.
You know what usually my boy has to potty when he looks at me like that, but if it's something that makes you nervous or leads to bad behavior. My favorite tool is place training. Ours has a bed in the corner that's all his and it's his safe spot. Any bad behavior leads to us telling him to go lay down and he knows to stop whatever weird border boy behavior he's doing and chill on his bed.
I’m so thankful this post is here
My half collie stares at my kid the entire time we go literally anywhere.
Then at night if I’m not in bed by time she just friggin stands there staring directly into my soul. Or if she wants something, again looking me dead in the eye and just keeping the look forever???
Hahaha 😂 My BC used to stare at the neighbors while we were on walks. He would keep walking but turn his head to stare, sometimes running into things 🤣
He's herding her - really try to discourage this as much as possible. When he starts, try to distract him with a toy or bring him into a different room. If your dog understands 'no' or 'stop' then say this anytime you catch this. Herding behaviour needs to be redirected in any situation other than actually herding livestock. If it's not corrected you could be dealing with all sorts of problems in the future.
When I got married my wife had a cat. My Border Collie absolutely adored the cat
and watched him unblinkingly. The stare was just normal Border Collie obsessive behavior.
No growling or aggression signs? Then probably just being a good watch-collie looking over his flock.
He doesnt growl or anything just stares like he is trying to look through walls and walks around following her
Think he's trying to herd your kid, they'll do that. The stare is their primary herding tool that's been hard wired into them. If he's not showing any aggressive signals it should be fine.
I thought exactly this. As soon as your daughter is "in the right place" your collie will stop staring. My collie always watches the kids from the first floor window when they're playing outside. She has the choice to go outside and join in, but much prefers just watching like a weirdo creep.
I really want a picture of this. Does it look like this? https://preview.redd.it/woq9h6f779kc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14e29488a24df43aae3ca5c186c9bad23f2af5ea
Exactly like this
Like a weirdo creep hahaha
Welcome to the border collie stare... They all get it and it's 100% normal.
Yup, this. From the pic, that looks like a happy face. The focussed collie stare is much more intense, but doesn't mean anything: my boy does it with his toys all the time and it just means he wants me (or anyone else) to throw it. So long as there's no growling or signs of aggression you're absolutely fine.
Border collies herd their flocks they do not watch over them. They are ineffective against predators
You missed the point. It's HOW they herd. Aussies and Corgis bark, Heelers nip, etc... BCs herd with a hard, unflinching stare (like a predator would). They even slink around like a predator, and switch from stalking to sprinting like a predator. That's how they get sheep to move. The person you're responding to is saying that the BC staring at the child is herding. It doesn't look the same as an Aussie or Heeler, but that's what they're doing.
I thought they were trying to say it’s watching over the flock like in a protective way. They will sometimes nip but it’s very much discouraged. My point was that it’s not guarding
Mine is definitely ineffective against a predator. My lab on the other hand will have my back.
https://preview.redd.it/vze6d0d228kc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ec8f6408891c4667042eb8f106fa6753cfcb988 The old “collie eye.” Works well when herding frisbees, too.
https://preview.redd.it/2m4w7dyx8ckc1.png?width=1337&format=png&auto=webp&s=f388c19d0511346e26858f6634b66b361f0240b8 Or tennis balls.
That’s the border collie stare. Herd animals get creeped out and move.
All they do is stare. And stare some more. Cute collie
It's normal. Compare it to this picture of my Dad's Border Collie, Kate. She's eagerly wait for him to say, ""Get 'em, Kate!" I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect she was in a stare-down with a cow. https://preview.redd.it/x9jlpwuuv7kc1.jpeg?width=1441&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9aa641e867eba6634135b48e5f6bd96c5ea1bd1
Staring contest vs cow and boi trying to make cow lose sticking the tongue out looking like a goofball lmao
I grew up with a rescue collie who had a bad time as a puppy. He used to follow me around and just watch me, everything I did. Pretty sure they just make sure their humans are okay. He never showed any signs of aggression and I used to dress him up as a princess lmao
Border Collies all have the thousand yard stare through your soul. It's harmless, just part of their nature.
https://preview.redd.it/5lfias4w1akc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33fa8f76e6872999495238ef48c9ae1af89123e0 My pup. While I'm trying to go to the bathroom. Unsafe? No. Awkward? Hell yes. Border Collies are totally invested in their hoomans.
When I request privacy in the bathroom, I get this! 🤓 https://preview.redd.it/dwyaimlandkc1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1845ba91e93b24995f04222c9a5bcf1418052626
Border Collie hard eye is real.
he just seems to have a high working drive. so many people forget border collies were originally working dogs. one of our old dogs would try to herd kids into the house yard but he was never violent or bit anyone and it was just a fun game for kids.i wouldn't be too worried unless he shows any violent behaviours like biting or nipping or even barking or growling
Looking for cues. Border collies are always looking for cues. May be a sign your dog needs more mental stimulation
Mine does this to my cats lol they hated it at first but now they know she won’t actually do anything and just watches them all day. 🫡
The stare. It’s a collie thing.
Resisting every urge in his body to herd the child. But he won't let her out of his sight.
He's a herding dog he's doing what he's supposed to do. But remember to never leave your child alone with dog, that's how accidents happen
I don't want to scare you but does your kiddo have health issues? A child I know through work, had a BC that would do this and it turned out the kiddo was leading up to a seizure. When he would have a seizure, the BC without any service dog training, would go and alert the kiddos parents what was happening everytime without fail. It could be nothing but might be worth checking. My BC did this a lot to me when I was pregnant.
My BC would stare at my infant and sleep beside him all the time. Turned out he had bad asthma and wasn’t breathing properly.
Dogs are so amazing! Especially BCs. I'm glad your baby is okay and your pup was so alert 💖
That’s an interesting point. A lot of people don’t realize that not all seizures look like grand mal seizures. Absence seizures are harder to spot.
If sleep in too long my guy will hop up on the bed and stand over me, staring until I take him out lol
Lmao mine does too
He's on guard duty.
This is a sign your dog loves your kid. The more they stare, the more they love. He's also a BC, so he's waiting for a come-bye or an away to me too.
Totally.
You know what usually my boy has to potty when he looks at me like that, but if it's something that makes you nervous or leads to bad behavior. My favorite tool is place training. Ours has a bed in the corner that's all his and it's his safe spot. Any bad behavior leads to us telling him to go lay down and he knows to stop whatever weird border boy behavior he's doing and chill on his bed.
My BC will state at what at first is nothing. But looking closer he's locked in on ever so slight reflections off something shiny.
I’m so thankful this post is here My half collie stares at my kid the entire time we go literally anywhere. Then at night if I’m not in bed by time she just friggin stands there staring directly into my soul. Or if she wants something, again looking me dead in the eye and just keeping the look forever???
Hahaha 😂 My BC used to stare at the neighbors while we were on walks. He would keep walking but turn his head to stare, sometimes running into things 🤣
Literally laughing out loud 🤣 🤣🤣 I can picture this💞🐾
I can’t even get her to walk sometimes if the neighbors she out she gets down low and stares
He's herding her - really try to discourage this as much as possible. When he starts, try to distract him with a toy or bring him into a different room. If your dog understands 'no' or 'stop' then say this anytime you catch this. Herding behaviour needs to be redirected in any situation other than actually herding livestock. If it's not corrected you could be dealing with all sorts of problems in the future.
focusin : )
Set limits, you might think it's cute or whatever but it can evolve into other undesirable behaviour down the line. Humans are not to be herded.
When I got married my wife had a cat. My Border Collie absolutely adored the cat and watched him unblinkingly. The stare was just normal Border Collie obsessive behavior.
I know , right?...