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The Complete Guide to Border Collie Peeing and Pooping (and How to Potty Train Your Dog)

Your Border Collie's bladder and bowel movements are a great reflection of their health. While this may not be something everyone wants to talk about, this is necessary for every dog owner. This way, you can spot anything unusual and get your furry friend help when needed.
The Complete Guide to Border Collie Peeing and Pooping

Table of Contents

Whatever goes into your Border Collie’s system must come out. A part of your responsibilities is making sure that you feed them the right diet. But this also means that you need to watch out for their bladder and bowel movements.

This gives you an insight into what is going on inside their body. If their diet is wrong, their bowel will let you know. The same goes if they cannot tolerate or are allergic to any ingredient in their diet.

You will know this by keeping track of their potty-break frequency. But this can vary from one dog to another. What is normal to one dog may be unusual to your Border Collie.

So this involves a lot of learning more about your Border Collie. Their activity level, habits, and more can affect this. With this, you can find all the nitty-gritty details of your Border Collie’s potty habits below.

How Often Do Border Collies Need to Go to the Bathroom?

A healthy, adult Border Collie will need to go to the bathroom around 3 to 5 times a day. The window between their toilet breaks is usually 6 to 8 hours. But this will still depend on several factors, so the interval will vary from one dog to another.

The factors that you need to consider are the following:

  • Diet
  • Water intake
  • Size
  • Age

Your Border Collie’s diet will play a part in the frequency of their bathroom trips. Wet food or raw food diet has more moisture content than a dry food diet. So if your Border Collie has a lot of moist food in their meals, they will need to go to the potty more often.

In connection to this, their water intake is also something to consider. Border Collies who drink a lot will need to pee a lot. One thing that affects their water intake is their activity level.

Since this breed’s exercise needs are above average, they should drink more than most dogs. But this still varies within the breed. Border Collies who work as herders or engage in lengthy play need more water, so they pee more often.

Another thing you need to consider is their size and age. Border Collies who are smaller or younger need more frequent bathroom breaks. The reason is either their bladder and bowel are smaller, or they do not have full control of them. So you need to figure out where your Border Collie fits in this first.

To be safe, give them more potty breaks as a start. Then you can track their potty habits over time to see when they need to go.

How Often Should You Take a Border Collie Puppy Out to Pee?

Your Border Collie puppy’s potty break frequency will depend on its age. They pee more when they are younger, so you need to adjust according to their age. A general rule of thumb is that they can hold their pee every hour for every month of age.

Border Collie puppies often go to their new homes at 8 weeks, which is when they are 2 months of age. If you use that as an example, they can hold their bladder for 2 hours. With this, they need around 12 potty breaks daily.

That may sound like a lot of work but hang in there. Your puppy will soon be able to hold its pee much longer. You should also start toilet training your Border Collie puppy this early on.

Keep in mind that they will still have accidents at this young age. This is normal as they do not have complete control of their bladder yet. But they are learning, and with patience, you can fully toilet train them.

How Often Should Border Collies Pee?

Assuming that they do not have any health issues, an adult Border Collie will need to pee every 6 to 8 hours. So in a day, they will need to go on 3 to 4 potty breaks. Sometimes, this can be more.

How Long Can Border Collies Pee at Night?

Your adult Border Collie can hold their pee for 8 hours at night. Since most people sleep for this long, both you and your furry friend can sleep well throughout the night.

But to be extra safe, make sure your Border Collie always has access to a potty area at night. This will help you avoid accidents around your home.

How Often Do Border Collie Puppies Pee?

A Border Collie puppy needs to pee more often the younger they are. A good rule you can follow is that they can hold their bladder for an hour every month of age. You can follow this until they are 6 months of age and older as they can hold their bladder for 6 hours or more at this age.

To give you a guide, here is how often your puppy needs to pee based on their age:

  • 2 Months Old: Every 2 hours
  • 3 Months Old: Every 3 hours
  • 4 Months Old: Every 4 hours
  • 5 Months Old: Every 5 hours
  • 6 Months Old and Older: Every 6 to 8 hours

How Often Do Border Collie Puppies Pee at Night?

Even at night, your Border Collie puppy may still need to pee every hour per month of age. But when they are asleep, they can hold their pee a little longer.

Still, at least one trip to the potty through the night is a good rule to follow. This is especially crucial for puppies who are younger than 4 months of age.

So after they go to bed, remember to set an alarm for their potty break around 4 to 5 hours after. You can gently wake them up and take them outside to do their business.

Sometimes, you will not need an alarm because they are going to wake you up. In this case, make sure to always take them outside even if you do not know what they are bugging you for. It is always better safe than sorry when it comes to your Border Collie puppy’s bladder.

Take this as an opportunity for training as well. By doing this, they will learn where you allow them to pee.

Have some tasty treats with you during nighttime potty breaks. Once your puppy pees where you want them to, give them a treat so they will understand what you want them to do.

How Long Can a Border Collie Go Without Peeing?

Most healthy adult Border Collies can hold their pee for up to 10 to 12 hours if necessary. Even if they can hold their bladder for this long, this does not mean that they should.

Going too long without peeing is bad for your Border Collie’s health. The toxins in their pee will back up and this can make their bladder muscles weaker. Some other issues that may arise from this include the following:

  • Excessive grooming of their genital area
  • Trouble urinating
  • Presence of blood in their pee
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Bladder stones
  • Kidney issues
  • Bladder cancer
  • Parasites (bladder worms)

A lesser serious issue that can happen is that they will have more frequent potty accidents. With this, you should always have them pee at least every 8 hours. Make sure you leave pee pads at home as well in case they cannot go outside.

How Long Can Border Collies Hold Their Pee at Night?

If they do not have health issues, your adult Border Collie can hold their pee for up to 8 hours at night. This gives both you and your furry friend enough time to sleep throughout the night. Make sure you let them go to the potty before bedtime as well so they will not wake you up in the middle of the night.

How Long Can Border Collie Puppies Hold Their Pee?

This will depend on your Border Collie puppy’s age. A general rule that dog owners follow is that a puppy can hold their pee for an hour every month of age. So a 2-month-old pup can hold their pee for as long as two hours, and for the next month, they can hold it for an extra hour long.

Once they reach 6 months of age, they can hold their pee for 6 hours or more. This is the same as how long an adult Border Collie can hold their bladder.

Why Does My Border Collie Pee So Much?

There are many possible reasons why your Border Collie is peeing more than usual. It can be due to a health issue, a behavioral problem, external factors, and more. Sometimes, it can be because you have overlooked some details in helping them pee.

To help you narrow this down, here are some of the common reasons why a Border Collie pees a lot.

Health Issues

Before you go and retrain your Border Collie, you need to see a vet first. Make sure that their frequent peeing is not due to an underlying medical condition. Some examples of health issues that may cause this are the following:

  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Diabetes
  • Urethral obstruction
  • Cushing’s disease

Your Border Collie may also have potty issues due to urinary incontinence. The possible causes for this condition are:

  • Ectopic Ureters: This is an abnormal opening in the urethra that affects female dogs most.
  • Decreased Urethral Closure: This is usually due to a neurological issue. To confirm if your Border Collie has this, they will need an extensive neurological exam.

A lot of these health issues can worsen if left untreated. So always consider this as a possibility, especially if they show symptoms such as:

  • Increased thirst
  • Unusual pee odor or color
  • Difficulty in peeing
  • Dribbling urine
  • Excessive licking on their back
  • Presence of blood in their pee

Separation Anxiety

Border Collies are prone to developing this, so you have to consider this as well. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety get distressed whenever you are not around. This has many symptoms, but one of them is frequent urination.

Other symptoms of separation anxiety include the following:

  • Excessive chewing
  • Incessant barking
  • Destructive behaviors
  • Digging holes
  • Escaping home

If you see any of these signs, make sure to take your Border Collie to the vet. There is a lot of work you need to do if your Border Collie has this.

Diet

You also need to look into what your Border Collie is eating. If you feed them wet food, they are taking in more water than if they ate dry food. The more water they get from their diet, the more they need to pee.

But sometimes, canned dog food also contains a lot of salt. To combat this, your Border Collie will take in more water to quench their thirst. This can also explain why they are peeing more than usual.

Activity Level

Your Border Collie’s activity levels have a connection to their water intake. The more active they are, the more water they lose through sweating and panting.

Exercise levels vary from one Border Collie to another. So look at what your Border Collie does daily.

If they are working as herders or play for long, endless hours, they need more water. And so, expect them to pee more often as well. But if they are more of a couch potato, they may pee less than more active dogs.

Age

Puppies and senior Border Collies pee more often than a healthy adult.

Young puppies pee more because they have small bladders that they cannot control. This is why they need to pee every few hours, which can be dreadful during nighttime.

As they grow old, Border Collies may have age-related incontinence. The muscles of their bladder weaken as they age, so they have poor control of holding their pee.

Other than that, older Border Collies often already have a health issues. This can increase their need to go to the potty more than before.

Hotter Weather

How is the weather outside? If it is quite hot, this can explain why your Border Collie is peeing too much.

The temperature makes them drink more water to quench their thirst. This is what they should do, otherwise, they become dehydrated. Since they are drinking more water, they are likely to pee more often than usual.

Fear of You

Border Collies are a sensitive and skittish breed. So you may need to walk on eggshells around them. Take this as an opportunity to reflect on how their toilet training is going.

How do you handle them whenever they need to go to the potty? If you are too harsh on them and punish them, this is an issue. They become fearful whenever someone is there to watch them pee.

As a result, they will try to hold their pee and pretend that they do not need to go. The best way to approach this is to stop any form of punishment. Instead, you need to reward them whenever they pee in the right potty area.

Positive reinforcement is the only way to go for Border Collies. Otherwise, they will learn to fear you and this can cause many other issues down the road.

Fear of Their Potty Area

Sometimes, Border Collies are too hyperaware of their surroundings. Since they are skittish, any bad experience they have will put them off from using their potty area. Here are some examples of scary experiences for them:

  • Harsh weather conditions
  • Loud and scary sounds
  • Getting teased in their potty area

There are many other possible reasons why your Border Collie now fears their potty area. It may take you some time to figure out the exact reason. But until then, make sure you reward them whenever they pee in the right area.

This will help them build a positive association with the area once more.

Too Much Excitement

Not every reason behind their frequent peeing is scary. Sometimes, your Border Collie gets too excited and they let go of their bladder. This often happens when they greet family and friends who are there to visit you.

To stop this, you will need to train your Border Collie. Teach them to stay calm whenever they greet visitors. But you should also tell your visitors to ignore your furry friend until they calm down

Environmental Changes

Border Collies love routines and when something disrupts their routine, they get stressed. Moving houses, getting a new baby or pet, and more, can trigger their potty accidents. There is some relearning that they need to do here, so you should house-train them again.

Heat Cycle

When your female Border Collie is in heat, they will have more frequent urinations. This is normal and is part of their symptoms. So whenever they start their heat cycle, make sure to leave more pee pads around the house.

Why Is My Border Collie Not Peeing?

If your Border Collie does not pee, it can be due to environmental stressors. An unfamiliar environment, such as when they go to a new home, may cause this. But this is only one possibility why they are not peeing, other reasons are more worrying.

A Border Collie who does not pee is just as scary as when they pee a lot. This is because their urinary retention could be a sign of serious health issues such as:

  • Obstructions
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Prostate gland problems
  • Spinal injury
  • Kidney disease

Obstructions

Any blockage in your Border Collie’s urethra or bladder can be due to the following:

Stricture (narrowing of their urethra)

  • Urethral stones
  • Bladder stones
  • Blood clots
  • Tumors
  • Lesions
  • Scar tissues

To pinpoint which of these your Border Collie has, you will need to visit your vet. They will have to undergo several tests, such as an x-ray or an ultrasound.

Obstructions in males are more serious. This is because they have a longer and narrower urethra. So stones will have a hard time passing through their urethra and get lodged. Females have a shorter and wider urethra. With this, it is easier for stones to leave their body.

Regardless of gender, obstructions can cause great pain in your Border Collie. Sometimes, they grow too big that the stones stop the passage of urine completely. This is why sometimes you will see blood in their urine.

There is another risk that is only associated with males and that is prostamegaly. This occurs when their prostate glands enlarge, causing an obstruction. In severe cases, this can lead to complete obstruction.

This condition is quite common in older Border Collies who are still intact. Neutered ones are less likely to develop this condition.

Urinary Tract Infections

UTIs can make your Border Collie pee more, but they often have little to no pee going out. If a stream does come out, it is often weak or dribbles.

Your Border Collie will struggle to pee if they have a UTI. This is also a serious condition that needs your vet’s help as soon as possible.

Kidney Disease

Kidney issues in dogs are either acute or chronic. When it is acute, the issue rapidly develops in a span of a few days. But with chronic kidney problems, this is a gradual issue.

If your Border Collie has this, only your vet can help them. They may need several medicines to reduce the symptoms.

Spinal Injury

If your Border Collie has damage to its spinal cord, this can lead to urinary retention. This can be due to an accident, a bad fall, and other medical conditions.

This is a serious matter for your Border Collie. So make sure to see your vet if you suspect that your Border Collie has this.

Why Is My Border Collie Peeing in the House?

If your Border Collie pees around the house, it can be due to a medical or a behavioral issue. Under these two reasons, you have many other possible causes to consider. Like other bladder or bowel issues they may have, you first need to rule out any health issues.

Border Collies who suffer from certain medical conditions can make them pee more. This includes diabetes, UTIs, obstructions, and more.

Given their need to pee more, they may not make it in time to go to their potty area. With this, accidents can occur.

This is especially true if your Border Collie has orthopedic issues. Moving around and even relieving themselves can be painful. They are too scared of the pain that they hold their pee instead and sometimes, they lose control.

It could also be that your Border Collie suffers from urinary incontinence. This can be due to their advanced age or it can be due to other factors.

These health issues are all serious. The best thing you can do for your Border Collie is to have them see your vet right away. Delaying any medical attention can make their condition worse.

But what if your Border Collie has no health issues? You then have to look into behavioral issues. There are many possible causes for these, all listed below.

They Are Not Fully Potty Trained

Do not overestimate your Border Collie’s intelligence. Although they are one of the smartest dog breeds, they may still take some time for potty training.

This may be due to a lack of consistency and reinforcement on your part. Or it can be that they are still getting the hang of it. If they are young, they cannot hold their bladder well yet, so you need to be patient.

Whenever they have accidents, do not scold them as this will instill fear in them. Fear can lead to more accidents, which is what you are trying to avoid.

Make sure to use positive reinforcement when dealing with their potty issues. This will help you get better and faster results.

They Are Acting on Instinct

A reason for this could be that you did not do a thorough cleanup of their past accidents. Your Border Collie can still smell their pee even if you clean it with common cleaning agents. To remove the scent, you need specific cleaning products.

They Are Too Young or Too Old

Younger and older Border Collies have less control over their bladders. A puppy cannot hold their bladder for more than a few hours, so they are more prone to potty accidents. This is also true for older dogs, with the added issue that they may have an age-related health condition.

They Are Fearful

Bad experiences with the potty training process can make your Border Collie fearful. This sensitive breed will then hold onto their pee for a long time. They do this because they try to avoid any punishment from you. But they can only hold their pee for so long. So they reach a point where they have an accident.

Make sure never to use any aversive techniques to train your Border Collie. Instead, reward them whenever you see them do something good.

They Feel Stressed

Changes in a dog’s environment will take a toll on them. If they are new to your home, if you have moved houses, they may pee in places that they are not allowed to. A new pet, baby, or even the death of a loved one can also cause this.

Separation anxiety may also cause this. The only thing you can do to solve this is to treat their condition itself. This is hard to do on your own, so make sure to talk to your vet about this.

They Do Not Have Access to Their Potty Area

You should always make their potty area accessible. Otherwise, where will your Border Collie pee? You may end up with accidents around the house.

This is not your Border Collie’s fault. If they are completely potty trained, they know where to go. The issue is that they have no way of getting there.

If your Border Collie cannot go out for potty all the time, make sure to lay down pee pads in the house. This is especially helpful if they have to relieve themselves at night. By doing this, you can reduce their potty accidents.

They Are Marking Their Territory

Dogs have a weird way of claiming their territory, they pee all over it. Border Collies are highly protective of their home and their owners. This is thanks to years of working as the protectors of their livestock.

They will spray all over your home for the following reasons:

  • They smell other dogs
  • They see or smell unusual stimuli
  • They are trying to be the alpha

All these are their attempt to assert their dominance. Whether it is over other dogs or even you, their owner.

This often happens with male Border Collies, especially if they are still intact. But female Border Collies can also exhibit this behavior. Whatever their gender, this issue may lessen once you spay or neuter them.

Why Do Border Collies Pee When Excited?

Your Border Collie can pee when they are bursting with emotions that they cannot control. This often happens to extremely excited young puppies with no full bladder control.

This often happens when you arrive home, while they are playing, or when you have visitors.

An excited pee does not look the same as peeing for the sake of it. When this happens, your Border Collie will not lift their leg or squat like usual.

Instead, they pee while standing up, walking, or even jumping for joy. Notice their tail as well, they will carry it higher than usual. It will wag from side to side in excitement along with their body.

They will grow out of this once they grow older. This is usually once they are a year old when they have complete bladder control and they become calmer.

But you should not wait for this, you have to discourage this behavior right away. You have a variety of ways to do this, all listed below.

Go on More Walks

Taking your Border Collie outside is a great way to encourage them to do their business outside. Give them many opportunities to pee. If they have an empty bladder, they have nothing to expel when they get too excited.

When they do pee outside, shower them with treats and praise. You should also do this whenever they pee in their potty area. This will further encourage them to only pee in the right spots.

Train Them to Relax

It is hard for very excitable puppies to calm down on their own. But you can teach them how to do this if you put in the time and effort.

You can do this by letting them do an incompatible behavior whenever they get excited. For example, you can have them sit down when they appear excited.

Do this whenever you see their triggers, like having visitors over. Before your guests come in, have your Border Collie sit down in a corner.

Give Them the Cold Shoulder

Do not engage with your Border Collie whenever they appear excited. This will teach them to control their emotions since it does not give them the attention they want.

So besides letting them sit down whenever you have visitors, ignore them too. Ask your visitors not to notice your Border Collie unless they calm down.

How Do I Stop My Border Collie From Peeing in the House?

The method you can use to stop your Border Collie from peeing at home will depend on its cause. If they pee everywhere due to a medical issue, they need your vet’s help. If it is due to a behavioral issue, then you have several options to try.

Clean Up the Mess Right Away

This is the important first step whenever your Border Collie has accidents. Their urine leaves a scent wherever they pee. You need to get rid of that smell as it may encourage them to pee in that area again in the future.

Soap and water will not give their pee a thorough cleaning. So use a cleaner made for cleaning dog urine to get rid of the scent.

Barricade the Marked Area

An extra measure you can take is to not let your Border Collie go to any marked spot again. This will further prevent them from peeing in that area again. You can be creative with this and use furniture or other decorative pieces.

Make the Marked Area Unappealing to Pee in

Place your Border Collie’s favorite items in marked areas. This will also help in discouraging them from soiling that area again. You can use their toys or even place their crate there.

Reassure or Comfort Your Furry Friend

A dog peeing everywhere can mean that they feel anxious, threatened, or scared. Border Collies are sensitive, so any situation can be scary for them.

This could be due to loud sounds such as a car horn or sirens. Or there could be strangers passing by that send them into distress. They may see a new baby or pet as a threat as well. Your Border Collie will see them as competition for your attention.

Many other reasons can cause this. But at the end of the day, all they may need is your love and reassurance. So spend extra time with them and cuddle them more!

Keep Using Rewards

Whenever your Border Collie pees in the right spots, heavily reward them. This goes for puppies and even senior Border Collies. This will encourage them to keep doing behaviors that you want to see.

You may need to do an extra step when dealing with a puppy, though. At this young age, they may not have learned where to go to the potty yet. So you need to take them to their potty area, let them pee there, and reward them there.

Strict Supervision

As much as possible, keep your Border Collie in the same room with you at all times. This will help you see whenever they have an accident so you can take action and teach them right away. You can take them outside right away and allow them to finish peeing there.

Once they finish peeing, you can reward them outside. This will let them know that going outside to pee is a good thing.

Confine Them When You Leave

You cannot supervise your Border Collie all the time. So when you need to leave, keep them in their crate or a playpen. Dogs do not like to soil areas where they sleep or play. This will lessen any accidents that may occur.

But remember to come back in time as they cannot hold their bladder all day. This is especially important if they are a puppy or if they have health issues.

Spay or Neuter Them

Intact dogs are more likely to mark their territory by peeing everywhere. Spaying or neutering your Border Collie may help with this. This will reduce their urge to spray inside the home.

How Often Do Border Collies Need to Poop?

An adult Border Collie will poop around 1 to 5 times each day. If their frequency is on the higher end of this range, then it will be healthier for them.

Meanwhile, a Border Collie puppy can poop around 5 to 6 times a day. Some of these pups will even poop more than this. The younger they are, the more they will need to do their business.

At a few weeks old, they will poop whenever they get fed. But at around 3 months of age, this will cut down to about 4 times a day. As they age, their bowel habits will lessen.

Whatever your Border Collie’s age may be, their bowel movement will vary. This will depend on various factors such as:

Their diet (how much and how often they eat)

  • Their fiber intake
  • Their water intake
  • Their size
  • Their activity level
  • Their medications

Your Border Collie will poop often if their meals are bigger and if they eat more often. The same goes if they eat a lot of fiber and drink a lot of water.

Their exercise habits also play a part in this as they will poop more if they are more active. This is because the more they burn energy, the faster their metabolism will be. The food that they eat will go through their digestive system faster as a result.

Certain medications they may take, if any, can also affect their potty frequency. It can either increase or reduce this. So you need to ask your vet about any side effects their meds may have so that you will know what to expect.

How Long Can a Border Collie Go Without Pooping?

It is normal for your Border Collie to last a day without pooping. But if they have not pooped after 48 to 72 hours, this should concern you. You need to contact your vet right away as this can be a sign of a serious medical issue.

Why Does My Border Collie Poop So Much?

Health issues, a bad diet, external factors, and more can make your Border Collie poop more. It is worrying to see your furry friend do their business more than they should. But you need to figure out its root cause first to give them appropriate help.

The best thing to do would be to visit your vet. But knowing all the possible causes will help you get prepared before that. These are all listed below to help you narrow down everything.

Eating Too Much Food

Border Collies are not known for their big appetites. But sometimes, they keep on asking for food and you may have given in to their request. The more your furry friend eats, the more they poop.

You should be especially careful in feeding them table scraps. Much of the ingredients that make human food yummy are bad for their stomach.

Even if you are not overfeeding them, they may steal food as well when you are not looking. You should put a stop to this naughty behavior and keep everything out of reach. Any food they sneak may contain an ingredient that upsets their stomach.

Abrupt Changes in Diet

Have you found a better quality dog food for your Border Collie? That is always great news! But if you suddenly changed their diet, this can upset their stomach.

Any change in your Border Collie’s diet should be slow and gradual. In general, a dog will need about 5 to 7 days before they get used to their new food.

To help them transition to their new meals, you must mix their old food and their new food.

For the first few days, the big ratio of their meals should be the old food. In time, you give them half of the old one and the new one. Then you feed them more of the new food until you only feed them that.

Wrong Diet

Not every dog food in the market is appropriate for your Border Collie. You have allergies, intolerances, and much more to consider. Their digestive system will tell you this as a common symptom of those is diarrhea.

It can be hard to pinpoint this, so you need to consult your vet. They may do some tests on your Border Collie and recommend a better food option for them.

Stress or Depression

It is also possible for your furry friend to get stressed or depressed. This is especially true for Border Collies because they can be so sensitive.

A common symptom of these is digestive issues. This includes diarrhea and constipation, both affecting their poop frequency.

Take the time to give your Border Collie extra love and attention. You should also figure out the root cause of their mental distress.

In severe cases, you may need the help of a dog expert.

Environmental Changes

Your Border Collie loves routines and they stick to them. Any changes to it, their surroundings, the people they are with, and more, can take a toll on them.

A new baby or pet, rearranging furniture, moving homes, and more can cause this. Any change, no matter how small it may seem, can have a big effect on them.

Soon, your Border Collie will get used to the changes. In the meantime, make sure to give your furry friend a lot of reassurance. But if they do not improve within a few weeks, you may need to talk to your vet.

Bowel Irritation Due to Bacteria

A gram of your Border Collie’s poop has around 23 million coliform bacteria. This causes many health issues for canines and even humans.

Unfortunately, dogs like to have nasty habits. This includes eating poop, whether it is theirs or another dog’s poop! A side effect of eating their bacteria-infested poop is getting diarrhea.

So keep an eye on your Border Collie to see if they have this odd habit. This can explain why they are pooping so much lately.

Colon Inflammation

Common symptoms of this include diarrhea and loose stools. Oftentimes, their feces will contain blood and mucus. This can also cause them pain whenever they go do their business.

Why Does My Border Collie Fart So Much?

What your Border Collie eats and how they eat it can explain their flatulence. Going into detail will help you pinpoint the root cause. So below, here are all the common reasons why your furry friend farts.

They Eat Too Fast

If your Border Collie eats too fast, they swallow more air as they gobble up their food. With this, they introduce more gas into their stomach and this can cause them to fart more often.

They Eat Table Scraps

As delicious as they are, not all human foods are good for your Border Collie’s stomach. They have seasonings, spices, and ingredients that upset their digestive tract. You have healthier options to feed your Border Collie, so cut back on their bacon!

They Eat Poor-Quality Dog Food

Some dog foods are cheap because they cut corners. They contain fillers, which are only there to keep them full but provide no nutrition.

Oftentimes, these fillers are soy, wheat, or corn. Some also contain carrageenan as a binding agent. All these are bad for their digestion, making them gassier.

Premium-quality dog foods are expensive because they exclude those in their ingredients. This is why you should pick the best dog food for your Border Collie, even if it is more expensive.

They Have a Sudden Change in Diet

It will take days for your Border Collie to adjust to their new food. An abrupt change can mess with their gut microbiome, which can make them fart more. Other than that, your Border Collie can also have issues with their poop.

They Have Food Intolerances or Allergies

An ingredient in your Border Collie’s dog food can upset their digestive tract. These issues have a wide range of symptoms such as itchy skin, vomiting, and diarrhea. But along with these, gassiness is also a possibility.

Why Does My Border Collie Roll in Poop?

As nasty as it seems, your Border Collie rolls in poop due to their instincts. These are residual instincts from their ancestors, which are all for their survival. This may not be useful for domesticated canines, but this habit remains today.

If you want to understand this odd behavior more, below is a more detailed explanation.

Your Border Collie Is Masking Their Scent

Your furry friend’s ancestors had to hunt to eat, to survive in the wild. They have to take calculated steps to be successful in this. Part of this is by masking their scent to prevent prey from running away.

While your Border Collie does not need to do this, they still follow their instincts from time to time.

Your Border Collie Is Communicating With You

Dogs are pack animals and they work closely with their pack in the wild. They roll in poop and other nasty stuff to bring the scent to their pack when they come home. This way, they communicate to others where they have been.

This helps with their survival as well. The other pack members can trace where the scent is. If this is the scent of their dinner, they will be happy to put their nose to work.

In a domesticated setting, you and your family are your Border Collie’s pack. They do not need to do this and you may not appreciate it. But they are only trying to tell you where they have been and what they were up to.

Your Border Collie Is Leaving Their Scent

As you may already know, your Border Collie pees to mark their territory. But they can also leave their mark by rolling in the poop of other dogs.

A dog’s feces has a scent that is unique to each canine, thanks to their anal glands. So they try to override this scent by rubbing their own on it. What this does is let other dogs know that your Border Collie was there to investigate.

How Do I Get My Border Collie to Poop?

Border Collies also get constipated, but there are some things you can give them to make them poop. Foods that are high in fiber, such as pumpkin are great for this. Making them drink milk can also get their bowel movements.

You can also up their water intake and activity level. Exercising them more makes their metabolism faster, moving their bowels.

But the best thing you can do for your constipated Border Collie is to take them to the vet. They can give your furry friend an enema. This fluid will help in cleansing and stimulating their bowel to empty it.

Why Are Border Collies Hard to Potty Train?

The intelligence of this breed is what makes them easy to train, but it may also make them tricky to train. Compared to other dog breeds, you will have an easier time potty training your Border Collie. But this breed is an independent thinker and it may outsmart you when you are trying to teach them.

Border Collies are also highly active dogs in general. You may have a hard time trying to get them to listen to you because all they think of is playtime. This is especially true if they are still puppies as they are quite excitable.

Other than that, Border Collies are also hyperaware and sensitive to their surroundings. Trying to catch their attention and keeping them focused may be one of your challenges. Any stimuli in their surroundings can distract them, such as a slight sound or movement.

Potty training a puppy, no matter their breed, is always a challenge. Expect some accidents from them, even more, if they are young puppies. They do not have complete control over their bladder and bowels yet.

Are Male or Female Border Collies Easier to Potty Train?

Generally speaking, you will have an easier time in potty training a female Border Collie. This breed is easy to train compared to most dogs due to its high intelligence. But there are small differences between the two genders that affect their trainability.

Female Border Collies are often more respectful, and focused, and are better listeners. Once you situate yourself as the alpha of the pack, they will listen to you and they are also quite loyal. Their calmer nature makes them easier to handle during training sessions.

Meanwhile, male Border Collies are quite the trouble makers. They are more stubborn, easily distracted, and like to be in control. Males have a more dominant nature and they may clash with you during training sessions.

Both genders are prone to get distracted but even more for males. They also keep their puppy-like disposition much longer. This makes them trying to teach as they may prefer to play more than getting trained.

But, there is a trick to making male Border Collies easier to train.

Male Border Collies are often more food-motivated than females. You can use this to your advantage, using healthy and high-value treats as a reward. This is the reason why some Border Collie owners say that males are easier to potty train than females.

But these are all generalizations, so take these with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, your Border Collie’s progress is a product of your dedication to training them. Consistency, repetition, and positive reinforcement are crucial in their training.

At What Age Should a Border Collie Be Potty Trained?

The best age for you to begin potty training is once your Border Collie is around 12 to 16 weeks of age. At this age, they already have more control over their bladder and bowel. You can start earlier to set the rules, but expect more accidents from them.

Starting this young will set your furry friend up for success. They will be fully potty trained at a much younger age, which means fewer issues for you in the future.

How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Border Collie?

Thanks to their intelligence, it may only take your Border Collie around 3 to 4 weeks to get potty trained. But this is assuming that you are diligent and consistent in trying to train them. Otherwise, it may take you a few months to see success in this.

How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Border Collie Puppy?

Your smart Border Collie will show progress at around 3 weeks into potty training them. But you can only say that they are fully potty trained once they are around 4 months of age. This is when they have more control of their bladder and bowel.

Still, they may have accidents at this age. At 6 months of age is when they can hold their bladder for at least 6 hours, or even more. But at least they know what you want them to do whenever they go do their business!

How to Potty Train a Border Collie

There are various steps that you need to potty train your Border Collie. You have to prepare your tools, set up the potty area, and more. If you do not know where to start, below is a complete guide that you can follow.

Set Up Their Potty Area

The first step is to decide where they should relieve themselves. You can choose a spot outdoors, but they do not always have access to this. Puppies and older Border Collies may need to pee or poop more, so you should also have a spot indoors.

So you can place a pee pad somewhere in your home as well. The more potty areas they have, the better. This also lessens your chances of waking up to them at night begging you to let them out.

Remember that not any spot outdoors is free for them to poop or pee in. By choosing a specific place, they will learn faster. This will help them create the association needed for them to keep repeating good behavior.

One way you can do this is by placing a pen outdoors. This will let them know that this one area is for potty. but the rest of your garden or yard is for play!

Learn Their Potty Signs

After observing them for a while, you will get a feel of when your Border Collie needs to go to the potty. You can tell by their body language, such as pacing in circles, sniffing the floor, cocking their leg, and more.

Other than that, you will also get better at estimating their potty intervals. Some Border Collies may need to go every few hours, while others a bit more. Younger and older dogs as well as those with health issues may need more frequent potty trips.

What will help you with this is to maintain a feeding schedule as well. Usually, they will want to visit their potty area after eating their meals or drinking water. But it is also good practice to take them to the potty after an exercise session.

Positively Reinforcing Their Behavior

Once you see their potty signs, you need to take them to their potty area right away. You need to reward and say your command at the right time, almost right away. Otherwise, they will have trouble associating the behavior, your command, and the reward.

To reward your Border Collie, you can use a toy or a treat. Not all dogs get motivated by food, so you need to figure out what works for your furry friend.

If you use a treat, make sure to pick a specific one and only use that for potty training. Do not use it for teaching them other commands.

You should do the same if you use a toy to reward them. They can only play with that designated potty toy if they poop or pee in the right spot.

Whichever you choose, giving them verbal praise will further encourage this good behavior. Once they finish relieving themselves, shower them with praise! Use a high-pitched voice and get very animated, act like you are so pleased with what they did.

Do not hesitate to go over the top with this. By doing so, your verbal praise can be a reward in itself. In time, you may not even need to give them a treat or toy after they go to the potty.

Be consistent with this, both in giving them a reward and your timing. You are helping them associate peeing or pooping in the right area as something that makes you happy.

Incorporate a Command Word

You can also use a verbal cue whenever they go to the potty. As soon as they relieve themselves, say a command like “potty”, but it can be anything else. Choose a word that is short and simple so that it is easy for them to understand. Once they are through, you can give them their reward for doing a great job

How to Potty Train a Border Collie Puppy

The key to potty training a young Border Collie puppy is to crate train them first. Dogs are den animals and they like to keep their den clean. If you provide them with a den in the form of a crate, they will not soil it.

Instead, they will hold their bladder and bowel until you let them out. But you must let them out at the right time. They cannot hold their poop or pee for too long, so they may still have an accident in their crate.

If you are still learning the ropes in potty training your furry friend, below is a step-by-step guide for you.

Step 1: Get Them Used to Their Crate

This needs to be a slow and gradual process, otherwise, they will not want to use their crate. There are many ways to help them warm up to their crate. But the important thing here is to let them explore and go in it on their terms.

You can place their favorite toys inside to start. Place a few treats in their crate too to encourage them to go in. Once they go in, play with them and give them more treats so they have a positive association with the crate.

Make sure that for their first few crate sessions, you leave the door open. Once they are comfortable going in their crate, you can keep the door shut for a few minutes at a time.

Increase the time they spend with the door shut while you are in the same room. Once you feel confident, you can close the door on them and leave the room for a while.

But make sure that every time you come back to let them out, you shower them with rewards.

So keep your puppy inside their crate for them to hold their poop or pee. The amount of time they spend inside will depend on their age. Come back after the recommended time before they have an accident.

Once you let them out, go straight to the potty area and start teaching them what to do.

Step 2: Choose Their Potty Areas

Your Border Collie must have access to a potty area indoors and outdoors. They will need frequent potty breaks daily, even at night. Having one indoors will make things more convenient for you.

For their indoor potty area, use a high-quality puppy pad. It is better to spend more on this so that you avoid any leaking. A cheaper pad will only spread the scent of their pee on the floor, which means more cleanup for you!

For their outdoor potty area, you can use a playpen. This will create a demarcation in your yard so they know where to do their business.

For each potty area, make sure you chose a calm and secluded area. This lessens any distractions they may face so that they focus on doing their deed.

Step 3: Follow a Routine

If you have a routine, it will be easier for your puppy to pick up on their potty training. This will help them build a body clock, so they know when to expect their potty time.

Here is when you should take your Border Collie puppy to their potty area.

First Thing in the Morning

Once you wake up, let them out of their crate and bring them to their potty area. It is best if you do not multitask during this time as this may take a while. You can expect to wait for them a few minutes and remember not to rush them.

After Each Meal

What goes in your puppy’s mouth must come out from the other end. If they take in food and water during meals, they will want to potty after a few minutes. Give them at least 10 minutes for their meal to set it and then take them to their spot.

If you wait too long after their meal, they may have an accident.

After Each Nap

You should also take them to the potty after they get a good shut-eye. This will help in preventing any accidents from happening.

After Each Exercise Session

The more your puppy moves around, the faster its metabolism will be. As a result, they may want to poop or pee after you play with them. This may not always be the case, but this will also lessen the risk of them having accidents.

Before Bedtime

Letting them relieve themselves before sleeping at night is good practice. They will interrupt you at night because they cannot hold their bladder and bowel too long. By doing this, you get extra hours of sleep before they wake you up to take them outside.

Step 4: Teach Them Their Potty Command

You should be able to tell soon enough when they need to go to the potty. They will pace back and forth, walk in circles, bark at you, and more. Other signs will tell you that they need to go, so be mindful of these.

As soon as you see any of these, take them to their potty area right away.

Once you are there, say a command word as soon as they begin to poop or pee. A good example is “go potty” because this is simple and is easily understood by them.

Step 5: Reward Their Good Behavior

After your Border Collie puppy poops or pees, make sure to reward them right away. You should give them their reward within 3 seconds for them to understand what is happening.

You can use treats or toys to encourage them to keep doing this wanted behavior. Only use these treats or toys for the sake of potty training them. Do not use them for other purposes, such as teaching them to sit.

Giving them a verbal reward is also a great idea for you to do. Use an upbeat and high-pitched voice to praise them and be as fun as you can. Border Collies are people pleasers and they love doing things that make you happy.

If they see that relieving themselves in a specific area pleases you, they will keep on doing this.

How to Potty Train an Older Border Collie

To potty train an older Border Collie, you should only use positive reinforcement. It can be frustrating to train them as they may already have bad habits. But you should not take it out on them, it is not their fault that they lack training.

Before you get into potty training them, you first need to have your vet examine them. Older dogs may already have an existing health condition. If they do, they are more prone to getting accidents since have less control of their bladder and bowel.

If they get a clean bill of health from your vet, you can say that their accidents are a result of behavioral issues. Lack of proper training can play a part in this. But it can also be a surface-preference issue, fear of the outdoors, urine marking, and more.

So there is a lot of unlearning and relearning for them to do. But with positive reinforcement, you will teach them which behaviors you want to see.

With this, here is how you can potty train your older furry friend.

Step 1: Establish a Potty Routine

This goes hand in hand with your Border Collie’s feeding routine. After each meal, you should take them out to go to the potty. They will usually feel that they need to go around 15 minutes after they have their meal.

You should also take them out as soon as you wake up. One of the first things you do after waking up is to go to the bathroom. The same goes for your Border Collie as well.

When you do take them out, make sure to put your full attention on them. This may take them a while, so you should expect to wait for them for a few minutes.

Do the same right before bedtime as well. Emptying their bladder or bowel before bed will ensure that they sleep uninterrupted.

Border Collies will also need a few exercise sessions each day. Make sure to bring them to their potty area after each one. Exercising gets their bladder and bowel moving, so they may feel the need to go.

Step 2: Provide Them With a Crate

A crate will make the potty training process much easier for both of you. If you keep them in the right-sized crate, they are likely to hold their bladder and bowel. This is because dogs will try their best to keep their den clean.

This is why it may be easier to potty train an older dog. Although they may have bad habits, they already have control over their poop or pee.

Do not choose a crate that is too big, as they may try to relieve themselves in it. But do not choose one that is too small, making them uncomfortable. This will discourage them from using their crate.

For standard-size adult Border Collies, a crate that is 42 inches (1067 mm) in size is best for them.

Step 3: Pick a Location for Their Crate

Make sure to place their crate in a secluded and quiet area, such as a small room. Their crate area should be free of distractions, such as rowdy kids, loud noises, and other pets you may have.

Your Border Collie should see their crate as a safe space. But if there are distractions, this make makes them anxious or fearful.

If you have kids in the house, let them know not to disturb your Border Collie while they are in their crate. They should also not chase your poor dog into their crate.

Step 4: Know When They Need to Go

You will be able to tell when they need to relieve themselves by learning their body language. By anticipating their potty needs, you can prevent accidents from happening. Some signs that they need to go to the potty are:

  • Pacing back and forth
  • Walking in circles
  • Whining or barking
  • Staring at you
  • Leaving the room
  • Sniffing around

Some dogs will even scratch at the door in the hopes that it gets them outside in time. When you see these signs, take them out to the potty right away.

Step 5: Take Them to Their Potty Area

The moment you see the signs in the previous section, take your Border Collie to their potty area. This will teach them where they need to go whenever they feel their pee or poop coming.

Step 6: Use Your Verbal Cue

As soon as your Border Collie poops or pees say a verbal command such as “go potty”. This way, they will associate the act of relieving themselves with your command. Make sure to be consistent in using this whenever they need to go to the potty.

Step 7: Give Them Praise and Rewards

Once they are through, make sure to let them know that they did a good job. Use treats, toys, verbal praise, or even combine all these to get your message across.

For their treats, you can opt to use healthier options such as fruits or vegetables. Commercial dog treats, in big amounts, may be bad for their weight. These often have a lot of calories and older Border Collies have a slower metabolism.

So to prevent them from getting overweight, be picky with their treats. You should also use a specific treat for potty training them. Do not use this treat for any other purpose, like teaching them a new command.

This also goes for rewarding them with a toy. Do not use this for playtime, or for bribing them to listen to you.

A great reward for them is by giving them verbal praise. Border Collies are always eager to please you, so this will let them know that you appreciate what they did. Be extra animated and use your happy voice, this will make them very pleased with themselves too.

In time, you can wean them off from treat or toy rewards and only use verbal praises.

Step 8: Learn Their Quirks

Older Border Collies may have a preference for their potty area. Some have only ever peed or pooped on a concrete surface. So it will be hard for them to adjust to relieving themselves on dirt or grass. If this sounds like your Border Collie, there are ways to work with this.

One way is by placing their poop on their potty area outside or indoors. Dogs are more likely to potty in an area that smells like their poop or pee. In time, they will learn that this is their designated potty area.

Another way is to take them out to a dog park. Smelling another dog’s poop or pee will encourage them to relieve themselves in the same spot. This is a way to get them used to a new surface.

You need to be extra patient with your Border Collie if they have quirks like this. They are relearning everything they used to know about going to the potty. This includes letting go of any bad habits, which they will be able to do in time.

Remember to never punish your Border Collie whenever they make a mistake. Do not shout at them, rub their nose, hit them, or do other harsh punishments.

Border Collies are extra sensitive when it comes to their emotions. You do not want them to fear you as this will only take you a step back.

How to Potty Train a Border Collie in the Winter

To potty train your Border Collie during winter, you need to make them comfortable when going out. This follows the usual potty training process in the previous sections. But there are extra steps that you need to take.

Much of these extra steps are preparing them for the snow. Once you have these down, you can follow the potty training method that you already use.

With this, here is how you can prepare to potty train your Border Collie during winter:

  • Create a Potty Area: Make a designated potty area that is free of snow. Shovel snow out of a spot and show this to your Border Collie. You can also use your porch or balcony if you have one.
  • Shovel a Path: You should also create a clear, snow-free path towards their potty area. This encourages them to go to their spot outside.
  • Take Their Potty Area Indoors: Sometimes, the winter can be too unforgiving for them. With this, it is better to keep them indoors and use pee pads.
  • Clothe Them: You can also make them wear a sweater or winter jacket. This will keep them warm while they go out to their potty spot.
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