Understanding Border Collies

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This book could have been co-written by a border collie! - Rated
Barbara Sykes' books are always worth reading, but this insight into the workings of the border collie mind is rivetting. After 25 years of life with these fabulous dogs, I thought I had them pretty well sorted out, but many times while reading I have been surprised that I hadn't understood some particular nuance of the border collie body language.
It seems that my dogs still have something to teach me.
A must read for anyone with an interest in border collies, this book should be issued to every new owner; it would save a lot of grief to both owners and dogs.

An absolute must read for Border Collie Owners - Rated
Borders Collies are clever dogs. Their many skills don't encompass reading, but if they did, this is one book they would read. Barbara Sykes writes for their owners, ignorant of and often manipulated by their wily charges and she writes clearly and amusingly from the dog's point of view but make no mistake, her message is clear, the owner is in charge and any dog that doesn't realise this is probably in bad company! Training wise we are helped to understand what we should do, why we should do it and that negotiation is not part of this training and because she explains this from a dog's perspective, it all makes perfect sense.

As a writer and communicator Sykes is first rate; the read was informative, thought provoking and above all funny. Despite having a postgraduate qualification I seldom enjoy reading non fiction but this was not so much a duty as a joy.

Essential Reading for ALL Dog Owners - Rated
I spent a weekend reading this book and then applied Ms Sykes' suggestions, not to my resonably obedient collie, but to my strong and stroppy German Shepherd. Having previously spent months of being towed around dog training classes, hauling uselessly on a check chain, I was impressed that with a few hours of 'Sykes style' training he now walks calmly at my side on a loose lead!

The book is a fascinating, entertaining insight into border collies and intelligent dogs generally. Ms Sykes does not tell you what you can and can't do with your dog, which is a relief after so many rules and regulations by other 'experts.' Instead she teaches you the basics to have an obediant dog and leaves you to choose your own and the dog's lifestyle.

I would recommend this book to anybody who owns or is interested in dogs and it is a must have for border collie lovers.

A well written, easy to read and informative book. - Rated
Barbara Sykes appears to be not only a very good dog handler, but is an extrememly good writer about dogs, especially the border collie, whom she obviously loves.

She explains their behaviour and needs in an interesting yet understandable way. At all times she tries to see things froms a dog's point of view. At the end of each chapter is a condensed version of what was said, making it easy to flick through, just as a reminder, or if time is short. Some brilliant pictures (black and white), some very funny! I especially like the ones showing Skye with the cat Tia! Even if you have had dogs before, this book will shed some more light on dog behaviour.

I would urge you to get this book, it is simply excellent!

This book is a - MUST READ - for all Border Collie owners. - Rated
This is one of the best all round books offering an understanding of the Border Collie Breed ever to be written - well researched, based on years of experience and full of photographs, useful illustrations and witty analogies that make it easy to digest. More than that, this book shows respect for the breed and its abilities. In order to enlighten the reader - as opposed to merely entertain - Barbara Sykes starts from the roots of the breed, the dedicated and historical breeding of Border Collies as working sheep dogs, and the instincts this breeding has been designed to develop. This aspect has been much neglected by many BC book authors who aim their publications at the Pet market and is ignored at peril as the dogs behaviour is rooted in these inbred working instincts. Failure to consider the working origins of the breed has led to so many of these wonderful dogs ending up in unsuitable homes and rescue centres such as ours. From these roots, Barbara takes us through all the aspects of the breed, providing real answers to important questions that vex many owners and providing real insight into the way these dogs think, relate and interact with each other, their handlers and the modern world. If Border Collie Rescue was to write a book on the breed, its problems and how to understand them, it would have to be a book like this. So many people come to Border Collie Rescue with an unwanted Border Collie saying "if I had known what I was taking on, I would not have got a Border Collie". We advise anyone considering taking on one of this breed as a pet to read this book first. In our opinion, if you can only afford one book on Border Collies - this is the one.