Reply #15: They require maintenance of a different sort

[SiouxJ]

constant attention and exercise! They are bred to work long hours in the field, chasing sheep around, so they have endless energy, and they are so intelligent that they require constant stimulation or they get bored and become destructive. I walk mine 3 miles every day and play ball or Frisbee with them several sessions every day as well, and it's still never enough. They constantly bring me toys in the evening when I'm trying to relax. They just won't quit. They aren't "sleep in front of the fireplace" type dogs at all.

The hardest part about leaving them, if I wanted to travel, would be finding someone that would give them all that exercise and attention. I still haven't found that person, so I've taken them with me on my trips. I usually rent a house with a big yard when I go away on business trips, so they can join me.

Actually, I don't brush them as much as I should. They always seem to look good, and don't get mats or tangles, so you'd never know I'm not brushing them every day. I think I brush them (this is bad, please don't turn me in) about once a month actually. Hard to tell huh? I need to do better on that but it takes away from play time ;-) .