How to deal with the dog that does too much?

"Elderly" Border Collie means a dog that is around or over 16 years old. If your dog is younger you may try the Glucosamine/ Chondritin regimen to help with her joints. As for exercise, if you have access to a swimming pool or watering hole that should be enough. But you have a BORDER COLLIE which is a high energy brilliant dog that would rather be in pain that put out to pasture. Getting it to calm down, even as an "old dog," can be a difficult task. (Try giving her a thinking job, like finding the TV remote.)

My BC spent four days herding and busted up her pads on the last day. She was limping, whining, and dragging. As soon as I opened the arena gate, she perked up as if nothing was wrong, ran the best course of her career, and then limped, whined, and crawled into the watering trough.

Separate her from them when she has had enough. There is nothing wrong with making her take some time out and rest. She probably can't control herself watching them play, but it is important she doesn't over exert herself so just put her in a kennel or a different room.

My brother had a dog that would play fetch until he could barely crawl from exhaustion.

He was abused before they got him, and he was always more than eager to please. I guess it was residual from whatever he went through before they got him. It's nice to have a loving family, isn' t it?

In their case, sometimes they had to confine him to a smaller area and just give him lots of love and attention. He never stopped trying to please, but it kept him from overexerting himself.

shame.. keep her on a leash when the young ones are around?