We’ve got a Border Collie puppy who’s nearly 4 months old, and he’s becoming a total nightmare!
He chases anything that moves, runs after us and nips at our legs or grabs our clothes—basically anything he can get his teeth into to bite us.
He does the same with the chickens, the goat and my cats.
Not to mention he jumps up at everyone who visits, regardless of whether they’re dressed up or not!
Plus, with his sharp little claws, he’s always batting at us with his front paws and it really hurts. We have two young children and we don’t want them getting bitten or scratched; it’s really upsetting.
Since he first arrived, I’ve been saying ‘no Chipie, no’ in a firm voice whenever he’s naughty, but I don't think he’s listening. He just wants his own way. He hides under the sofa or a cupboard and then starts all over again as soon as I’m not looking.
He makes off with everything in his path... whether it's shoes, clothes, stones, kitchen roll, or the newspaper—sometimes he shreds it so much you can barely read the headlines!
As for walks on the lead, as long as it's long enough for him to come and go as he pleases, everything is fine. But the moment I shorten it, he starts thrashing around on the ground—he’d practically choke himself on the end of the lead!
We live in the countryside but I don't dare let him off the lead in the fields because if he doesn't want to come back, the more I call him, the further he runs away...
People we know say we should take him to puppy classes, but we don't have much time and there isn't a training club anywhere near where we live...
We’ve had him for six weeks now and it’s getting worse and worse. Does anyone have any good advice? We’re at our wits' end... Thanks in advance to anyone who can help, because it's becoming unbearable now—to be honest, I'm fed up with this mutt...
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When you talk about "intelligent breeds", I have to say I completely disagree with you...
I've owned Am Staffs and a German Shepherd. I live out in the countryside and come across plenty of Border Collies... they really aren't that bright. Running out in front of cars, barking at nothing, and so on...
Mind you, training an Am Staff or a German Shepherd is a lot tougher, but it's also easier in its own way because they aren't daft...
Hi @Chipie, my BC is just like yours, same "issues", and I also have work and the kids to juggle. With lots of repetition, training sessions and play, she is starting to settle down... A walk in the morning, then again in the afternoon and evening + plenty of ball games and home agility + bones and Kongs. She’s so rewarding but you really have to channel that energy! Do try a few training classes if you can, they usually give really good advice. Good luck! It’ll all work out! PS: I’ve also got the little holes in my clothes around the ankles ;-)
Border Collies need loads of exercise, but if they get it, I can promise you they’re the most affectionate, gentle and devoted dogs to their owners. At the very least, you’re looking at two walks a day of 45 minutes each, plus some playtime – or even agility to help them settle down.
Choosing a dog isn't something to be taken lightly, especially with a breed as high-energy as this. If you can't cope, then honestly, just rehome him. But living out in the countryside, I'd have thought you could do better than just shouting at him.
He's still only a puppy and has everything to learn – well, if you're actually up for it, that is.
Hi chipie, that's funny – I've got a very similar dog at home!!!
To work on recall, I'd suggest calling her once: if she comes, give her loads and loads of treats.
If she doesn't come, run in the opposite direction while calling her again, and I'm sure she won't be able to resist! Of course, when she gets to you, give her a reward!! And then it’s just practice, practice, practice.
As for things that move, it might be a good idea to teach her the STOP command.
You should put her on a long lead and shout "stop"; at that moment, your husband needs to get her to lie down, then you go over to her and give her a treat. After a while, she’ll start to get the hang of it. Then you can try it with more and more distractions, eventually working up to cars. But whatever you do, don't lose heart – it took a long time with my dog......👌
Haha, welcome to the hectic world of the Border Collie! :-) I’ve got a Border myself. She’ll be 4 in ten days :-D she’s the absolute love of my life. Mind you, the trousers I’m wearing today have a little hole by the calf... that’s from when she was 3 months old! :-)
As you probably know, a Border is a hyperactive, hypersensitive little genius.
Looking into calming signals and canine ethology will really help you out. It definitely saved my relationship with my dogs, so why not yours too?
The trick is to make your dog your ally. Have a look at clicker training; I’m sure it would help.
Spend plenty of time with them. I know it’s complicated with life, the kids, work, etc... but a Border needs commitment—a lot of commitment. You might have seen calm Borders before, but they’re definitely the exception that proves the rule.
Every one I know is a ball of energy packed with brains, and they have just one goal: to use that potential by any means possible. Either with you, or without you. And if it's without you, they’ll inevitably end up getting into mischief.
So, you’ve got to start again from scratch. Training is a game. When mine was 4 months old, I was taking her into town off-lead. She was perfectly behaved. Heel, stop, at the kerb, cross... no matter what the conditions were. That’s because I taught her everything through play.
"In your place", "come", "sit", "down"... it can all be taught through play. Once they’ve mastered it while playing with you somewhere quiet, you can move on to places with more and more distractions.
You can teach them anything. They’re dogs with incredible potential. So, make sure you use that potential with them before they start using it without you!
Border Collies are sheepdogs and they need a lot of your time; you have to play with them every single day. You need to give them rules, and if you're going to get a dog, it's so you can look after it! We've got a Border Collie ourselves, and when he was a puppy he was really boisterous, but now he's the loveliest dog ever! You've just got to give them plenty of love!
Hi everyone! I’m quite new to the forum and usually spend my time over in the cat section, but I really wanted to chime in here. I don't have all the answers—I adopted my girl as an adult from a rescue centre and her training isn't exactly perfect—but there are two things that might give you some food for thought:
1) I recently discovered "calming signals". It was a real eye-opener. Learning to understand what your dog is trying to communicate so you can adjust your own behaviour accordingly. We far too often project our own feelings onto dogs, which leads to big mistakes on our part (e.g. no, the dog isn't being "spiteful" or looking for revenge; they’re actually just trying to vent their anxiety).
2) The more quality time I spend with my dog (even though she’s an adult), the better she listens to me. The more we play, the more we’re "in sync". When I say play, I mean at least an hour of fetch, not counting the extras like walks, hanging out with doggy mates, etc. On the flip side, if I have a hectic week and only do the bare minimum with her, she starts doing her own thing, stops listening, and acts like she’s going to wander off without a care for my recalls.
In conclusion, my suggestions would be:
- Don’t forget that they’re a puppy with all that energy and enthusiasm.
- You need to try and understand what they’re trying to express.
- Interaction, interaction, interaction!
The first and last points seem straightforward enough. The second takes a bit of curiosity and research. That said, if you’re at the end of your tether, feel like you’re already giving them enough time, and think your dog’s behaviour is more than just "puppy stuff" (which doesn't really come across in your description), then consider consulting a dog behaviourist. They’ll be able to offer some insights based on the interactions and context they observe.
Best of luck!
I’m going through the exact same thing, and it’s completely normal—you’re definitely not alone! I also think that going to puppy classes wouldn't do him any harm ;-) At this age, he needs to socialise with other dogs and especially to play with other puppies—dogs his own age, basically! At puppy school, they teach them socialisation as well as those first important commands like sit, down, walking off-lead, and all that.
When it comes to obedience, don't be afraid to reward him rather than just waiting for your pup to do what you want, when you want... You can reward him with a toy or simply with some treats (maybe a different kind of kibble than his usual dry food)! For walking on the lead, if he refuses to move and lies down on the ground, take some treats in your hand and hold them at nose level to lure him forward. Give him a treat every three metres or so and say his name along with the command "heel" or "come" so he understands. Training needs to happen every day, throughout the day, and not just during short sessions at home.
As for him jumping at anything that moves, that’s normal—it’s part of the breed, just like how beagles always have their noses to the ground. You won't be able to stop the instinct entirely, but you can distract him with something else: a reward like a toy or a treat. For example, when you see a cyclist or a jogger, get your pup to sit and then reward him. He needs to learn that it’s when he’s being good and staying calm that he gets his toy or treat. It’s much better to stick with positive reinforcement that encourages your dog to do what you want him to do, rather than pulling like mad on the lead to get him to move...
Similarly, if he bites you, tell him "no" and give him a toy instead! You can also just ignore him when it’s just minor nipping, but if he bites too hard, don't hesitate to let out a high-pitched yelp so he understands that’s THE limit and that he’s actually hurting you...
