Hi everyone,
I’d love to get your advice regarding my 2-year-old dog, a Border Collie / Beauceron cross.
At home, she’s quite calm and lovely: she doesn’t destroy anything, listens well, sleeps well, and knows how to settle...
However, as soon as we’re outside, the contrast is night and day. I feel like she associates being outdoors with high stimulation (play, training, interaction, activity...). Her excitement levels shoot up quickly; she pulls on the lead and seems to struggle to settle back down or just enjoy the walk calmly, especially in familiar spots.
She’s constantly pestering me to do something, particularly involving sticks, which I’ve used a lot for games and training since she was a puppy.
Another point: she hardly plays with other dogs now. She’s happy to say hello but then prefers to do her own thing or stay focused on something else.
So, I’m wondering:
How can I teach a dog to be calmer outdoors?
How can I break the "walk = stick" association?
Is it normal that at 2 years old she hardly plays with other dogs anymore?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
