High-energy dog on walks + stick obsession

L
Laure74000 Icon representing the flag French
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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!

Translated from French
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3 answers
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    • Docline
    Docline Icon representing the flag French
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    A Border Collie x Beauceron cross? He must be a brilliant dog!

    I really hope your walking spots allow for some off-lead play!

    When my Aussie was young, he was very intense about always demanding to fetch his ball. What did the trick was setting him complex challenges > I’d stand with him in front of a wire fence. I’d throw the ball nearby, but on the other side. He’d have to find a way in to be able to get it back. As variations: placing the ball in the fork of two branches, but making it inaccessible from the side he can see. He has to go all the way round to retrieve it. What made him the proudest was a ball placed on a wall that was too high (down by the beach): he had to walk along the wall for 30 or 40 metres, turn a right angle, then go another ten metres or so to find the entrance to the field, crossing it diagonally to get his ball. (That time he had to have two goes at it, it was tough). After a really big mental workout, dogs are so calm and happy!

    Translated from French
    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    A dog doesn’t have to be best mates with other dogs; if she gives them a friendly greeting and carries on her way, that’s perfectly fine if it works for her.

    If you’ve got into the habit of playing with sticks outdoors, it’s only natural that she expects you to throw them for her. She’s clearly understood that she needs to be calm at home but that being outside is party time (and she’s finding it hard to manage her emotions).

    Your dog is a sheepdog with the typical motor patterns of a herding breed. Even though simple walks that let her explore are important, she can’t just make do with those alone. She needs to have a job to do, and the simplest one is retrieving a stick.

    You could introduce her to various canine activities to get her brain working, such as agility, mantrailing (this is an activity that burns energy without over-exciting the dog; personally, for a dog that struggles to stay focused, I think it could be very interesting), dog dancing, or herding... try various activities during the week, but stop throwing balls during your walks and prioritise walking in different locations instead.

    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello, Your dog's behaviour is completely typical of a cross between these two breeds—a bundle of energy that needs constant stimulation. To help manage all that energy, here are a few tips to address your concerns. Firstly, teaching her to be calmer outdoors starts before you even leave the house. It is essential to maintain a sense of calm at home before heading out. If your dog starts whining or jumping around as soon as you pick up the lead, put it back down and go back to sitting down. Try again once she has settled, and don't hesitate to reward her with treats to encourage her to stay calm. Then, during the walk, you can introduce 'quiet time'. To do this, simply sit on a bench and do nothing; this limits excitement and encourages calmness (ignore her attempts to get your attention—look at your phone or read). At first, she will get impatient. As soon as she finally sighs and sits or lies down, praise her with a calm, slow stroke. Repeat this for 10 minutes during every walk. Regarding weaning her off sticks, it is true that this isn't easy as she seems very playful and the stick acts like a bit of a 'drug' for her. To break the association of 'walk = stick', it is necessary that if she finds a stick and brings it to you, you ignore her; do not pick it up and do not throw it. Over time, she may get bored and give up on this stick obsession. If that doesn't work, you could replace the stick with another object and teach her to carry it on the walk, without ever throwing it. This will soothe her and satisfy that Border Collie/Beauceron need to have a job to do. Finally, the fact that she hardly plays with other dogs anymore is perfectly normal—it’s a sign of maturity! Given her breeds, she is very focused on her human (you) and her environment. For her, interacting with you or exploring her surroundings is much more interesting than chasing after another dog. The fact that she greets them politely and then carries on with her own thing shows that she is very well-socialised. She isn't aggressive; she’s just selective. I hope this helps to answer your questions. Wishing you many wonderful adventures with your dog! Best wishes, Laure.
    Translated from French

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