Very cross with the bleedin' dog!

[Aked]

And obviously there is little point in saying anything to her, so the keyboard gets it.

We've had a week away, she had to have mostly lead walks and seems now to be relishing the bloody freedom. She had been so, so brilliant leading up to the holiday. Excellent recall, sticking around on the walk, and generally an all round good girl. Since we got home she is straying further, not recalling immediately and generally just fecking ignoring me which drives me potty!

Tonight she disappeared totally for nearly five minutes, it felt like an age. When she got back she has run herself into the ground, she's knackered.

We've backtracked and I'm cross :( Plus she is being spayed next week, so will be back on lead arrest for 10 days. I guess I'll have to do some serious obedience work while she is!

Rant over.

[hmc]

How old?

[Aked]

She's one.

[hmc]

Puberty?

[Aked]

I dunno, maybe. I'm blaming a week in a caravan:)

[hmc]

there is a lot on internet re puberty and dogs testing boundaries, just like teenage humans

[Owllady]

Oh you have my collie!
Mine has been like this from 15 months to now (over 2)

[Aked]

Sigh. That is not what I want to hear Owl!

She definitely has collie in her. I SWORE I wouldn't get any kind of collie, even though they are my faves. She got me with her cute black fluffy puppiness, and then turned out to be a collie - of sorts. And I'm convinced she is Flat Coat too, and thus described as the Peter Pan of the dog world.

There is no hope.

[marne2]

My boy started doing this at the same age, they hit a certain age where they think they know best and can't test the boundaries, my boy is now almost 2 and is now almost through the disobedient stage, he's now fine off the lead but I take treats with me just incase he wonders a bit too far ( he always comes back for food ).

[marne2]

Mines a collie cross lab, he's a crazy dog and although we have now sorted the re call he still drives me crazy with his crying and constantly jumping up from the floor every time I move ( thinking he's going to get something ) he cries to be walked 3 times a day and is always on the go, I'm hoping he will settle down with age ( I can only hope ).

[Aked]

She hasn't woken from her ancient slumber from the second we got home . Not even for tea. Dirty minx.

[Owllady]

:o
They do get better honestly
But it is frustrating and I feel your pain. You just have to carry on being consistent (boring huh?:o)

[Owllady]

Collies have a longer adolescence than other breeds too, don't compare her to your average dog

[giddly]

I could have written this thread (in fact I did about a week ago) - right down to her being spayed next week! I was recommended the book "Total Recall" and we've gone right back to basics. I like the book as it specifically has chapters for working with older dogs (our's is a rescue so we didn't get her until she was around 5 months old). It's a bit frustrating having to go right back, but it has made me realise the flaws in the way we approached it the first time round.

[Aked]

Thanks everyone! Yes giddly I have worked through total recall before and she responded brilliantly to it. Her recall has been brilliant since - except away from squirrelling and I don't use the whistle on purpose when she is so that I don't teach her to ignore it. Mostly I just avoid the squirrels when possible. Its just this week she has chosen to ignore it all. I think you are right though, I may need to go over some chapters again to reinforce the whole idea all over. Tut.

[moosemama]

No advice, just sympathy and solidarity - as I reckon you have it covered and going back to basics with TR will really help.

Pip has definitely arrived at the teenage stage over the last couple of weeks too and I had the walk from hell with him today, when he took against an enormous Labradoodle (I think - could have been an unclipped standard, but seemed far too stocky) that was free-ranging in the park while his owner stood miles away, on the opposite side at the exit failing to call him back.

I was sooo hoping he wouldn't do the teenage thing, I have had others that didn't and really hoped he'd be the same - but no - with Pip it seems we are going to have to go through just about every problem possible before we eventually emerge the other side with a nice, polite, well-behaved adult dog.

[NCISaddict]

My collie is the same, he's 13 months old but he is getting better now. One of the things I have been told to do by my trainer is a series of actions all involving a sit/down but without using words. It's supposed to get the dog focused on you and get them to work out how to please you and my collie loves doing it.
You keep dog in a quiet room with just you and have a bowl of treats which you can rattle but not show the dog then you wait until the dog sits (without any command) then treat, then sit for 5 seconds, treat, then 10 seconds, treat. You keep adding in moves such as one step away from your dog and return then treat and so on but all without giving a single word of command. When they're happy doing it inside you can move it to a park perhaps tieing them to a bench or something but not holding the lead yourself.

It's really improved my dogs focus on me and tires him out as he's using his brain, he is completely relaxed at the end of the session, could be good for post spay?

[Aked]

Ooh that sounds good NCIS thanks. I'll be giving that a go. Yes I was going to do some clicker training etc to keep her crazy brain busy.

Moose, I am determined to have that well behaved adult dog if it kills me (and I've a feeling it might!) One day, we will look back on all this and laugh

[NCISaddict]

Apparently with this session don't even click, it's supposed to be relaxation therapy for dogs, Finn is amazingly chilled when I've finished which I wasn't expecting, I was thinking he'd be hyped up. Also google 'sprinkles' for post neutering, really good for exercising the brain and chilling them out. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Didn't expect work to relax a collie
There's a FB page devoted to Sprinkles. I'll get my trainer to forward me the link.

Isn't it funny how they react, my trainer came over for coffee today and Finn was really alert and attentive to her but very calm. He adores her and her working dog who helps assess all the newbies, so pleased I've found her and she lives across the road. Result!!!!

[Aked]

I've found a good article on sprinkles NCIS thanks. Very interesting... I'm going to give it a go tomorrow. I'll report back!

[NCISaddict]

It works I promise providing you resist the temptation to get involved. They're clever beasts if we let them be.

[NCISaddict]

I'll ask my trainer if she can email the relaxation stuff and pm you tomorrow. atm I've only got a printout. It just gives you a framework to work with although it does involve jogging on the spot in front of your dog whilst they remain sitting

[Booboostoo]

Sounds like puberty unfortunately. I'd go back to basics ASAP. Loads of general training to get her attention back to you, super high rewards for recall, the recall game in an enclosed area and long line in open areas. If you can be 100% consistent in your response to this phase it will pass quicker but I do feel for you! it's very frustrating when they regress.

[plumnc]

Yep - you've got yourself a brand new teenager. Like Boo says, back to basics - Just like with human teenagers! - Good news is the cananine varietity shouldn't last as long. Keep the training up (and keep her safe) and when she comes out the other side she will be luruuverly

[Aked]

Thanks everyone.

I'm definitely going to keep on top of it. My determination to have a beautifully behaved dog outweighs her need to be having fun by herself on a walk!

NCIS I would really appreciate that, thank you.

[Aked]

And oh God, the kids are nowhere near teenagers yet, and I'm already dreading it