Wild swing in behavior

[alj]

Hi Everybody,

 

Just looking for a little advice.

 

Jet is now a year and a half old. He has always been very outgoing and very curious. However, a week or so ago, it was like someone flipped a switch. He has become EXTREMELY excitable, and EXTREMELY loving. Up to last week, he would rarely cry. Now, he is marching around the house day and night, tail wagging, crying out of excitement. If we leave him alone for 5 minutes and come back, it was like we were gone for a week.

 

He is very restless, and moves around all night. We have hardwood floors and the never ending "click, click click" of his nails when he trots around is becoming far more noticeable and far more annoying than ever. He has always loved to play and be around other dogs, but lately, he has been locked in and obsessed with every dog he sees.

 

We have not had any change in the way we play with him, he gets a ton of action and a ton of attention. Nothing in or home as changed either. Same as usual.

 

Any idea why he has gone from the calm, relaxed and friendly border collie to the energy full, emotional, super loving border collie lately?

[Gideon's girl]

I have to wonder if there is a bitch in heat around your neighborhood.

[stockdogranch]

^^That would do it!

A

[Gloria Atwater]

If he's intact, then I'll bet anything there's a bitch in heat in the neighborhood. You'll either have to crate him at night or live with him being a goober for a couple of weeks.

~ Gloria

[deadlywarbler]

If it turns out this behavior doesn't change, I'd wonder if he developed a different impression of his house...maybe developed a different, or more mature anxiety about his surroundings and his role. Does he have a crate to go to at night? Do you suspect he feels "on duty" at night? Are there comforting activities he has around the house during the day. I'm sure the word "crate" has been suggested a million times here, but you might consider training him to have a crate space at night. That pseudo den has an invisible barrier for our pup and when she's in there, she's a blob of sleeping border collie. I can tell she's relaxed in there. I put her in our office with the crate door open, but the office door closed. This keeps her from getting up and patrolling if she feels inclined. I hope this helps!

 

Dr. Ian Dunbar has written some great books and goes into great lengths about how suddenly adolescent dog's behavior can change. His writing helped me to keep calmly vigilant of those changes and not get too wrapped up in worry.

[GentleLake]

I'm curious. Has there been any improvement or difference in his behavior since you originally posted, ALJ?

[Tommy Coyote]

My puppy is just a year and a half and he has been changing here lately. He has been pushing boundaries with me and with the two other dogs. He seems to be getting a little more pushy. It's not a bad change as he has a really good, lovey temperament and even pushing boundaries he's not aggressive. He also has marked in the house a couple of times and he's never done that before.

 

I think it's hormones. He's really been a puppy up until now and that seems to be changing.

 

I've noticed that the older dogs have been changing their behavior towards him, too. His status in the household is definitely changing.