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I'm relatively new here, with my first PERSONAL dog, 7.5 month old Kilo (key-low). 1) I'm currently working on switching him from prong collar (Save The RANTS: he was on it to curb his attempts at chasing cars while on leash) to a front hookup harness (Kurgo brand) and he pulls like a mad man. I stop when he pulls, change directions, PRAISE like crazy when hes doing well, etc. Is there anything else that I might be able to do to make the switch EASIER AND PLEASANT for both of us? 2) He chases the cat. It's gradually getting better, as he comes back and generally abides by my commands to leave her be, but is there any thing I'm missing in this? I mean, he generally will chase and I will call him back and praise him when hes calmly playing again. 3) HE BARKS IN THE YARD. I really don't want a noise complaint and was looking for solutions as to how i can curb this nuisance barking. I HAVE been looking into bark collars and usually will tell him to quiet down or bring him in when he starts incessantly barking. He has never been an incessant barker in the house or in his crate. Because of this, I'm opting out of an experience to take him camping with me in the beginning of august (for 5 days) and instead am staying home with him) 4) I now work 40 hour weeks on a bi-weekly rotation schedule (2 weeks days, 2 weeks afternoons, repeat) and was curious as to the thought of others as to my daily schedule with him (below). It seems to work for us and he seems to be happy with it, but I feel that someone with a bit more puppy/BC experience might think otherwise. WHILE ON AFTERNOONS: 9am: Wake up for me, 1st pee break for the puppy and breakfast in kitchen (in one of his puzzles/kong/snuffle mat) while i eat and get dressed 10am: Walk (25-30 minutes) 11am-1pm: Quiet play while I study for my exam mid-august (I'm a recently graduated Veterinary Technician with hopes to specialize in animal behaviour, and the exam is to be registered as an RVT) 1:30-2pm: Walk (25-30 minutes) 2-2:30pm: Fetch or quiet play 2:30-2:50pm: I get ready for work IN BETWEEN MY MOM LETS HIM OUT AS HER AND MY BROTHER WORK DAYS, SHE ALSO FEEDS HIM HIS DINNER OUT OF HIS DISH. 3:15-11:15pm: Work 11:30pm: 15 minute walk 12pm: bedtime Here's a picture of his puzzles/kong: WHILE ON DAYS 5:45am: Wake up for me, 1st pee break for the puppy and breakfast in kitchen (in one of his puzzles/kong/snuffle mat) while i eat and get dressed 7-3pm: work (in crate) 3:30pm: Pick up brother from work 3:45pm: he gets tied in the backyard (we have a short fence on 2/3 sides and he can ALMOST JUMP IT) as I shower 4-5pm: fetch/walk depending on how tired i am from work 5:30pm: dinner in puzzle/kong/snuffle mat for pup in kitchen while we eat 6-8pm: quiet play while I study 8-9/9:30pm: evening walk (it's been too hot this summer to walk him long periods when I first get home) 10pm: bedtime 5) He gets neutered on WEDNESDAY (July 11th) and I was curious as to if it would be wise to purchase a plastic cone SUBSTITUTE (a fabric one or such)? Being a VET TECH I am aware of the need for him to have calm play while he heals. Any recommender quiet activities? 6) Also, I am waiting on an AUTOMATIC BALL LAUNCHER to be delivered to the house, curious if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with them... I will be using it to tire him out on rainy days or on exceptionally hot/cold days (Canadian weather is crap) or when i am studying for my exam. 7) Also, his recall off leash is CRAP, does anyone have any tried-n-true methods of improvement, I would love to be able to walk him (nature trails, or puppy play) off-leash with reliable recall, but would like to take a hand at it prior to paying a trainer (just out of college and trainers would make money tight). 8) Lately he has been turning his nose up at his breakfast, HE IS STILL EATING, but in lesser quantities and it's curious. I typically will offer him 1 cup in the morning for breakfast and one cup at night of ROYAL CANIN MEDIUM PUPPY. The bag states a 35lb, 7-8 month old pup should eat about 2 1/4 cups and he's only eating 1.5-1.75 cups. He's maintaining weight and isn't hungry or begging. Just curious how much you all feed your dogs. Thanks again, Dakota,m Lyric (the kitty-cat sister), and Kilo

Hey Hey, Kilo and I would first off like to say thanks for welcoming us into this wonderful community. Kilo is my first BC and is 4 months old. He's a joy to have and I'm learning as much from him as he is from me everyday. It's been a learning curve, but he's nearly house-broken, he knows MANY basic tricks (Sit, Down, Paw, Other Paw, Roll-over), and I'm working on introducing him to the Halti. Before anyone says anything in regards to my choice to keep him as a companion pet, I have done my research and am aware of the high energy and drive behind this breed as well as their needs to be worked and mentally stimulated. Also, I am a (almost graduated) Vet Tech. Currently our schedule looks like, as I'm in college (well exam time for 2 more weeks): Morning (upon wake up at 6:30-7:30am) a 10-15 minute walk outside to get him a chance to use the bathroom he gets his breakfast in a Kong Gyro treat puzzle ball while I eat my breakfast and get ready for class 5-10 minutes of trick training/practice in crate with frozen peanut butter to top the rest of his breakfast in a standard puppy Kong. (I don't leave till almost 8-9) Lunchtime (12-1pm) 20-30 minute walk break from crate to play fetch or play with toys and cuddle 2-3 baby carrots in crate for afternoon Early Evening ( following class at 4-5pm) 1 hour + of walking and fetch/run in a fenced soccer field depending on weather Dinner in Kong Gyro Training of tricks Play throughout the evening Bathroom breaks as required throughout the night Before Bed (9:30-10pm) 20-30 minute walk for bathroom and to wear off any last energy crate at 10:30pm (he tends to sleep through the night fine) I'm just here to see what else, as I'll be out shortly for the summer, I can do with him or teach him. I'm interested in getting him the Jolly Ball Egg to kick around our backyard at home with my parent's dog (12 year old miniature cockapoo). Also, I'm looking to get into running again this summer (a knee injury threw me off track this past year) so that I'm back up to par for next summer to start running with him (so that he doesn't over-stress his growing joints) and I'm looking to build him an agility course also to start next summer. Currently,m we are working on the stay command, not chasing my cat (2 year old tuxedo cat) and, as I said, slowly working on integrating the Halti so we can progress to having him focused and WORKING while we are on walks. This schedule seems to work best for us both, but I'm up for any additional thoughts on providing added enrichment. Thanks from both of us,

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie. I've been lurking though. About the title, my dad is a grumpy old dog man. More fond of dogs than people, he'd tell you this to your face. What he always said was the worst, scummiest thing you could do, was get a dog of a breed because its cool/cute/on tv/in the shop and then get rid of it or hurt/punish it for doing a completely predictable thing for the breed. Dropping terriers because of digging/barking, Danes for being big and clumsy, things like that. In his view most dogs end up in pounds because lack of diligence in research. My needs/wants are different than his though. I need more trainability, a smaller size, (I'd like to be able to lift my dog if its hurt, which caps me out at about 75 lbs at the max) and more heat tolerance. I like to do 3-5 miles of walking every day, would be willing to work up to more. I still don't own any sheep though. Borders are one of the breeds that appeals, but I worry about letting the dog down on exercise/energy needs. I don't have a yard. Was told Borders need more exercise than Dobermans or Poodles (two other athletic breeds I'm researching)? But is BC endless hyperactivity like pitty lock-jaw, not strictly true? I'm willing to look at dog sports but have no yard and no experience w/ agility so it would be a slow and probably very stupid-looking process. I'd like to be told the unvarnished truth about whether I'm being a jerk to even think about BCs, as a pet home. Yell at me if you want. I won't get offended. I've been warned away from a couple other "hyper" breeds as too much for me. I've never had a herding breed. In the past I've lived with rescue Akitas, and a rescue staffy with separation anxiety. Very, very different. And only adult dogs. They needed exercise and people around, and they were strong dogs, but their brains aren't the same. I've also talked to a Rough Collie person and an Aussie breeder, and each said I'd be better off with what they had instead of a Border, but honestly I worry about the physical health of Roughs/Smooths and am still researching Aussies. What do y'all think? Like the topic says, am I a scumbag? Just staring at collie pics going "oooh they're so cute I want one of THOSE!"? Great site by the way. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, even "go back to lurking, noob!"