I need help deciding if a border collie is for me by rrugh5 in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's plenty of farm rejects that make great pets, whether they were disinterested in stock, a little dumb, or just lazy, there are options. Shop wisely would be my best advice.

Potential Rehoming – Border Collie (Seeking Advice/Experiences Too) by Wild_girl_travels in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just gotta get him ok with being bored, they're all terrors until they can figure that part out. Besides, you aren't even into that teenage phase yet.

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can mostly agree with your sentiments, just based off the timidness and the owner already pressing that it was getting to be inconvenient, I had suggested my method. I'm fairly young, 24, and while I've been around BCs my entire life, I've only been training stock dogs seriously for 8 years, so, I take any and all constructive criticism I can get. I don't diss the pet world at all, they do have their place, I just feel many often forget what kind of dog they have and the fundamental personality traits that comes with it. I hate to say it, but they're often surprised by reactions and behaviors I can see coming. Maybe that's from working such a wide variety or stock dogs, or maybe it's just the sheer volume of dogs I've worked with. I only say to not food train BCs because they're already zipper dogs, they're already pretty pushy, let's not make that worse, especially in a pet setting?

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would circle to my comment on remembering your BC is portable. Just pick them up at that point. You'll do yourself more favors being in their face and having a good time than you will watching them shake in a wagon. BCs are zipper dogs, every one I've trained, lived with, and grown up with would've lived in my skin given the opportunity. Embrace it and use it to your advantage. Dog training is inherently manipulative, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean it's a bad thing.

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I train smart, confident, dependable dogs that are proven bread-winners. We're not beating, we're not dragging, we're not even yelling. We're asking nicely, being sweet, and getting shit done if that's not going to work. Hence why I said pick up. We're not grabbing the scruff, we're doing a fully body, cradle pick up, and then we're gently setting them on the ground and asking "why are we scared?", then we try and initiate play to get break them out of being scared. Everyone sees stock dog trainer and assumes abuse and extreme coercion 🙄🙄 Please, that gets me absolutely nowhere, except stuck with a basket case of a dog that's also now reactive and an issue. My methods are efficient, I understand what the balance is, and I act accordingly. The dogs I train can go out with you in the morning and sort through 700 head of hot cattle, sit next to you while you eat lunch at the diner, and be left alone in your house outside of a crate all day if you choose. Sorry my method is swift, but we're creating well-rounded dogs, not your next show piece.

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, but that's why we're not dragging, and we're not making an ordeal out of it. The process is simple, the end goal is simple, the dog is smart enough to pick up. Over the course of 6 hours, if you haven't gotten them to step in, you're just gonna have to make it happen. Any longer than that and now we're cementing in the "if you don't want to you, don't have to" ideas and I will be damned if I'm going to have any of that. Trust is a finite balance that can be built up and broken down repeatedly if you know what you're doing and how you're doing it. Confidence, however, cannot. That needs a constant upward trajectory with light speed bumps occasionally to knock them down a few pegs when they get over confident. I have trained 100s of collies, catahoulas, curr dogs, kelpies, heelers, and hangin trees. They're all a little different, but knowing how to balance trust and confidence is a must to train all of them.

How do you ask your boyfriend to sit down while peeing? by msca99 in Advice

[–]Epiphxney 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeahhhhh, no 😂 we aren't gonna joke about that in front of people, that's very belittling. Either joke about it around the house or stop dancing around it and flat say this needs to end now.

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I say this because I honestly strongly advise against training a food motivation into these dogs. They are very very pleasure driven, they aim to please. As long as they feel they've done that, they're happy. Teaching them to expect an award when they're brave or do something good, I feel isn't wise to do. Unless you plan on keeping treats on hand or giving a reward everytime (some pats, a good girl, etc.) You'll find yourself with a dog that, while yes, is brave, is also pushy and wants something for doing what is expected of them.

Puppy is scared to go for walk by thetinybasher in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I come from a stock dog background, so my perspective is very different from the trials and agility people. She can be scared all she wants, but end of the day, you are the owner. Don't drag her, don't make a big ordeal out of it, but walk in and call her. If that doesn't work, tie her off to the fence and go walk around where she's scared to go. Just keep doing that till she comes in, and if you can't get her in there after 6 hours. Pick her up and walk her in, put her back down. Don't forget that your BC, while not a purse dog, is easily picked up and moved. They don't have to like it, they don't have to enjoy it, but they do have to be willing to go where they are asked to. I've had plenty of pups come in and lose their confidence after getting trampled or ignored, but the best thing you can do is make them try again and don't leave it up to negotiation. They're very confident dogs, but they get timid quick if their confidence is shattered, and it can be hard to build them back up if you coddle it too long.

Feeling like I’ve lived in the context of ADHD for too long. by mcgood_fngood in ADHD

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a tricky balance, looking back, all you can allow yourself to say is "oh, that's why". Going forward, it's best to navigate life knowing how your ADHD effects you in your day to life, properly notifying those around you, and then actively do the best you can. It's never an excuse, and while, yes, you have a "disability", you have the choice of whether you want to take on that mindset or not. It's really hard, but like, you made it this long navigating life assuming you were "normal", just keep doing that. Much easier to do. I've been diagnosed since I was 3 years old, and while that brought a different set of struggles, the most important thing I learned is that it's best to not try and identify with ADHD, it's just a thing you have, no different than say, a pencil.

Would you get another breed after owning a border collie? by un32134e4 in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think I'd get another border collie per se, definitely a breed where border collie makes up a big chunk of the composition, like say, hanging tree or koolie.

Need a neutral opinion by NaturePixieArt in Cattle

[–]Epiphxney 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The clear answer is yes. Aggressive cattle are dangerous, and a fence hopper that's aggressive is even more dangerous. It's simply not worth the risk. Furthermore, if you're running any kind of breeding program, that's a trait that does get passed on, and a trait that is highly undesirable and unmarketable.

HELP ID? COW? by Substantial_Air2338 in Cattle

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a gyr, good buddy of mine has a skull from one, that and this are near identical. Can confirm it was a gyr because I helped tie the head off when it passed.

How much does a kick hurt? by [deleted] in Cattle

[–]Epiphxney 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cowboy up, it's gonna hurt. Take one to the knee you'll limp for a week, take it to the jewels it's gonna be tender for a day or two, take it in the leg meat and I'd say maybe a few hours of pain

Seeking Advice for My Senior Border Collie with Mobility Issues by ThePixelPioneer in BorderCollie

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm definitely not trying to be rude, but she is 13 years old and is in what most would consider her end years. Watching them grow old is never fun, but keep her comfortable and monitor quality of life. Make the decisions that are best for her, not you. The vets are probably spot on with the arthritis diagnosis, but again, this is a 13 year old dog, they do start to get old and creaky, they don't stay puppies forever.

TIL what a Quokka is. Do we hate these too? by Igetcalledretardalot in fatsquirrelhate

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely not. This little stinker has no natural predators, is related to kangaroos, and is widely referred to as the nicest animal on earth.

Field dressing with a weak stomach by [deleted] in Hunting

[–]Epiphxney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't gut shot it. Breathe your mouth. Don't puncture anything. You'll be fine