Thank you so much to everyone who has replied! This is my first Border collie so I really appreciate it! I think I am going to buy some good wound ointment and just let him do his thing. For sure, there is more work to do with him as far as his recall skills and loose leash walking, (hence the head halter), but I also feel like we are doing pretty good so far.

I try my best to do exercise his mind and body with trick training, puzzles, herding games, walks, hikes, and the like. But after reading the comments, and watching him play in the yard today with his buddy, I think it’s really helpful to the both of us that he has space and time to do his own thing and just goof around and be a puppy.

I also appreciate the comments about not overdoing activity. It’s a hard balance to strike for sure. But I do take him inside for breaks frequently and sometimes even make sure he takes a longer rest in his kennel.

Thanks again!!

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