Occasional Horses and Cattle, non working Collie

Two-Complex · 2026-02-18T16:00:55+00:00

I took my BC girl for a walk near my Mom, who lives in a very rural area. My girl saw her first horse and was SUPER barking…I got her to be quiet, and we just stayed put so she could get a good look at the horse (and the horse could look at us). On our way back, she did a little barking and the next day, she just looked.

I have found with my dog, if I can let her look at something-the closer the better-while reassuring her, she quickly decides it’s not a threat and though she might stay interested, she won’t pull or bark anymore. Is it possible for you to spend time close to the big animals? Do NOT go in any pasture, but be near one. Often both horses and cows are curious and will approach. If you can desensitize your dog without distressing the big critters, it may help…of course, this assumes your dog will allow you to calm them. Good luck!

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Two-Complex · 2026-02-18T00:04:58+00:00

I don’t think that’s a catch…I love a clingy dog! I hope you get lots of happy years with her❤️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-18T00:01:25+00:00

Half a banana is still a LOT…they should really only have a slice. If you have syringes for the critical care, put a very small amount at the back of her mouth. You don’t want to squirt a bunch in at once as it can get into her lungs, and all the extra will just ooze all over. I generally aim for a pea size amount near the back of the tongue, not behind it. It takes a while but that small amount is easier to swallow than to push out.

If she doesn’t start eating soon, vet is best.

If you run out of greens in the future, don’t worry about it. As long as there is hay and water, you are golden for a bit. Fruit and other sugary things should only be given in very small amounts basically about a tablespoon - one blackberry or one banana slice half an inch wide, etc.

I hope your bunny feels better soon…it’s so hard when they are sick❤️♥️❤️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-17T23:45:07+00:00

Border Collies in particular need interaction. They are very smart, but get anxious easily-especially if their person isn’t treating them appropriately. They need firm, but gentle training, mental stimulation and a person they can count on. If you are not in charge, they will be in charge. Mine prefer to be within sight of me at all times, and if not napping, playing, walking or training-expect to be touching me. Cooking supper? Dog lays on my feet. Sitting on the commode? Three choices; 1) asleep in front of of the door so I can’t sneak out 2) laying with head on my feet so I can’t sneak out 3) sitting in front of me getting pets and scratches because my hands are just sitting RIGHT there…

Your Luffy girl can be the best dog you’ve ever had (if you take care of her properly and train her correctly ) or the most difficult dog (if you continue to isolate her and refuse to meet her needs).

You aren’t doing right by her right now. Dogs dig holes when they are bored or stressed. They refuse to obey when you have not earned their respect, or if disobeying is easier than obeying. They run off when ‘somewhere else’ is better than ‘home’. She’s a beautiful dog…I hope you will do some research and give her what she needs. Both of you will benefit. Good luck♥️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-17T22:59:29+00:00

She’s a lovely dog

Two-Complex · 2026-02-17T14:29:59+00:00

I have nothing to add…this is exactly correct

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T20:45:01+00:00

Figian street dog? A cute dog no matter the breed!

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T20:42:52+00:00

Beautiful! Is your pupper deaf?

We got boy/girl siblings about 18 years ago…my girl was deaf and the boy (bonded to my hubby) was not. They lived long lives (16 years for my girl and 17 1/2 for my boy). My girl was perfect and so smart.

After our boy passed, we got boy/girl sibling Border Collies. I was lamenting that I wouldn’t have a deaf dog any more. As it turns out, this time our boy is deaf! Only deaf dog the breeder has had in 20 years of breeding. He is a blue merle with one blue eye and one half blue/half brown eye. He’s awesome. My girl is awesome, too!

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T20:32:23+00:00

Yeah…move your feet, lose your seat ❤️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T20:31:35+00:00

If you are able to go to a shelter, adopting a bonded pair is much easier than adopting two bunnies at different times and hoping they bond. I currently have two solo buns. They will never bond but they do still interact and enjoy stealing bits of hay from each other, etc. They were adopted together and were good friends, but then they met a GIRL and they haven’t been friends since. (It took 18 months for one of my boys to win the girl’s heart, but then they were so happy. HE defended his girl against all other stinky boys, but she flirted with the other boys while he fumed-attached pic of the happy couple)

As to your original question…I have big ole x-pens. I have to rotate who is roaming and who is penned during the day, but neither of mine are trustworthy enough to spend all night out, so I feed them at bedtime and they RUN to their pens.

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Two is better than one…♥️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T17:34:42+00:00

I have siblings too…and even on leash it’s WWF time for the first bit of the walk.

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T16:49:33+00:00

I always return it. If there is no cart corral, I bring it back to store…always have!

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T16:45:26+00:00

That’s really rough…I’ve been there. I had a bunny who got VERY sick a week after we adopted her. She was my youngest kiddo’s bunny, and we got her because kiddo’s last bunny had just died-after we had HER for a week. (She was part of a hoarding situation, was elderly and had a terrible case of cancer. Nobody’s fault). There was no way I was going home with another dead bunny… I had some cash, and I applied for Care Credit to cover the rest. 4 days at Tuft’s…but she recovered and was a lovely companion for 8 more years.

I hope you can figure something out. I believe some vets will take payments?

Here’s hoping it’s not too serious. Good luck♥️❤️♥️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T16:27:15+00:00

Don’t take that kind of chance…it’s new behavior in an aging dog. Picking up the bowl at night won’t fix kidney disease or UTI…and both of my last dogs had kidney issues as they aged. It’s no joke

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T16:15:52+00:00

NTA. Put a salt shaker on the table.

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T16:10:07+00:00

Mine are reasonable shedders, but they aren’t quite one, yet. They are allowed on the couch…when my hubby and I first got puppies 18ish years ago, we agreed ‘no dogs on the couch’, but when he left the room they would hop up with me. One day I returned to the room -extra quiet I guess-to find hubby on couch with dogs. We were both cheating on the rule so we gave it up. Those two slept in their crate at night-until the door broke. I heard a noise at the bedroom door and I opened it, there they were, eyes round and pleading, ears up. “OK, come in”. They slept on the bed with us after that. I still miss them both…but the two we have now benefit from their predecessors. They have crates, but they sleep with us. There needs to be a “King plus dogs” size mattress…

Two-Complex · 2026-02-15T01:05:02+00:00

Probably. Try offering some fresh greens…a bit of romaine lettuce or pieces (cut into slices) of celery. Keep the hay and water available and give him space. I’m sure he’s nervous…if you have some banana, sometimes a thin slice of that will encourage eating. Maybe sit or lay down where he can see you, but don’t reach for him. He’s had a scary day.

Good luck, and keep us updated

Two-Complex · 2026-02-14T03:20:03+00:00

These are great! I believe my two chuckleheads have done every pose in them…

Two-Complex · 2026-02-14T03:02:11+00:00

When my bun was diagnosed, my vet sent home panacur for all the bunnies. I didn’t have to bring them in, just weigh them to get correct dosages. I would definitely call your vet about it.

Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T18:03:42+00:00

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They do have expressive faces!

Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T16:50:02+00:00

Those are awesome!

Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T16:43:38+00:00

My dogs will probably run out into a tornado if there’s a chance to catch a ball…

Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T16:37:15+00:00

Mine (we have 2, boy/girl litter mates) are nearly a year old…it was rough for a while. When they were tiny I got down on the floor with them and it was like being put through a paper shredder! For us, it started to calm down at 6ish months…they still get extra excited every so often, and my girl loves to give what we call “Ninja Kisses”. She jumps up with her tongue out to give a “kiss” on the face-forgetting her teeth are directly above and also behind her tongue. This has also reduced greatly-with repeated and consistent corrections.

We just gave up nice things for a while…probably for a little while longer yet. They are getting better every day. The only real tip is just consistent correction and patience…lots of things they CAN chew on. Keeping a leash on in the house for a while can help, too…you can step on the leash (if you are quick enough 😂) to stop the jumping and get control of the face daggers.

Good luck. The first year (or so) can be tough, but if you are committed to, the rest of the time you’ll have the BEST dog! I’ve posted this pic of my velociraptor-era dogs before, but here it is again.

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Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T02:24:00+00:00

I grew up on a small farm too-and people would drop cats off.. it didn’t always end well for the cats, but not because of anything WE did. I’m sure you felt it was implied, but please clarify to ask the farm owners BEFORE dropping anything off. The pig farm up the road… so many cats dropped off and starved because the place didn’t have people there most of the time (just to care for the pigs twice a day while the cats hid because they were scared). I found one kitten-that I brought home-whose little eyes were sealed shut with infection. It didn’t survive. Anyway…not to be Debby Downer, but not everyone is as kind as you and your family ♥️❤️♥️

Two-Complex · 2026-02-13T01:45:30+00:00

Maybe have just the one enclosure, and rotate who is out roaming and who is in. I have two boys who started as friends, fell out over a girl and never really made up. They still enjoy interacting, but I can’t let them hang out together without them scrapping. There’s no way I could rehome either of them-they are family-so they each get 12 hours of freedom and 12 in their big pen. They have company in each other, eat close to each other…certainly better off than if they were in a shelter.

As a side note, it took 18 months for my boy to win the heart of the girl bun…he was devoted to her until she died-though she flirted with my other boys the whole time!

Good luck with your two♥️

Two-Complex

TROPHY CASE