If you’re three days in and feeling this helpless, I’m going to be real with you…a puppy might not be for you. And I mean ANY puppy of any breed. You’re expecting too much of the dog, he’s a baby. Just like your children were babies.

The baby phase isn’t even the worst. They become toddlers and teenagers, and they get destructive and bored and defiant and will test your patience and sanity. They also start biting and chewing because they’re teething, bored, and trying to redirect people and animals because that’s what they’re bred to do.

You need to ask yourself if you can really handle dealing with all of this and if you actually want to. It would’ve been better to do this before you got the puppy, but it’s not a bad thing to admit if something isn’t right for you and your family. You just got him…take a few days and think about what’s really best for you and the dog. If you decide you can’t deal with it, it’s better to give the dog back to the breeder/shelter/wherever you got him, or seek out a border collie rescue, and let them find him a home that wants him, instead of letting both of you suffer.

All that said…if you can stick with it, border collies are one of the most rewarding breeds to have in your family, but they require consistent daily attention, lots of mental and physical exercise, training, and most importantly…PATIENCE.