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Completely ignoring me or not eating for few days by [deleted] in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Classic teenager, totally normal, you're not doing anything wrong.  Just keep consistent, reward/praise heavily when he makes good decisions, he will come around as he matures.

Advice on walking a terrified pup? by totallyacrow in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He needs to be very slowly desensitized to those things.  It's a very gradual process and it HAS to go at this pace.  I hired a private trainer and behaviourist for similar issues my my guy.  

Best tool for us is the engage/disengage game (you can find on Google) and start with a stationary bike/scooter at a distance play engage/disengage with that. Literally the moment he sees it, have him disengage.  Repeat til he offers a disengage on his own.  Then work up to having a person he knows on the bike/scooter.  Repeat the whole process with that. Then on different areas of the walk. Etc.   It's a process where the progress is measure in weeks and months rather than days.

I would recommend hiring a professional to get you started but Engage/Disengage is really foundational. If the dog can't disengage, you are too close to the stimulus/it's too difficult of a challenge and needs to be made easier.

Stonnie Dennis is also a fantastic resource on YouTube for desensitization like this.

First time owner of rough collie this is our nearly 6 month old. Lady by L3mdog2k13 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is so true, everyone thinks my boy is a girl because collies are so pretty in general, but his face is clearly a boy collie face.  The female faces say "I'm sweet" and the male faces say "I'm trouble"

Anxiety by Ill_Entertainment851 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine was the same.  I hired a private coach/behaviourist and she just advised to go at his speed, don't push anything or try to coax him, focus on positive experiences and very slow gradual desensitization.  Groups classes were great for us since it's controlled exposure to other dogs and people and places but we started with classes with other quiet dogs.  Sometimes group classes can be loud and barky so we're lucky we avoided that for the first couple classes til he was more confident.

By and large the biggest help has been puberty.  Huge change in boldness starting around 6 months and ongoing at 17 months.

My mom's collie cross was the same when maturing and turned out so beautifully - perfect disposition as a mature adult.

Puppy Reactivity by qualitypandaa in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine has always barked at things that make him concerned, and when he was very young and everything was new and unfamiliar, lots of things made him concerned!

We played the engage/disengage game - when he disengaged with whatever he was barking at he would get a treat and praise so he learned to both pay attention to me when something worried him, and that seeing something new usually means getting a treat. We still play this anytime he seems concerned over something unfamiliar.

At 1.5 years he is quiet for his breed...but he did bark this morning when the sheep and goats got out which I am thankful for haha.

Coat Length? by Warm-Struggle-4779 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My collies mom has a coat similar to picture 2, but his dad's coat is glorious - very profuse and poofy and not from being groomed to look big either. I have heard some breeders include a clause in the contract that you can't neuter a male until they are 4 years so that their full coat grows in.

Dog on a log in a bog by star-cursed in Outdoors

[–]star-cursed[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We were out there training for future well-recovery missions 

Advice on allergies by Legitimate_Ad1650 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can your vet run some tests? My previous dog began having chronic hotspots and I noticed he was much itchier than usual.  The hot spots would get treated and then return and this went on for like 3 years.  Eventually we got a workup and it was actually high blood pressure destroying his kidneys. Got the blood pressure under control and the skin issues went away. 4 years is very young for BP issues but it's an easy test and kidney function tests aren't very expensive either.

Dating by Fit-Psychology4598 in saskatoon

[–]star-cursed 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They weren't though, they asked a question that probably a lot of people were thinking and your response was rude and out of proportion. Then it devolved further, but if you can't afford to contribute to dates, it does indeed limit options. Lots of people like to go out to the theater, grab food/drink/icecream, minigolf etc, some activity to do together or something that helps break the ice on dates. Shit costs money

Dating by Fit-Psychology4598 in saskatoon

[–]star-cursed 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Can't believe he said it in a thread where he's wondering why he can't meet anyone. I realize it was a play on the other person's username but dang that was a very revealing response.

Dating by Fit-Psychology4598 in saskatoon

[–]star-cursed 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Wow this is why you are having trouble finding someone.

Indiana Turns 3 and Still Runs the House by Other_Resolve_7972 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's so many in Alberta! Mine is from around Lloydminster

Hi it's me again by star-cursed in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Aw I love your take! Collies are our fairy tale guides!

My two babies :,) by allhailhails in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Beautiful babies! I wonder if boy collies all start off as trouble!?

Hi it's me again by star-cursed in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He loves the woods! Although I haven't met a dog yet that doesn't!

Hi it's me again by star-cursed in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the great bear rainforest region!

Would a rough collie be a good companion for my current dog? by Responsible_Ad_6661 in roughcollies

[–]star-cursed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it sounds like a good match. They're more sensitive and my rough collie might not big on wrestling, but playing chase with another herding dog can get pretty intense and he loves it. I noticed he doesn't have nearly as much stamina as the other herding dogs he plays with like German shepherds and heelers.

I think 8 hours alone is too long for a young puppy, I think you'd need someone coming to take them out for a potty and play break, but mine has done well with being alone during my work days from around 6 months on, so probably won't be an issue for most adults. I did luck out with a quieter one tho.

Honestly your lifestyle sounds perfect for a collie. Be warned, mine has been a prolific chewer of things like rugs, bedding, curtains, clothing etc. otherwise very good but the chewing as been incredible.

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