Keeping a clever dog amused

Katyroo62

Hello.

I'm sure that there must be similar threads on here but I couldn't find any so thought I would start a new one.

I've got a 20 month old collie, dalmation cross. He is a friendly and adorable dog but also very clever and very active and if not kept amused can be stubburn and willful.

This is my first dog and I've had him for just over a year and wondered whether anyone can give me any extra ideas on how to keep him entertained.

He has previously been to 2 different courses of dog training and we still regularly do bits at home, he gets 2 long walks a day. He usually has to stay on his lead because he chases bikes and doesn't come back when other dogs are around but at least 3 times a week we walk to a quieter park and play frisbee or fetch. He has a variety of different kongs and he often has raw hide bones or roast bones.

Can anyone think of anything else I can get him or do with him? or can anyone point me in the direction of any similar threads that may help?

Many thanks

(also if anyone else can offer any advice on the chasing bikes or not leaving other dogs alone issues I would gladly accept it as I would love him to be off his lead more but hate him to be a pest to others)

Youdontseeme

Have you thought about agility classes?

Collies are well known for having endless energy and super intelligent and are by nature working dogs (I read somewhere recently that they can do up to 50 miles a day - no problems!) So something that uses his brain and includes exercise might be just the job.

It will probably help with your control of him off lead too, and he will get to meet plenty of other dogs so it's not such a novelty when he is off lead.

YDSM

cyberbob

Personally any Dog with Border Collie in them is going to be Hyper and highly intelligent. I would be expecting to walk them 4 or 5 times a day.

I think you need to continue work with his training. Try and get his recall sorted that way you will be able to let him off lead to burn energy. Start at home with the recall and move onto the garden and slowly to other places. Training is a lifelong and continuous process. It also can help keep the dog thinking. If he is unable to go off lead he will never burn off enough energy.

If training classes don't work well for your dog it may be worth trying to find someone to individually help you in the training. Your vet is likely to know someone they would recommend.

the reason he probably chases bikes is he wants to herd them. You may want also to consider some long term solutions to keep your dog happy. Collies and Collie/crosses do very well in agility so you may want to consider maybe doing something like this.

Localweb

Have you got one of those food balls that they have to 'work' to get their food out?

Hide dog treats around the house so pooch has to find them.

If you only have the one, how about a play date with another dog?

See if you have a hydro hounds or similar - you can take the dog for a swim once in a while - many love it and its good for them too.

We also have a dancing snowman and radio controlled Darlek that amuse my two

cinderellacomplex

cyberbob wrote: »

Personally any Dog with Border Collie in them is going to be Hyper

Actually not too true... border collies are bred not only for working drive but also for an 'off switch' - a dog is no good to a farmer if it wants to keep going after the sheep are all in, they need to be able to veg until they are called for. My purebred, working lines BC is currently collapsed at my feet having only had one walk today.

She usually gets a walk in the morning and a walk in the evening, one of which is a longer one, or she'll get one massive walk. However almost all of her walks are off-lead so that she can really stretch her legs.

The mind is the thing that you really need to work with BCs. Trick training is a fab way to keep their minds active and they love it. This week I am teaching mine to 'limp' and to jump through my arms - she likes to mix it up a bit and it keeps her interested for longer. We have a weave set for her in the garden too and I just bought some jumps which she adores. We'll start her with an agility club at some point once I find out what days I'll be working.

Basically despite being very active dogs as long as you give them enough running to maintain their fitness and stretch out (they really like running) then you can properly tire them out by making them think. If you want some examples of tricks I can hunt down some videos for you.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/BorderCollieWorld/index.php?act=idx

This is a border collie specific forum that I use a lot and you should get a decent response from people who are very used to border collies and their crosses. People have different opinions on training as usual but it should give you more insight into how people approach living with these dogs specifically.

Raksha

Are you using food bowls? If so - why? Letting your dog work for his food through a Dog Pyramid, Kong Wobbler, Tug a Jug or Buster cube is probably one of the best ways of keeping them mental stimulation . My couch potato of a OH plays ball with my Doodle in the house - hiding it and letting him find it. you can train from the settee while watching TV too - Ian Dunbar says indeed you should be able to, it's part of getting your dog used to doing as asked whenever and where ever they are, not just in the training hall.
IMHO - training sessions are more mentally demanding and more likely to tire a dog out than physical excercise.

jenhug

agility and flyball training are two things i'd consider, and lots of tricks, there is a dog tricks for dummies book, which i have heard is good.

bethie

collie cross here as well.


definitely look into flyball/agility.


if your dog doesnt already have a kennel club gold good citizens award it might be worth trying that?

you could also try walking her in new areas so there are new sniffs.


teaching them tricks is also quite good. the test your doggie IQ book is quite good as well, and relatively cheap!

devildog

I would agree with everything that posters have said re the colllie side of him but don't forget the dalmation genes either-they were used as carriage dogs and could run forever. He needs to walk/run severaL miles every day and then do some 'brain' work

Lirin

Rough Collie I have, though I've worked with Border's before....

They are very hyper, they get bored easily, and have seemingly unending energy.... can remember trying to exhaust ours by throwing a ball- the dog easily outlasted me.

As much as I remember, I think we got him a few balls with bells and rattles in- he'd work at them for hours to get the bell out.

Raksha

If he's a dog who enjoys retrieving balls, try using two - throw the second one as soon as he's dropped the first, and try always to do it on a hill (throwing down) so he has to work harder