Puppy Woes

[DavesMummy]

I have got a 12 week old Border Collie pup and he is incredibly hard work at the moment. I know that once he has had his sec ond injections on Wednesday and we have waited the required 7 days I can take him for plenty of walks and he will be much calmer. Problem is what I do for the next 9 days to make it all more bearable.

I am taking him outside for potty every hour and he is still peeing and pooping in the house - quite often as soon as he comes back in (having done his business outside!!). He is biting everything in sight and this morning ripped my pj bottoms to shreds (while I was wearing them!!).

He is constantly chewing the xmas tree lights and barking at my cats. Somedays I spend hours on end removing him from the furniture and saying "off" as per Victoria Stillwell but he just isn't getting it.

Am just looking for some advice to get me through the next week or so.....

Thank you

It can be very difficult to keep border collies occupied at the best of times, so you have my commiserations! I found with my collies that if they couldn't be physically exercised for some reason (injury/illness) I had to work extra hard to keep their brains busy.

The sort of things I remember doing were endless games of fetch in the garden and loads of training and lots of games. Some BC's have a tendency to pull like trains, so really worthwhile to spend time training to walk to heel whilst housebound. Instead of putting their food in a bowl, I used it to stuff kongs and hid it in egg boxes, amongst crumpled paper in boxes and made them work for every bit. Do you have any large boxes? I used to cut holes in big boxes (big enough for a pup to walk through)for my pups to explore. They especially loved to find "hidden" treats in it.

My BC were never problem chewers, but I think the theory is that you are supposed to offer them a toy to chew when they start chowing down on your leg. If this doesn't work, I think you are supposed to shriek "ouch" and turn away from pup. Oh yes, lots and lots of chew toys rotated daily. As I say, this is what I know of the theory. Do let me know if it works in practice as we are getting a BC puppy in the New Year!

If he's peeing as soon as he gets back in then you simply aren't staying outside long enough with him. Not what you want to hear in this weather, I know, but young pups can be too distracted by the great outdoors to think much about peeing

Teach a command when he pees and poos - as he does it, say 'be quick' or whatever, and give a little treat as soon as he's finished. Keep doing this and he will come to associate the command with peeing and will eventually be able to do it pretty much on command.

Hang in there

Get that clicker out and get training. A border collie that is thinking is a good border collie!

Train him to sit
to go down
to roll over
to spin to the left
to spin to the right
to high five
to play tuggy
Teach him to sit on a box and make the box smaller and smaller so he has to work harder.
Have you got a gym ball get him to balance on that and to sit and go down - good for his muscles and balance
Get him to touch you hand
get him to watch you

Totally agree with Bella with regard to toilet training and the reason I only ever get puppies in the spring!

Thank you for all your advice. He is doing at least 2 wees each time I take him out but obviously finds still more each time!!

He can sit on command, unless distracted by the cats, but will try more with him

Thanks again, I know it will easier but am having a particularly tough day, especially as my DC are not behaving!!!!