Oh the joys of owning a working breed of dog! I’m remembering how intense the puppy stage can be!
I have an older Border Collie/Aussie mix who was a lot of work as a pup but it’s the perfect family dog now. High energy, freakishly smart but will chill when you say to chill.
Our new puppy is proving to be very similar. He’s a Border Collie/Kelpie heeler mix. So smart. He’s got come, sit, lay down, roll over, drop it nearly all down command wise in two weeks. Just now learned the doggie door (not that I’m confident that potty training isn’t over :lol: .)
But the heeler in him is showing. Nippy as hell if he’s amped up. Anyone with Heelers knows. This isn’t puppy biting or chewing, it’s nipping. He’s also got a stubborn streak to him at times!
We have him in some group puppy classes but they are SO basic that it’s really just socialization at this point. I’m going to do a few private sessions with a dog trainer/behavior specialist to help curb the nipping and the bit of demand barking that he’s wanting to try out. He’s so smart and generally great with my daughter, so I’m hoping we can get control of these behaviors.
My Border Collie Aussie wasn’t ever a huge nipper, more of a herder with no nips. But we easily get that under control so hopefully we can get the pup to know what’s appropriate when and where as well.
Really excited for my daughter to do agility with him later-I think they will both really enjoy it.