I find with the clicker Helen, that you may be clicking the wrong dog for the wrong behaviour (if you see what I mean) hence why I only use the clicker for them seperately. But I am sruggling with it now as they all know basic commands well, so stuck what to do with it now.
Oh, sorry to hear about your foot, Sonia. I do hope it mends soon.
And the problem you mentioned with your children is EXACTLY what I get. When OH is out at work during school holidays is the worst time, and my four year old, though she is a good walker, would still struggle with two good length walks a day (don't fancy carrying her far now, as she is getting too big for me). When I say to my kids that we are going out walking, well, lets just say that if looks (or whinges for that matter) could kill then I would not be here now. Kids want all the cuteness of dogs with none of the work, but it does them no harm to learn that animal ownership comes with a good level of responsibility too, eh.
I realised that I was unlikely to be alone with this dilemma, but it is nice to understand what other people's coping mechanisms are.
I walk both mine together. Training is done together out in the field...
Any new commands i have to teach Megan, and i teach her in the house on her own first, in a seperate room... Then i just go over it in the field, and she hasn't had any problem with this. Although, being a border collie, thats not surprising! She's always 3 steps ahead of me lol!
Iv not come accross any problems with her training so far, but then shes still very young so i'm sure it's in the pipeline to come! lol
IF any problems arise, i plan to take her out to the field seperatly for maybe 15-20 minutes everyday to go over any areas where shes having issues or trouble.
I walk mine together, mainly, because they enjoy being together on walks. Megan especially seems to enjoy walks much more when her 'big-brother' is around to guide her, and show her the best smells to sniff out. lol
On the weekends, they do go to different training classes. Leo goes to his KC Silver&gold classes on saturdays, one which is about 2 hours drive away from here, so he gets his "mum time".
Megan has her Flyball classes on Sundays (although she's still 14 weeks so she just watches of course!) But this also means she gets "mum time" too.
That is one of my main compromises too, Jill. They do go to separate training classes (run by the same trainer though). Charlie goes on Wednesday nights and Topsy on Friday mornings. It all helps I guess.
By the way, Jill, I think border collies and labs make a good combination. Charlie is friendly with my neighbour's border collie, who is the same age he is. She wears him out though, trying to "herd" him and any other dogs we meet in the fields.
I hear they are nearly impossible to tire out though, once full grown and in their prime. Having said that, though, I am beginning to realise that much the same could be said of cocker spaniels. Topsy keeps going and going, often even when you know she must be tired. She would go all day and then some more, only flaking out late in the evening. She makes Charlie when he was a puppy look sedate and passive, and he wasn't really.
Helen.
Last edited by Topseyt on Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
It can be difficult. And i don't think people fully understand until they get a 2nd dog.
Because Megan is only 14 weeks old, she's still in that "I have to do what mum tells me" phase... So i'm really not holding my breath when the whole teenage hormones kick in! lol.. I can certainly forsee problems with her leash training! She's always overly eager to get in the field or to the beach, or park, or wherever we are heading at walkies time.. But at 14 weeks old and weighing only 12lb's, there is no chance of being able to correct her yet! - And she takes no interest in food while outside on the lead, so it does make it really quite difficult... So thats something i'm sure i'll be tackling during the summer holidays... Ooh what joy! lol
he wears him out though, trying to "herd" him and any other dogs we meet in the fields.
lol! Megan does this with Leo... She lies down in the long grass in the field... She then stalks him, slowly creeping closer and closer... She will then bolt up to him ciecling round him, yapping and trying to nip his heels as if he were a sheep! LOL... It's quite funny to watch... Especially when you see Leo's expression! He looks at Megan as if to say "What the hell are you doing you little weirdo! "
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I hear they are nearly impossible to tire out though, once full grown and in their prime.
14 weeks and already she refuses to ever be tired!! lol!
I remember saying a while back.... If megan missed one of her walks, i swear her head would start spinning round like something from the exorcist!..lol. She's deffo one that NEEDS walks, no matter what the weather etc! If she doesn't get out, she just goes absolutely loopy inside the house! I'm doing my best not to over-do the exercising, but its terribly hard with a border collie! I can't even begin to imagine how she's going to be as an adult.! lol... I'm guessing she's going to need AT LEAST a few hours a day tho!! Plus, i plan to cycle with her when she's over a year, which should help. I think BC's need these type of activities more than most dogs Although I think when she's older and able to 'properly' play with Leo, it will be easier, as they will sort of wear each other out
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She makes Charlie when he was a puppy look sedate and passive, and he wasn't really.
lol! I completely know the feeling! Having Megan makes Leo look like a lazy arse when he was a puppy aswell! Although, like Charlie, he wasn't of course! Leo was just as bonkers as most puppies are... But megan is on a whole other level! lol... She's bonkers times a billion!
My neighbour, who would walk all day given the chance, did a nine mile hike with his BC about a year ago, and she was still as lively as ever after it. He even had a hard time keeping her quiet even when she was ill recently. You certainly couldn't define them as lapdogs.
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Kids want all the cuteness of dogs with none of the work, but it does them no harm to learn that animal ownership comes with a good level of responsibility too, eh. 
lol!
Topsy keeps going and going, often even when you know she must be tired. She would go all day and then some more, only flaking out late in the evening. 
