bret

i have a lot of questions, i am trying only to ask the ones i really can't find in the forum, we ahve a couch for the pupps outside, which they are not quite able to jump up on yet, but the outdoor setting double couch is like an inch smaller and they can jump on that. how can we show them that the blue couch is theirs and good to sit on , and the outdoor couch is bad and they can't jump on that. bret

just wondering, i used to have a jack russel X chiwawa (no i can't spell) x something else, and she became a real sook, when you went near her she instantly flipped on her back for a belly rub, maiya, my now 9 week old border collie, is starting to do the same thing, and i don't want this to happen. not that i mind giving her a belly rub, because hey doesn't everyone like a belly rub now and then? but i don't want her to instantly go on her back when anyone approaches. also, i know previously i asked if sleeping so much was a problem, i am just wondering, i spend as much time as i can with maiya, but she seems to be getting a little distant. sometimes she comes on first command, other times she just wants to ignore me. maybe its just the age of her and she is still adjusting to life. further to another post i had put up, we are trying to separate the sisters as much as possible, is 10-15 minutes with me playing and learning, 3 times a day minimun, enough time apart from her sister? or does she need more thanks bret

i hope that my questions are not too many and too simple to answer, i have had dogs before, but never 2 at a time ie: sisters, i have had amother and a daughter, so that is different. my question is, given that they are still sleeping a lot, and i play with them as much as posisble, i also know that they need to be separated for periods of time, for training and bonding. they sleep together so basically their days are spent together, we are starting puppy pre school on monday, 1 day a week, and i have asked my flatmate to spend more time with his pup so they can bond, but as a moderate guess what amount of the day should they be separated and spend time with the owners so that they can know who we are and we are their pack leaders so to speak. my pup is responding well to simple training stuff like when i stop at the kerb of a street, she tries to go but gets jerked when the leash stops, usually she will turn around look at me and then just sit down, without me sayin anything. i was looking at spending 3 10 minute sessions a day on my own with maiya (my pup). any guidelines i should be using? thanks heaps bret

thank you all so much, that is awesome many thanks bret

just one more small thing on food, we went and purchased some chicken mince today, and some potates and carrots, what are good veggies for them to have with their raw meat? is any cooked meat good for them? ie: can we cook the chicken mince into patties and stuff? thanks bret

I would love to put them up. they are below. I forgot one other question about chew toys. at the moment we have 2 nylabones which they don't seem interested in at all, a selection of rawhide sticks, which they do like. are the rubber kongs and stuff ok? i read in a book that the rubber is dangerous if bitten off and chewed. we also have a fur hide which they both love to play with, and of course like the old mastercard priceless adds, the toys the ropes and everything don't compare to the fallen branch from a tree in the back yard, which we can run around the yard for at least 20 minutes and they just get puffed, they definately don't get sick of it, so i guess what are the recommendations for the best chew toys for the pups, we have also got them pigs ears, which maiya for the first time growled at me while she was chewing and i patted her, but she got used to it again, with kangaroo tails and obviously doggy biscuits. well here are the pics, maiya and makybe

hi all just joined this forum as well as another, to get more updated information real time from dog lovers/owers/breeders. we (my flatmate and I) have 2 6 week old border collies, and yes i have found out recently that this was a little too early to receive them, so just have to bare with it. I am assuming thought that given their early age is why some of our problems are arrising. we ahve only had them 3days now, but i want to get as much knowledge as posible while we train raise them. now. given that they are only 6 weeks old, they sleep a lot. is that OK. ie: they will play for mabye an hour possibly 2, then sleep for 2 to 3. this happens most of the day, we tire them out a lot though with our chasing games which although boring to us after 30 laps of the backyard still seem unbelievably fun to them. we are feeding them 3 times a day. the breeder told my parents they were feeding them pal puppy food, i have never had good experiences with canned food, so i have changed it to weat bix (1) with solid puppy food, raw meat and just started on chicken necks. will be also making veggies and other raw meats part of the diet, but back to the questions, how much sleep is too much at the moment? or is it fine that they get worn out then sleep and start all over again. q2) how aggressive is too aggressive? their playing yeilded maiya (my pup) to have a sore paw for about 20 minutes, she walked it off but she was yelping everytime she put weight on it, then didnt' want to go near her sister. not to say that she isn't to blame as she also runs from the other side of the yard and takes her sister out rugby style, but just want to work out how much is too much, and is a stern no? and a loud noise ie: clap of hte hands which immediately stops them enough to reduce this? q3) am i on the right trak with food mentioned above? maiya and makaibe Bret