Ree Luvs BORDERS!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm definately going to get one ! Sorry its taken a little to reply I havn't been on much in the last few days. I've started just clicking my fingures and giving a real good pat and I think he's actually starting to pick up on it so thats really encouraging The thing I'm finding good about it is its instant... whereas if he's doing something good by the time I react and get down to give him a good pat of encouragement he's doing the wrong thing Nope I think I'm convinced.

Hi all, been running into sites promoting Clicker Training and posed the question to our breed site and a few recommended it and suggested looking here further. I have gone through pages and pages and did find a couple that were clicker related. I think I would like to give this a go. however from reading there seemed to be different types of clickers and different sound frequencies. What type should I get? I just dont want to get the wrong one thats all. My boy seems to get too over excited whenever I praise him for what response I want.. doesnt seem to matter what pitch I use lol. "Good Boy" nice and calm has almost the same effect as "Good Boy" all excited. ie: heeling... when he's in line with me I say good boy and he starts going faster in front of me .... I was thinking with a clicker... you could just mark the behavour... hopefully not changing the pace??? How have other people found it? Thanks in advance, Ree.

Mine does the same thing. Although I'm not too worried. If I have him in a stay and at the end give him the signal to come.. he comes running and sits directly in front of me. Its only when running backwards and him coming after me that he goes off to the side. Trainers seem to think that he doesnt come when he's called and is going to take off from me lol (which is not the case he comes every time he's called)... just for some reason which I cant seem to correct wont run directly in front of me.... I dont treat as he doesnt like any of them lol... so its just lots of praise and pats for us. Dunno???

In terms of how long they can hold on, es they should be able to hold on all nigt but as he is used to being outside doing what he wants he may go during the night. You might find you want to offer him an out middle of the night and gradually move the time you ive him a wee break towards the time you would normally get up, if that makes sense? Piper used to be a shocker when we went away for going to the toilet, she would hold on for about the first 24 hours before she would go!! So in theory holding overnight should be no problem. Jazz probably only needed a middle of the night wee break for about the first week, then just the occasional night she would be unsettled. OUrs all slep inside and we still have nights where at 2am someone wants to go out for a few minutes (though sometimes I am sure that is cat over the fence related!) ohhh you have cat problems tooo... :rolleyes: sounds good... as soon as a crate arrives we'll give it a try... just so long as he doesnt start cocking his leg to pee out the sides of the crate :rolleyes:

LOL, I have way more crates than I do dogs. To save on cost in the short term you could use the show trolley as a crate. The airline crate for Levi will be fine for a couple of weeks as you don't want them to have too much space to begin with anyway, then use the show trololey with him if you haven't manaed to get another crate. It is very expensive to start with. Getting Jazz cost me a fortune - gazebo, show trolley, grooming supplies. Luckily I already had the crates. Just be aware with Bailey as he is 2 and never been crated it may take him some time to be comfortable with the idea, having said that my boys were much older when I introduced them to crates and they loved them right away. Thanks Jazz... yeah I'm going to get a Crate and start getting him used to it. I think he should be ok... just put a few pillows in and I think he'll be happy just to be inside lol. Do you know with the older dogs whether they can last the whole night or should I get up through the night and take him out for a toilet stop?

:D I know... I've just bought a show trolly... buying an airline crate... and well we need a crate for inside (x 2) I think Levi can just have his airline for a few weeks before I buy a big one for him.... there is so much to outlay doing show stuff! Thats four Good thing is he's off to a good start already, breeder is crate training too.

Lol.. thanks GSDog & LuvsDogs. I eventually found the posts about crate Training. Just going to buy one and hopefully start Bailey so he is used to it and it wont be such a biggy with Levi. Thanks again xoxo

Thanks for your reply gsdog2, I was beginning to wonder whether I was really off track that nobody wanted to talk to me :D Have you done this with all of your pups? I'm trying to twist my hubbies arm into letting him stay with us during the night for at least a few weeks. Did keeping the pup in the bedroom with you and leaving the others in the garrage put your other dogs nose out of joint? I'm worried that if I start bringing the pup in at night then Bailey (my existing dog) is going to really get jealous that he isn't inside beside our bed too.

Hi all, I've just bought this gorgeous lil Border Pup and just wanting peoples help before he comes home. I've grown up in an Outside only policy when it comes to dogs, so have never had any experience with Toilet Training or crating whatsoever! The only toilet training I've done is teach my dog where I want him to poop so I dont have to go searching for it Any pups my family has ever had have just lived outside with the other dogs and have kennels to go into if they so wish. Hubby wont have a bar of pup being in the bedroom but said that if I want him inside at night, I can keep him in the laundry over night. Too me that would be worse if he was by himself, rather than being outside with my other dog. So I want to bring them both inside over night. Q. Do they go to the toilet alot during the night and should I get up every few hours to let them outside for a toilet stop? Q. Should they both have their own crate or would they prefer one big one to sleep together? Q. How should I start toilet training a 2 yr old and a pup? Thanks. Ree

Hi Heidii, I have a long haired Border Collie and he has been my first as all my others have just been the farm bred short hair borders, so grooming I soon found out was completely different!! I have tried lots of brushes and detanglers etc... but I have found the best thing (and they dont sell them everywhere) is a JW rake thing... it has blade like things which cut out the matts. I brush Bailey every day/ 2nd day and I have absolutely no probs now! I go through with the rake brush and then go over with a needle like brush... he loves it and I love it... makes everything so much easier for both of us... no more him yelping trying to get the matts out and no more sissors getting out what I cant... he has a gorgeous matt free coat and it takes out all the dead hair! (I know I havn't explained it right... but if you want a pic, just let me know and I'll send it through... I got it from the vet, pet shops here dont sell it... not sure about where you are though) dont know if this helps... good luck! Sheree.

Hi Kristin, Seems like a comon "problem" lol... is such a laugh!! My BC did the same thing as a pup, so we got a big bucket and he went in and out of that and left the drinking water alone... once he grew out of that (which wasn't long at all) we ended up getting a second hand bath tub and setting it up in the back yard (just set it so it was off the ground and stablised it with some logs Rob had)... it was great he jumped in and out and splashed water everywhere!!! It also ended up being good for cleaning as well as it has the plug hole... so just let out the plug and clean as you would your normal bath tub! The novelty wore off after a while... he likes the real fair dinkim stuff now.... creeks and beaches!!! I love looking back of the videos of Bailey as a pup splashing and yapping that gorgeous puppy yap... priceless... Have fun! Sheree