BC Crazy

G'Day I would be most grateful if you could please give me a link or contact for buying flirt poles Thanks so much !!!! Hi CC, am on hols atm sorry for slack response back. I got my flirt poles from K9 Pro. Both mine loved them & it really gets them focused :).

Great photo. Beach runs are a big fav here too. Lovely dog :)

Hugs to you sheridan. So very sorry for your loss. RIP Grumpy

Both our boys's are BIG sooky la la's stans mum ... giggle :) Trust our girls to be the bravehearts & soldier on regardless. Little miss tuffies LOL. I had a rescue BC boy before Sonny for almost 15 years & he was as stoic as they come. He had been horrendously abused & almost starved to death before he came home to me. He was such a brave boy till it came to a bindi patch. He would just freeze if he got one in his foot. He'd drop to the ground, roll onto his back with all four legs in the air so I could pick them out. Just hilarious he was. Wouldn't matter if he felt one in the middle of the road over he'd go LOL without fail. Academy winning performance really :)

Not liking the sound of this at all. Not brave enough today to open the link. People allowing their children to use their "pet" dogs as jumping castles.. Dear o dear, why !!! And what happens if the long suffering dog oneday has enough of this abuse & retaliates. "Bad dog" better get rid of him. He's no good that dog.... The poor dog is always the one who suffers at the hands of stupid, careless & irresponsible owners

Both my BC's are Bindi wimps here too. My boy is much worse than my girl. Sonny is straight away on three legs, won't move an inch with a very sad face, "help me mum" LOL. At least Stella will soldier on with a sad face.

Hi Tara, doesn't sound good, poor Abbey She is having a time of it lately. Sounds like another Vets visit might be in order IMHO. Sorry. Hope she is ok?

I am a bit the same with the structured stuff esky the husky. I find botg mine do better with incidental, random training but that is maybe because that is what I prefer :) must try & change that slightly.....

I haven't heard of Michael Ellis. I am liking the sound of he explains very well. I have always been a slow learner, that' music to my ears. Will definately be looking at his website :)

Very interesting post Vickie. Gave me lots to think about. Especially like the idea of setting up distractions instead of more or less stumbling upon them. Want to try & incorporate that if I can :) thanks for sharing.

Mine are always together, even get walked together. They get along famously well. They play lots but Sonny is the boss. Which suprises me but it works out well. He is not challanged by Stella. I feel guilty if I walk one without the other, thats why I just walk them together. When Stella is having a moment Sonny doesn't seem to worry about it. Apart from the look on his at times when she is really going "off" it's like, 'eye's roll. Here we go again. LOL I feel the same as you megan. I have 2 well behaved dogs although one does have her share of issues but she isn't a naughty girl. Sonny is a confident,friendly & all round lovely dog. Natures gentlemen.

I must admit I didn't see the clip right to the end but it is funny I didn't notice the writing on the top as folks are saying I must have been to busy watching the lovely Lab. I did think the child was trying to get up & away from the dog at one stage. Funny how sometimes we all see things differently isn't it? The Lab was just a lovely dog.

bianca, Poor Molly girl It is so upsetting to watch them in that hightened, anxious state..... would probably make best pals, birders of a feather... So that also means you must be as tired as I am most days :laugh: Does Molly wear you out? Because I am exhausted most days after trying to make Stella's life as comfortable as it can be. She decided it might be a great idea to wake up at 4.20am this morning Nature was calling, so that's all good but then how about we have a game of chasey Sonny, you chase me first ok..... :laugh: She was rearing to go. I'm like, back to bed the pair of you. Honestly! Then 5.50am she starts making a hell of a commotion in her crate. She could hear birds outside.So I had to let her out before she hurt herself & I just thought I may as well start my day. So could go & lay down now after a 7 k walk/train/swim. Maybe I spoke too soon about the up dose of meds working. She must have heard me I think Out of interest has Molly always been reactive/stressed since a puppy bianca? Megan, thanks for your kind thoughts. And yes I do feel very guilty that Stella does seem to take the spotlight a lot of the time. Sonny is just a very easy dog, in general, very lay back boy. Couldn't be any more opposites my 2 in personality. So Stella ends up getting more attention most of the time. Although I must say Sonny & I have our special time after brekkie everyday to have a cuddle & catch up.. I have always done that since getting Stella for that very reason. I didn't want him to ever feel left out. I always feed him first, put his lead on first etc etc as well. I really hope he doesn't feel left out at all, but I still feel guilty.

Yes I think it is way to hot for them in Summer. Those utes with the galvanised trays would be like standing on hot coals & they are very slippery too. No shade for them either Crate in by far the safest option. To get from A to B. You couldn't leave them out in the elements for any length of time though IMHO.

How very touching. Just beautiful.... My eye's are leaking as well.

I have just brought Flirt Poles for my 2 from Santa. Hope they love them. They should as they both love tugs. Sonny loves scent work the most though. He loves playing "find it" doesn't matter where we are either. He's just completely focuses & is on a mission until whatever I have hidden is found. It's all about finding what makes them tick.

Hi PME, Agree with megan 100% & very well said. There is no one thing but lots of different things that lead to really firm grounding for a strong relationship & IMHO that is key to getting them to focus on you. You do all of the above & you end up being "IT" the best thing on the planet . And their heart as well. Play in so underestimated I reckon. Especially Tugs or fetch or something like that where the dog has to focus & you are the one controlling the game. When I play with my 2, they are completely 100% focused on me. I started this from a young age & now when we are out walking I seem to be able to just have their focus so easily, on or off lead. Also I make sure I am slightly unpredictable, so it keeps their attention, change things up on a daily basis. It keeps them thinking, Better watch mum don't know what she will do next. While out walking I might suddenly turn around or something. They have even turned that into a game now & turn around & bark at me without me asking. The TOT, look at me was another thing I introduced using food. Works wonders, especially with Stella. I just say"look" & she spins around so fast & totally focuses on me. You spend lots of time with Hamish & that is another point that can be over looked but so very important. I spend hours with mine everyday & I am sure it pays off long term. Good luck Pretty miss Emma. Hope I was of some help. Sorry for the lengthy post. I 'm sure you will get people with far more experience than me that will have tonnes of other ideas no doubt :)

Hi disintegratus, your Thundercleese sounds just like Stella alright. Glad you can relate. I too ring OH is we walk & she does 'good' :laugh: Or I also ring , usually with my eye's leaking if she has had 'issues' :laugh: Ohhhh the things these pooches put us through.... Panzer, Thats so good lil Poots was great with the children. It can all be a bit over whelming, kids, noise etc etc when they aren't used to it. Well done Lil Poots You did mum proud :)

Looks like a wonderful spot to live Huga... Beautiful pics once again, love them

Hi Hankdog, thank you for your compassion regarding Stella. I know I'm not the only one who has a reactive dog & is at their wits end but you just feel so alone & helpless in this situation at times. When you are doing everything you can to help them & you love them so much it just rips you in two to see them so agitated & stressed. Stella can be near exhaustion & still run helter skelter in a blind haze whining in our back yard over what appears to a neighbour that has sat down on their rear deck or their is a bird in our tree or just anything. I have tried to put her in her crate at times & also inside the house but she tried to run through our glass sliding door, head butting it, almost breaking her neck. Crating her I have the same worry, self harm..... Some good news though since I have increased her meds there is some markable improvement. She is resting under her favourite tree ATM after a 2 hour beach swim & play. She slept right through the night last night, first time in ages. While she still flips out she calms back down quicker I know it is very early days but you grab onto any glimmer of improvement in this situation, don't you. Stella is the sweetest, dearest, most loving girl & she tries so dam hard to be good & do what it asked of her & in all other aspects she is almost perfect in all honesty... Reactivity with her I believe is something that is almost out of her control. It is like a compulsion. Dam frustrating for me, so can't imagine what it must be like for my girl

Great idea Mystiqview. Many thanks for that :)

I rarely recommend BC's either. I have lots of folks approach me from time to time admirining my dogs & saying how well behaved they are, blah blah. They really WANT one. Thats when I seaze the moment & explain some of what I think they need to have a happy, healthy life. Most of the time they look at me in amazement LOL. And usually we end up talking about another non working type breed as in most cases they just don't know but love the "look" of them.

Just a quick question MRB, do you know what the name of the purple spray is & where I could buy some online. It is just so handy to have in the first aid box. Thanks. Used it lots when I had horses. Do you think I can remember the name of it. Must be getting old LOL.

Stan ate every cherry tomato in my vegie patch the first year I got him and he was fine. There were random tomato plants popping up all over the back yard, just mowed over them though...I know where they'd been. :laugh: ahh Stan Stan is a funny fella , Stan's the man LOL Yes Stanley the nutter strikes again. It's been suggested by friends that I write a book called "The Adventures Of Stan" :laugh: I know it's totally off topic, but I just LOVE that he's called Stan! Every time I read it I get this image of him in my head grinning. I feel like I know him! Aww, stan Same... I love the name. Makes me smile too :)

Yes, I agree with huski & MUP on this one. I adore Border Collies. Can't see myself owning any other breed until I'm physically unable to. They are just awesome. But , do I think they are for everyone. NO WAY ! They need a certain type of owner who is prepared to put in time & dedication IMHO. All too often they fall into the wrong hands. Not saying that this is the case here but in general.