Louis' dad

Hi I'm the one Pointees mentioned with the BC. Louis. He is 14 months old and loves playing with other dogs. We're looking forward to it! Food. Antipasto plate or similar?

Hi there, What's best to use on my Border Collie? His top coat is easy to comb/brush, but his undercoat takes some doing. It pulls quite a bit especially round his rear end. I've seen rakes - are these any good? Any suggestions welcome!

Ha ha, just seen this, I thought I was the only one! I got a sunshirt for Louis and put a pocket in it with a velcro fastener, then, having downloaded easytracker, I put the iphone in the pocket and sent him on his way. Bit of a dilemma though whether I left the ringer on. I turned it off then thought if he lost it there was no way of getting it back, but leaving the ringer on might have spooked him if someone rang while he was on his travels. Being a BC, he would probably know how to answer it! I left it turned off, and after several romps through the bush the phone is intact and it is very interesting to see where he has been.

Thanks again for the replies. He has puppy school tonight, so will mention it to the teacher! K9pro, sorry this was off the development calendar, regarding the 2nd fear period. Nekhbet, thanks for that, will get in touch.

Thanks for the replies. I wouldn't want to consider not taking him out, there are other walks I can take him on, and will try the short distance getting closer that Cosmolo suggests. I also do the confident walk and encourage him, but he won't have any of it. I won't pick him up and cuddle him and take him past as this I believe will reinforce his fear. Nekhbet, I am in Gisborne.

Hi there, my BC puppy, Louis is 15 weeks old and up til now has been doing well on his lead. He's not too keen on bikes whizzing past and gets a bit skittish, but otherwise was OK on his walks. Unfortunately a dog jumping up behind a fence scared the cr*p out of him the other day, and now he gets spooked very easily. I realise he is well in his first fear period, and don't know what I should do. I have taken him back to the scene of the event but he hates it, and is only focused on getting away - he won't take a treat from me, and hangs back on his lead approaching and pulls away when we've passed. He is obviously very distressed. I see three options. Keep taking him there in the hope he gets over it; don't take him there at all (it's a good walk for him - off road and grassy); don't take him out at all, as per K9pro's advice. He is quite well socialised, having been out in town with me since about 9 weeks, and is halfway through puppy school. My main fear that as he gets older I will not be able to trust him not to bolt if he is off his lead, except in very controlled areas, which for an energetic dog is not good at all. My previous BC was excellent off lead, nothing bothered him, and I would happily let him walk off lead along country roads.