Alouk

I should add that she cares for him! we were walking in the bush one day when my mum came and collected him in the car so Stella and I could go for a fast run and she turned the other way and followed the car instead! It took a long time to convince her it was ok for us to go the other way!

Hi everyone, I have a 3 and a half year old border collie called Stella who has always loved children. If you had a group of 100 people and one child she would find the child in a second and want to lick them all over! She's been fine with them patting her, the only time I ever saw her become stressed was when a young girl- maybe 5 yrs old-kept chasing her (I put a stop to it don't worry!)- her reaction was to hide. I also have an 8 month old baby boy. She was very shy when he arrived home in April and has always been more stand-offish with him than any child- it is strange but I have thought it is probably because she hasn't been sure about the hierarchy with him around? Now he is getting curious and he wants to pat her if she is close (he isn't mobile yet but is getting there) but she does not want him to touch her. Today Stella put herself in between me and the baby to have a snuggle with me- he reached out and touched her side/back and she whipped around and snapped/growled! (no contact with him) Not really what I had hoped for in their relationship! I growled at her (how I do when I communicate something is not good to her) and she dropped to the ground in submission. She would look at me but kept her eyes away from the baby and kept her body turned away. I'm just wondering about what my best approach is from now on.... do I keep reacting in this way (baby can't really tell her off!) or do I do some reward training (but my baby will put the treats in his mouth rather than to her so...:) ) or?? I am not pressuring Stella at all to spend time with him or to be close to him. She has her own beds and kennel that I keep as her spaces and don't sit on them or anything. I don't leave them alone together. Your opinions are appreciated! Thank you!!

Thanks Piper- I've thought about it and have realised that she only comes to us in extreme cases (like after 'swim stalking' a seagull) and usually we call her over and make her come for a rest every few minutes. We'll stay aware of the rests while she builds more stamina Thanks!

I just remembered- when Stella was 15 weeks old, we went to a rally with 3000 people at it and it seemed like every person wanted to pat her, it took hours to go from one side of the crowd to another!!

Before I got Stella I started reading around and all the advice was so overwhelming and scary that I got nervous that I wouldn't raise her properly and I would be a terrible 'parent'! I remember being so nervous about it before picking her up! Then I realised a lot had to be off my gut feeling, I chilled out and used a bit of info from everywhere but stopped stressing out about following everything to a tee The socialisation thing though- I thought Stella had met people of all different types, my age, elderly, children but the other day some kids came around who were really high energy, they really wanted to talk to Stella and play with her and she freaked out! She has always loved kids, they are her favourite. I even started to think these kids had hit her or something from the way she acted with them- she kept hiding and lying low with her ears flat and frozen. Then I thought about all the kids she has spent time with- none of them had ever wanted to talk to her as much as these ones did! She was used to kids her were kind of shy around dogs and had never heard such excitement and high pitched squeal-y voices coming towards her. So it is something to think about a little bit, if you know loud/quiet, gentle/rough people- try and get a bit of everything!

Thanks so much- that's what I have been thinking- glad it is true! I can't believe how much she swims which is great as I am a water baby too- we were meant to be!!! Thanks again

Hi everyone, As summer warms up my 10month old Border Collie and I have been swimming at the beach heaps! She will swim for as long as I do, completely out of her depth, diving over and under waves as she goes! She swims to us for a rest sometimes, but never goes in to shore if we are out swimming- what a loyal soul! As I've been wondering about it I have kept my swims short. I wonder if at 10 months I can stop worrying about limiting her exercise or if I should be calling a stop to it as I have been?! Could I do long term damage or will the gentle movement of swimming just be helping to strengthen her joints? Thanks so much in advance!! Alouk :D

Thank you! This one is 90cm and just feels so much better! I think she is going to stay on the smaller side so it should last her too!

I returned it, luckily, and got a bigger one after she didn't want to go in last night! Thanks for your help though!

Hi all! I could keep searching but it is hard to find just what you want on here! I found a nice soft crate on sale (we all love a bargain) to use for my BCollie (7 months), and I bought it but now I have my doubts about its size... It is 76cm x 60cm x 58cm. At the moment she is 70cm from nose to tail base and 60cm when sitting from head to floor. She's a little girl really. Her old crate was 1m long though and the same otherwise, but it was cumbersome (an old play pen) and I wanted something more portable. I'm worried she'll be cramped even though she loved it last night and didn't want to get up this morning! What do you think? Should I try and exchange it? (or sell it on if it is not possible!) Have you noticed your dogs like lots of space in their crate or the comforts of a cosy home? Thanks! Alouk

Hi again! I agree that I shouldn't have picked up my pup but it was my first reaction! I immediately wondered what message I was putting across- to her and the other dog, not one of strong leadership but we all make mistakes- I'll act differently next time I hope! I have been in to the council and put in the complaint, they were really helpful which was nice, I hope it gets followed up on Thanks!

Funny- I don't know why I didn't think of the council! I will talk to them today. I tell you what- I nearly kicked it! I yelled 'Go away' and felt really pathetic I'll tell them because I want to walk that way more often but don't want to deal with it again. Thanks a lot- for the moral support!

Arrgghhh!! I have to say something to someone! I was walking around my neighbourhood with my 5 month old Border C this evening and she was walking so well! But then this awful racket started up and this tiny tiny little Chihuahua (I think, from what I saw) came charging out from the darkness and went straight for her feet- out of instinct I picked up Stella and this dog jumped up on me to try and get to her! It kept jumping and even bit me- I have a purple raised bruise on my leg! Then it charged after us up the road. I felt so harassed and annoyed with the whole situation...but what do I do? I'm not sure which house it came from which is a shame... Needed to tell someone as I am home alone!

I was advised similarly at my dog club about soft treats being more effective in training and I tell you what, with my girl it has been shown to be true! She couldn't have cared less about dry treats, it made me wonder how I would train her if she didn't care about food, but now she has changed her tune! She likes her kibble but it just didn't cut it to train her with, no matter how hungry she was! Thats why I just use steamed chicken, then I know it is just chicken and not tons of salt, flavours and preservatives. Especially as she will eat a lot in a training session! Then it complements her meal really. Cheese she also goes nuts for but I limit it as I am sure it leads to many an odd smell in our house! And it is fatty (but I get low fat). I have so many forms of chicken in my house- no one would believe I am a vegetarian!

I bought a whole lot of chicken breasts and steamed them in the oven in foil, then cut it all up and froze it, my girl eats it frozen and when it is soft- she goes a bit nuts over it!