Hi Everyone,
Im new to this forum and hoping to get advice on a problem I'm having with my 2 year old Kelpie. Just to give you the background she was a pound dog I got her when she was about 1 year old. We bonded instantly and she never left my side, I instantly had an amazing companion and as she never caused any trouble at all so I will admit I didn't really put any time into training her as i never felt i had to. Well over the last couple of months the more timid girl we got from the pound who didn't have a lot of confidence is now oozing confidence and is definitely not as loyal as she once was! We live on a huge acreage and it is impossible to fence her in. Until a few months ago she would never leave our property even if home alone. Now, whether we are home or not if she decides she is bored she takes it upon herself to visit our neighbours. Whilst the neighbours all thought it adorable at first she has now become a pest and we cannot let it continue. My problem is that in trying to rectify this i seem to have lost her confidence in me and she seems very wary of me at times. I had been chaining her up when we go out to make sure she couldnt run off which works fine, but trying to control her when we are home is causing me grief. If i keep her chained up or on a lead even when we are home (except for walks, play etc) how does she ever learn to do the right thing? I have tried giving her time off the lead on walks as a reward but then she looks so miserable when i put her back on and often runs away from me. Its breaking my heart! Welcome any ideas....
