Collie with OCD

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littlen

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Does anyone else have one??

I have never had a collie before but I am suprised at how focused he is on everything...ball ball ball...light light light...bone bone bone...ball BALL BALL...

It is never ending, poor old GSD cant keep up ;)
On the plus point, he has been incredibly easy to train so far, despite barking at strangers and men (rescue dog)

Has anyone any tips on keeping his brain entertained for more than a few minutes?
Are there any toys that wont be eaten within 5 minutes?
 
I think a lot of collies are like this, they are designed to be working for a good part of the day and soon become bored if their brain is not well stimulated. I would get him enrolled in a training class and if he is old enough once you have the basics of obedience you could consider agility. In the meantime how about teaching some tricks with clicker training, he will thrive on using his brain.:)
If he is making your GSD run round a lot more than he used to I would just be a bit careful, I know you have said he was struggling with this arthritis a bit and this might make him worse. Also, I have found that some older dogs can get a bit fed up of collies obsessive behaviour, so I would make sure the GSD has space where he can get away from the collie, and just have a bit of time with you.
Actually, have I missed something, I didn't realise you had got a collie, is he a very new arrival?
 
Last edited:
MurphysMinder said:
I think a lot of collies are like this, they are designed to be working for a good part of the day and soon become bored if their brain is not well stimulated. I would get him enrolled in a training class and if he is old enough once you have the basics of obedience you could consider agility. In the meantime how about teaching some tricks with clicker training, he will thrive on using his brain.:)
If he is making your GSD run round a lot more than he used to I would just be a bit careful, I know you have said he was struggling with this arthritis a bit and this might make him worse. Also, I have found that some older dogs can get a bit fed up of collies obsessive behaviour, so I would make sure the GSD has space where he can get away from the collie, and just have a bit of time with you.
Actually, have I missed something, I didn't realise you had got a collie, is he a very new arrival?
Click to expand...


Oh sorry didnt realise I hadnt updated! Yes I ended up getting him from an RSPCA inspector I work with, signed over due to abusive husband I think. You can tell as he cowers if he thinks he may get wrong and is very wary of strange men at first (loves OH now!!) Originally I said I would foster him for a month or two to bring him out of his shell as the inspector feared he would become one of those unrehomable dogs in kennels as he needs stimulation, but I cant give him up now! He is most likley a collie GSD cross as larger than your average collie and has a very shepherd type face although breeding is unknown!
My older boy swung it when I caught them asleep on the same bed though!!

He is about 10 months to a year old so plenty of time for training,he has been trained at some point though as he is very good and knows the basics, sit, paw, recall is okay but not perfect! He will eat anything he gets his paws on though. He is also very good at the farm and plays with everyone and everything, unfazed by horses or the farm dogs.

GSD was x rayed last week and has spondulosis and the start of CDRM :( but he does tolerate the pup and they get on really well. I take pup to work so GSD gets a break 9-5 while we are working (ha!) from the endless toys and playing. Old man is very good at telling pup enough is enough though and it only takes a grumble for pup to get the hint!!


lexiedhb that video is great!!
 
I would also say this is just typical collie :-)

Mine is the same (he's 4!) - obsessed with his ball, obsessed with our neighbours cat, obsessed with the tv, obsessed with running water - in fact anything that grabs his attention!! He gets 2hrs exercise a day - without that he'd be a nightmare.

We have started to teach him directions with his ball (my dad has gundogs so picked some tips up from him) and we do hidden retrieves etc. On the plus side his obsessiveness actually means its fairly easy to keep him entertained - if you want quiet time, put the tv on, he'll happily watch whatever's on :-)
 
Yes, Collies are a bit OCD, but in a good way, I have 4, my oldest (13 years)boy knows over 60 commands, they love to learn new things. My youngest is 13 months old and has just started agility, she is absolutely loving it, her mother, my 5 year old competes at agility and flyball, she's also a PAT dog and does therapy visits. My other girl still enjoys allsorts agility at nearly 10 years old. I just lost my nearly 16 year old at Easter and he still enjoyed playing ball until the day he died.
 
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