Exercising a Collie X brain - ideas/suggestions please

[Michelle73]

We've got a gorgeous Collie x Kelpie - I stupidly thought, intelligent dog, will learn quickly and be easy to train! I thought I can cope with the exercise because I'm used to wearing out a Dalmatian!!!

Well, Jack, our dear boy has played fetch until he's limping!!! He now insists that he wants to play fetch but we explained to him that the vet has said lead walking only for two weeks!!! Jack is most put out about this and has insisted on more mental stimulation! So I have been practicing various obedience commands from our training classes and last night he was so excited that he knew what I was asking for (sit, down, sit, stand (stand needs more work)). We practice something different for 10 mins or so then change the command to something else such as down, stay with me walking around him etc. I also throw in a little rough and tumble with him in between to break it up. OH plays hide and seek with Jack's toys which Jack likes.

But I'm at a loss as to what else we can do that is "Play" but will stimulate Jack's mind and keep him happy at the same time. He does seem to "switch off" regularly and once he's switched off we have problems getting him "switched on" again.

Over to all you Collie x and Collie owners for your ideas and suggestions please?

Also, how do I stop him rounding up my poor horse? He runs circles around her! When I shout down or leave, sometimes he obeys sometimes he doesn't. I have had to just make a grab for him and pull him away from her. She's not too fussed but I'm afraid that she will end up kicking him!

Jack is approx 11 months old and we've had him 1 month so far. Am I just expecting miracles/too much too soon???? LOL!!!!

 

[MarleyandDarcy]

Hi

Have you tried clicker training?

I always use this when we have injured dogs that can't do as much but need to give them something to keep them happy

Once they understand the clicker, I "free shape" with them, once they display a behaviour you like, or one you can see you could progress then 'click and treat'. Mine have learnt to roll, beg, put things in a box, take out of a box, stand on a box, move round a box, nose onto a target, hand targets, I also want to teach them to put back legs onto a box and lift individual legs.

Mine generally hate dog biscuits but will do anything to get one when the clicker is about! Or use a higher value treat (chicken/cheese) to get them really interested at first.

Introduce it with commands he already knows ie "sit" click treat so he understands the use of the clicker, then see what he will offer

One of mine took a while to offer anything, he would just sit and look beautiful but he eventually cottoned on!

The colliexkelpie learnt one thing that got the click and then wouldn't do anything but that for a while!!
She has just been spayed and had rear dew claws off so all she will be able to do is little things for her clicker for a while as her agility training is a no go for a fair few weeks

Another thing to amuse them is fill a kong with food, you can also fill it with stuff and freeze it, lasts ages then.
A good way to feed dinner when they don't have much to do to occupy them

 

[Michelle73]

Thank you for those great suggestions.

I should have added, he's not interest in food whatsoever!!! Its taken us as long as we've had him to get him to eat his dinner!!! And we've been trying to get weight on him too!!

No interest in anything except his toys and we tried using what we thought was a favourite toy as a training tool but the novelty has worn off it!!! At the obedience classes we go to they use treats/praise/toys as a reward - we can't keep Jack focussed on anything!!! He tends to be better for me than anyone else and I think thats because I use so many different types of voice on him!!!! And because of the way that I praise him, no matter what he's done he gets kisses and cuddles when its right, OH just pats/strokes him and says good boy!!!

Out in the garden he currently has around 10 soft toys, a chewy stick, an old dog bed that was given to us that he drags round the garden and chews, a gym ball thats bigger than him to round up and nudge around the garden, a punctured jolly ball, balls on ropes, sausages on ropes and he likes tipping his water bowl up and rolling that around the garden!!! Luckily - he hasn't tried that one in the house yet!!!

 

[mtj]

take a look at "dog tricks for dummies".

this is going to sound very sad, but one of their suggestions is hide and seek. all our dogs have loved it

, especially our late GSD who would have a buck and a wiggle if you jumped out and yelled bo at the right moment.

both of my dogs (GSDx + aussie) have been accustomed to horses by first being introduced to them in the company of a horse proof dog. in our case a border collie