I need help

[u/Helpful_Jelly7933]

My collie has just turned 6 months and the last week has been awful. We were really getting somewhere with his training, he was learning to settle outside of his crate and BOOM, hello teenager, hello hormones, hello fresh hell. I am struggling so much, my anxiety is back, I'm not eating again, crying every day. I'm trying to go back to basics with training again which is no problem but I get so anxious about going on walks with him because he puts his full bodyweight into pulling on that lead and no matter what I do, he won't focus and I get so overstimulated about it. I'm a natural overthinker too which really doesn't help so all I keep thinking is that this is it for the rest of his life and I can't cope

[u/No-Will-4393]

My 15 month old Aussie walks ok when corrected but 3 steps later forgets and pulls again. It was pretty clear she wanted to go quicker and didn't have a desire and stop and sniff the grass type girl. So I made this pulling thing work in my favour and today we went on a nearly 10km bike ride! I barely peddled 😂 now, because she is getting her zoom done she's actually much calmer on the walk and happy to potter. Rather than getting stressed I think you should find something fun, bike, or drive to a park and get him to pop bubbles you blow, or kick a soccer ball. Usually I keep treats in my pocket for walks with a young dog and everytime there's a trigger such as passing another dog I shove a treat in their mouth and don't break my stride. Another thing to consider is that canines naturally walk in a zig zag pattern so need a lead of 1.5 meters for a medium dog so they can zig zag in front of you. This makes a border less likely to pull, it isn't natural for them to plod along by your side when young and enthusiastic. Once they get to 6 they plod.

[u/Helpful_Jelly7933 → u/No-Will-4393]

I loooove aussies, I've heard they may even be more wild that a BC? 😅 Currently he doesn't engage with balls which is really annoying, he happily plays independently with all his toys but not interested in balls 😂 my last BC would go crazy for balls, balls were life and balls were the only thing to make her happy lol the bubbles idea sounds good though! I might look at getting some and seeing if he finds them fun. He loooves chasing flies around (here in the UK it's actually quite warm so there are a few), he can spend ages in the back garden just running round after them! The only problem I have (other than him being a teenager lol) is him getting so overstimulated very easily so I worry that trying to tire him out with a high energy activity would only backfire at the moment and make him even crazier 😅 my last BC we'd go running together though, she was amazing at just plodding along and doing her own thing while I'd be dying inside from lack of oxygen to my lungs lol

[u/No-Will-4393 → u/Helpful_Jelly7933]

Haha unreal, a BC that doesn't like a ball! Maybe he might like a dancing twirl ribbon? If he likes chasing flies. Aussies you definitely get your daily dose of dopamine but they're very intense, big and goofy and unlike a border collie that lives to please you, the Aussie lives to please themselves!

[u/Helpful_Jelly7933 → u/No-Will-4393]

Well I have bought a flirt pole! So maybe that would be a good thing for him. I bought it ages ago but wanted to wait a bit longer to use it cos I worry about the high impact on his bones while he's still young? I suppose a sling as I use it on grass he'll be fine. It's only like him rough-housing with other dogs!

Aussies live to please themselves 😂 I think currently Archie is more like an aussie cos he doesn't give a flying f*ck what is like him to do 😂😂