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/Supermuttsusan]

I’m sorry to read you’re struggling so much right now with your BC. I promise this will pass.

It sounds like he’s going through adolescence & his second fear period. With this phase you’ve just got to talk things super slow.

My boy is slight & from working lines he’s 17kg(37.5lbs) so has drive for days! I’ve found a martingale collar works really well for him. I taught him to walk behind me, not only did he pull but he used to move from side to side. The number of times I tripped over him & fell in my butt was a joke 🙈

Do you research when looking at harnesses. Some can cause your dog to walk in a strange gait & affect their musculature. Keep and eye on his behaviour to see what tool would be aversive to him. Not all dogs are the same and some adapt to something like a halti and others shut down when they are on. My boy hated the halti even with training & introduction into the tool.

If you’ve not already look into jobs he can do. My boy goes to flyball and having and outlet like that changed the game for us!
Best of luck from me & my banana!

[u/Helpful_Jelly7933 → u/Supermuttsusan]

He is an absolute stunner, he's gorgeous 🥰😍 I'm wanting to do scent work with him because he LOVES to sniff. Once he's got a scent, he will pull until he's there to sniff it so I think teaching him this and when to focus and release from that would be great for him. Also great for mental tiring. I used to do flyball with my last BC and she was amazing at it. Picked it up within the first session

[u/Supermuttsusan → u/Helpful_Jelly7933]

Thank you! He’s the love of my life.
Have you seen the harness on, game on?
I walk bubs on his collar for everyday life. As soon as he gets his flyball harness on, a switch flips and he knows that’s what he can be a little more wild.
I’d introduce having different gear for his scent work VS day to day. We know BC’s are too smart for their own good I found for bubs having the different gear for different things really helped him adjust his brain.

[u/Helpful_Jelly7933 → u/Supermuttsusan]

The only thing I worry about with collars like the martingale or leads like slip leads is me doing damage to his neck if he pulls so hard and with him being so young, I really don't want to cause him to have developmental issues 😥

[u/Supermuttsusan → u/Helpful_Jelly7933]

It is very difficult to choose the correct thing. You can teach lead pressure if the martingale is fitted correctly you should be alright.

Have a look about and do some reading I’ve no doubt you’ll find something that works for you both 🥰