Dog # 2 driving me nuts

[Tab]

Most of my dogs (we have 5) are rescues; most are purebreds - just the way it turned out. One of my dogs is part Border Collie, part schizophrenic. He, actually, was not a rescue. He's just frickin' nuts.

We cannot so much as empty the silverware from the dishwasher with this dog - the reflections and high frequency noises drive him nuts. I really should record it, except that I want to forget it. And forget any kind of card game. We haven't played cards for a good 5 years now.

Another is a hound mix - I won't even get into that.

It's getting to where the Shepherd / Rottweiler mix is actually the most normal dog we have.

(sigh)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. What does the dog do when you play cards?

You should try to channel the BC mix's OCDness into a productive activity. My male Border Collie goes NUTS if he can't herd sheep once a week. They're dogs that need jobs.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Discipline, Exercise and Affection. I LOVE the Dog Whisperer.

He also says that high energy dogs need a job to do...a tired dog is a good dog.

[InvisibleTouch]

3. Border Collies tend to be great agility dogs.

If you can't provide him with sheep to herd or something of that nature, you might try training with him for agility. That might be just the outlet for his energies that he needs, and might be a lot of fun for both of you.

I did a little bit of agility with one of my dogs back when I had a nearby club. She was great at jumping over things, climbing, balancing ... but hated to go through tunnels. Each dog has their own preference and their areas that need more work and patience.

[glinda]

4. Do you have MY dogs??????

I have five rescues also. Our Rottie-Australian Shep mix is a sweetheart also. Our Border CollieX is a terror and sometimes totally out of control but here is what I discovered:

GIVE THEM JOBS TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They want to work and are super smart. Train him to get your slippers, get your grocery bags, take your laundry that you have dropped on the floor and bring it to you, bring you his dog dish, walk on a raised wood plank, bring in your mail with you by mouth and on and on.

There is no end to their ability to work. Ours has the most horrid sharp bark and this is perhaps the worst thing about him but he taught us that he was smart by training himself and now we are trying to figure out more things for him to do.