New Puppy!....

[LifeofRubie]

Well, not for us A rant:

My SILs kids (5 and 7) have worn her and her husband down. They are getting a dog. They know NOTHING about dogs other than what they've encountered with our dogs in our house and while hiking together. My SIL has been asking a lot of behavaioral questions lately when we're together: is that good, is that bad, what does that mean, why do you do this, why does the dog to this, etc.

Called my husband the other night with 1000 questions. They started searching by wanting an older, housebroken dog, good with kids, all the training done, smaller, short hair, non pit-type. Basically a Unicorn. Had no idea how to find a reputable rescue, etc. How much do they cost? What happens when they get sick? Can we watch it when they travel for two weeks? Can he (my husband) come over to the house everyday to train the dog (it's a 40 minute drive one way)?

Found out last weekend they were taking their kids to a farm in WI to look at.... BORDER COLLIE PUPPIES FROM A SHEEP FARMER.

I've kept my mouth shut as she hasn't asked me for any feedback directly. Well, she finally did the other day. A list of what you need when you bring a puppy home.

Eventually we got around to the fact that I have the time, interest, and some dog sport experience under my belt and I STILL wouldn't get a border collie. She said it was "too late now, the deed is done." I told her it actually wasn't too late because the puppy comes home in 2-3 weeks. But remember, they took a 5 and 7 year old to meet a puppy so to avoid tears, it's too late.

They are not active people. They do not know anything about dogs. So, like, will a few walks a day be enough?

I mean... I guess we'll see!!! At least he'll have some kids to herd!

 

[Kaiser2016]

I also wanted to hit funny but I’m already thinking of the poor dogs future which will not be funny if they can’t keep up. BC are the smartest dog if I recall, with Dobermans being rated at a 5 on intelligence lists. If my little 5 devil drives me crazy, I don’t even want to know what a 1 would do!

What happened to short hair and small? Actually, they pretty much got the opposite of their original list! Do they realize that

And why are they fixated on your hb doing the training? I always got the impression you were in charge of all that?

 

[LifeofRubie]

I also wanted to hit funny but I’m already thinking of the poor dogs future which will not be funny if they can’t keep up. BC are the smartest dog if I recall, with Dobermans being rated at a 5 on intelligence lists. If my little 5 devil drives me crazy, I don’t even want to know what a 1 would do!

Wicked Smart and energetic. I asked if the place they're getting it from would take a puppy back, worse case scenario, and she said yes... but who knows if she actually asked that. I've come across my fair share of BCs at agility trials and classes and I understand those dogs may have been specifically bred for agility and work but these are puppies from a sheep farm, as far as I know, which means the parents work.

I

What happened to short hair and small? Actually, they pretty much got the opposite of their original list! Do they realize that

I worry they fell prey to "we need a dog, ANY DOG, right now, this second, immediately." But... I know.... I originally said, Get a lab from Moo's breeder! But breeder dogs are "too expensive" and they don't "want a lab yuck."

And why are they fixated on your hb doing the training? I always got the impression you were in charge of all that?

This, perhaps, frustrates me the most. I have researched, purchased, trained, competed with, titled, groomed, food shopped, etc., for both of my dogs from day 1. Anything I do with the dogs is with my husbands blessing as long as he doesn't have to attend which is fine by me! (He is a proponent for and attended basic obedience-type classes with both dogs but anything above and beyond has been at my whim!) She didn't ask me anything about anything. Until she needed a list of what you need when you bring a puppy home. My dogs are not perfect (well.... Moose might be...) but they are gosh darn good dogs who are healthy and well behaved in most situations. *toot toot* I guess

 

[Ravenbird]

Kind of at a loss for words, but we see this all the time, don't we? Sorry it happened so close to you and I hope you don't end up having to train or coach or babysit it/them the next 10 years. What were they thinking?!? The one good thing is that this age of kids has tons and tons of energy and might be able to keep the puppy busy, but training? The bad thing about this is kids tend to lose interest if it turns into work or doing puppy things when they'd rather watch cartoons or something. Seems I recall you said they loved your dogs, so maybe they'll stick with the puppy thing. I agree with you though, I would never ever recommend a BC to first time dog owners.

 

[JanS]

Oh wow, nothing like picking a breed that's for really experienced dog handlers who will give them a job. I have a feeling they're going to have a really frustrated and destructive pup with no leadership at all, if they don't wind up re-homing it sooner than later. And why would they expect someone to drive that far to do the work they need to take responsibility for when they commit to a pup? Ugh...

 

[Ingrid H]

That's terrible and a recipe for disaster. Border Collie? That's a big nope for about 98% of America.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Well sounds like I'm not crazy for thinking they're crazy! Fingers crossed but seems like they're jumping into the deep end of the pool having never seen water....

 

[obbanner]

I've trialed and titled in Herding, AKC and AHBA. Border collies are the one breed my wife has forbidden me to get.

They're smart and very active with a strong eye. I hope they end up with a laid back puppy with little herding instinct.

I'm very surprised the breeder would sell one to a first time dog owner. Doesn't say much about the breeder. It may not have working bloodlines.

 

[Gelcoater]

Better send them a link to that slat mill build! Lol.

 

[jazzies mum]

If they teach their pup to chase and fetch a ball, and are prepared to spend most of the day chucking the ball, they might just survive! Otherwise there will be no end of self entertainment going on for sure! Probably involving digging, running laps, chewing up the plants and destroying any washing left within reach! Oh dear, you can just about see how this is going to work out, unless they happen to get really lucky with a laid back puppy.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Well I my SIL and her family came over yesterday for some Pizza on the Patio and I showed her older daughter how to pick up (she said "That's WAY GROSSER than I thought it would be!" ) and showed her how to use a clicker and had her pretend Moose was a new puppy and was learning 'sit.' She understood the concept of the clicker timing being more important than the treating which was good!

 

[MyBuddy]

(she said "That's WAY GROSSER than I thought it would be!" )

LMAO Did she really think it wouldn't be? ?

 

[LifeofRubie]

LMAO Did she really think it wouldn't be? ?

It was actually pretty cute. Moose pottied and I teased her and said, Do you want to practice for your new puppy?

And no hesitation she said, I will IF you have a glove!

So I showed her how to use the doggy bag like a glove and carefully turn it inside out and tie it off and then put it in the doggie bag trash can.

And then I told her that each dog goes 2-3 times a day and she did the math and went, That's a LOT of poop!

 

[Doberman Gang]

Well, not for us A rant:

My SILs kids (5 and 7) have worn her and her husband down. They are getting a dog. They know NOTHING about dogs other than what they've encountered with our dogs in our house and while hiking together. My SIL has been asking a lot of behavaioral questions lately when we're together: is that good, is that bad, what does that mean, why do you do this, why does the dog to this, etc.

Called my husband the other night with 1000 questions. They started searching by wanting an older, housebroken dog, good with kids, all the training done, smaller, short hair, non pit-type. Basically a Unicorn. Had no idea how to find a reputable rescue, etc. How much do they cost? What happens when they get sick? Can we watch it when they travel for two weeks? Can he (my husband) come over to the house everyday to train the dog (it's a 40 minute drive one way)?

Found out last weekend they were taking their kids to a farm in WI to look at.... BORDER COLLIE PUPPIES FROM A SHEEP FARMER.

I've kept my mouth shut as she hasn't asked me for any feedback directly. Well, she finally did the other day. A list of what you need when you bring a puppy home.

Eventually we got around to the fact that I have the time, interest, and some dog sport experience under my belt and I STILL wouldn't get a border collie. She said it was "too late now, the deed is done." I told her it actually wasn't too late because the puppy comes home in 2-3 weeks. But remember, they took a 5 and 7 year old to meet a puppy so to avoid tears, it's too late.

They are not active people. They do not know anything about dogs. So, like, will a few walks a day be enough?

I mean... I guess we'll see!!! At least he'll have some kids to herd!

Could be worse, they could have bought a working line Malinois puppy.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Could be worse, they could have bought a working line Malinois puppy.
View attachment 108756

I think I'd have already washed my hands of the situation

 

[luckybeemer]

As I was reading this post, I couldn't help but think, "well at least it wasn't a malinois pup"

 

[LifeofRubie]

We got to meet the new puppy this weekend!

They... Have their hands full. He was stupid cute and very puppy-ish. The older daughter has been really hands on with helping with the puppy but their younger daughter doesn't like him because he nips. If he comes up to her, she starts screaming and jumping which of course means LETS PLAY to a puppy! And then he jumps, and she gets more upset.

They are using kibble throughout the day to work on basic stuff. My SIL was like He already knows "sit!" as she stands over him and yells "SIT" 5 times.

I'm like, he knows how to sit but he doesn't know what "Sit" means so I wouldn't even use the word at this time. Just reward the behavior and add the word later. She tried it a few times and HEY! he still sat without being told a word he didn't know!

It's frustrating because puppy will be doing puppy stuff stuff and someone will just start saying MAGNUS SIT MAGNUS SIT MAGNUS SIT and he doesn't even know they're talking to him.

They are making a very strong effort though and it seems like whomever they're talking to (my SIL has an expert friend for everything) is giving them good advice. I think their execution is a bit rough.

She was going on about how her Expert Friends dog can be left alone in a room with a treat and not eat it until she comes back says he can. I'm all "Moose can do that!" Put Moose in a sit, threw a bunch treats to the side, walked away, called him to me, and he ran right by them and sat in front of me. Then I told him OK and he helped himself to the ground treats. They were impressed

The girls have been really, REALLY good about respecting our dogs space but I can tell that will slip now that they have their own puppy. The older daughter was already being more lax around Moose which I'm less worried about but Rubie wouldn't be a fan of it. She and I had a chat about how she still needs to give all other dogs space even though she has her own puppy now. She still needs to treat Moose and Rubie the same as always and not chase or hug them and we never go up to strange dogs unless we're told it's ok. We'll see.

Now for the pictures!

 

[Kaiser2016]

Everyone is keen in the early days especially when you know you have a smart breed and you think the dog should learn everything within a few days

Glad to hear they did find a trainer instead of thinking they could use you two. Hopefully they will keep up with him, but also have simple play time with him. He sure is adorable with those blue eyes too!

 

[AnnV]

OMG what a cute puppy!
Border Collie was on my husband's wishlist, but I thought I woudnt be able to keep up with one haha, (I'm the one who does 100% of all the work) How we decided on Doberman would be for another thread hoho.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Everyone is keen in the early days especially when you know you have a smart breed and you think the dog should learn everything within a few days

Glad to hear they did find a trainer instead of thinking they could use you two. Hopefully they will keep up with him, but also have simple play time with him. He sure is adorable with those blue eyes too!

Welllllllll I wouldn't say a "trainer" so much as a friend with dogs, perhaps? Like she had a million questions yesterday about how Moose and Magnus were interacting (which they were both totally fine) and how do you do this and what does that mean but not a text or call or inquiry unless we're physically together.

I asked my husband what key points about me does she use when she's talking to someone: oh, my SIL has dogs that do agility so she's one of those weird dog people but her one dog is kind of an ass so I'm not sure about her training methods but she said to do X Y and Z so we're trying that!