benandchance Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Hi, I'm new and I have two border collies. I have a 5 year old male called Chance and a 7 month old Puppy called Ben. Recently Ben has been stealing food off the kitchen counters when we are not looking or at night and this morining he grabbed a pillow off the sofa and shredded it up (feathers EVERYWHERE!!) He also steals pencil cases, bags, shoes etc and eats them, he only eats them at night though. We ahve tried various chews and bones to try and amuse hima nd he has a whole box of toys but he still prefers our stuff I was reading the kennel club website and they said at this age puppies hit puberty, is this what is happening with Ben? thanks for reading this, beth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat W. Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 I would strongly urge using a crate at night. I have a 5 mo old pup that I crate every night with no problem, he will not get run of the house at night until about 1 yr of age. Crates are wonderful things and can be a pups best friend, Whim loves his crate and will pop inside for a nap or to chew a bone. This sounds like a bored puppy although you say he has toys and chews how much exercise/people interaction does he get? My 5mo old gets about an hour a day running and playing plus about 1/2 hour of training, ie sits, downs, stays, and foundation training for agility. He can be a devil and for a time was very interested in my shoes but after some VERY firm correction has been leaving them alone. I would also consider offering a stuffed Kong or two so he's not looking for his own entertainment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolkat01 Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Heya and welcome to the board. I'd say I'm kinda new myself. It seems we both have a Border Collie with the same name, Chance. How cute is that? I agree with Pat about the use of a crate, it does help greatly and would stop that trouble you can't watch during the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benandchance Posted April 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 We have tried crates before but he howls his head off until we let him out is this normal and will he settle down after a while. Sorry, I am having a blonde day today He gets a one hour walk in the morning, half an hour at lunch and two hours in the evening, and spends all day running about like a headless chicken I would like to give them more at lunch but i only have a limeted amount of time on my lunch break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth G Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 He just needs to be crate trained. Start by putting him in there with the door open but with some very nice presents. A kong stuffed with some goodies. Or a nice dog appropriate bone that he cannot splinter. Then move on to putting him in there and shutting the door for a couple seconds and then letting him out(with tons of praise for being quiet)before he can howl. He will like all that wonderful praise! Then start putting him in the crate for longer and longer periods of time. Make it a very inviting place for him to go and never use it for punishment. And pretty soon he won't mind it at all. i had to go through this with two howlers myself...lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benandchance Posted April 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Thanks we will give it a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaisingRiver Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Crate training is your saviour! It's tough love, but your dog will aclimate. Also use a word (kennel, crate, bed, etc) when you put him in it. Then after he's gotten used to it, you can just give the command and he'll go in of his own accord. If he howls and such, you can put him a room or some other part of the house where it's harder to hear him. In the morning when you let him out sneak up on him so he can't hear you or wait around the corner so you let him out while he's taking a break from howling/crying. "Good quiet" and then open crate door. Never want to reward (let out) for making noise. My BC as an 8wk old puppy cried for 2 weeks on and off while crated. She now (18mos) will go in on command without issue - and it's not something she does everyday anymore, ie. not routine. Have a thick skin!!! I promise, it's SOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it to have a dog that is crate trained even if you don't plan to use it that often - it's a really helpful thing to have your dog be able to do it when you really need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelb'smum Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 VERY VERY WORTH IT to crate train, my 8 month old pup LOVES her crate now, and WOW she woul throw a fit when I put her in there. you have to bear through the pain of hearing you little one cry and not give in, I can give the "bed" command now and she RUNS to it with her tail wagging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileyzookie Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 I agree with all the above in regards to crate training. Not only for your sanity, but for the dogs health. It helps keep dogs out of things that could hurt him, cause blockages ect. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo Peep Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Crate training is the best thing in the world. Works well for potty training and time outs. My dogs past and now one present will go in them. They think of them as their "dens". Others laugh at me because they say kennel up or crate and I say "get in your box" LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clara Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 I emphatically agree with what everybody else is saying about crate training! Because I had always adopted mellow adult dogs before I got Ling, and when the wailing and freaking out happened when I put her in a crate, I was WEAK, WEAK, WEAK, and gave up. I did restrict her to a room with old furniture that I didn't care if she destroyed, but I ended up having to patch a LOT of drywall when she decided her adolescent hobby would be chewing holes in the wall. She IS crate trained now, now that she is very calm and would never eat drywall. And it's handy even with an adult dog, and I so wish I'd stuck with it when she was young and saved ourselves a lot of frustration! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 We have tried crates before but he howls his head off until we let him out My sympathies! This is not easy but you have already taught him that, if he howls, he will get what he wants (out). We have to be smarter and more determined with our dogs because every experience is a learning experience for them, for better or worse. And some are just wired to be more inquisitive, more focussed, more rambunctious, etc., and therefore are much more challenging to us as owners. Make sure your pup has something to do with you when he's out of the crate, things that exercise his body and his mind. A pup that is physically tired and (maybe more importantly) mentally tired is a good pup! Crate train! Take it in steps as suggested (which I think is the best method) which results in the crate being a positive thing for the pup. If you have to tough it out and go cold turkey, it can be done but you may find it more stressful on you, the family, and the pup. When the pup has been tired a bit, potty him, and then put him in the crate with something appealing - a good bone or chewie, or whatever, and be willing (and strong) to ignore the fussing. He will soon learn to settle down because howling, etc., won't get him out. He can only come out if and when he is being quiet. My dogs also all eat their meals in their crates, along with getting particularly good treats in there (dog biscuits or bones!), as well as time when no one is home with them or nap time when I need some uninterrupted time to work. he has a whole box of toys but he still prefers our stuff That's because YOU are interested in your stuff. Nobody wants something that nobody else wants, and that goes largely for puppies, too. As for countertops, shoes, toys, etc. - DO NOT leave things where he can get them. Every time he's gotten on the countertop, he's been rewarded by finding something yummy. Remove the reward (it will help you keep the kitchen clean and neat, too - an added benefit). Put up toys, clothes, cushions, pillows, shoes, etc. If he can't get to them, he can't chew them. Interact with him with the things he can chew on - make them appealing by behaving as if they are interesting and appealing to you! A puppy can be a great incentive to clean house! If he chews on the furniture legs and such, you can try spraying them with bitter apple or another deterrent but I think the best thing is to make sure that, unless he is under your supervision (in the same room with you or someone who will keep an eye/ear on him), he should be in his crate for quiet time with a good chewie or a nap. If you see him ready to chew on something he shouldn't, tell him "leave it" or "uh-uh", and offer him something that he can chew on. Just saying "no" without providing a suitable alternative won't have much lasting impact. Other threads have given suggestions for teaching "leave it". I believe it should be taught as young as possible, and taught it to my one youngster at seven weeks of age. Drop a bit of food on the floor and, when the pup approaches to get it, cover it with your foot and say "leave it". When the pup quits looking at your shoe that's covering the treat and looks at you, reward with a praising voice (a "bridge" word like "yes!" or "good!") and an even better treat (so that "leave it" becomes a good thing in his mind, as something better is the reward). Instead of a basket of all his toys, rotate the toys. Like humans (and human children), dogs get tired of the same old thing. Only allow access to a few toys of varying types at a time. Next day, or next week, or whenever you need to, remove the now-boring toys from the basket, put them up, and give some that he hasn't had access to recently. They will be like new toys to him and will be much more interesting to him. Border Collie puppies can run the gamut from the easiest dog you've ever had to the toughest - but the difference between the extremes is largely due to the owner being just a bit smarter and more determined than the pup; being fair, firm, and kind; and learning and using good techniques to manage and train the pup to be a polite and happy member of the household. Best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benandchance Posted April 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 Thankyou everyone for your advice, i'm sure it will come in handy I have been teaching him a few commands tonight to wear him out and he has been on his 2 hour walk so is tiring a bit. luckily the only furniture related thing he chewed was a cushion and that was this morning he knows leave it and he understands that. if only food could say the words "leave it" when a dog went up to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donna frankland (uk) Posted April 5, 2007 Report Share Posted April 5, 2007 hello cavysrock oh er i mean beth!! small world innit? (its colliewoman from ru by the way!) i am very pleased to see you here hun, you will get the most awesome advice here about all things bc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benandchance Posted April 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2007 hello cavysrock oh er i mean beth!!small world innit? (its colliewoman from ru by the way!) i am very pleased to see you here hun, you will get the most awesome advice here about all things bc! hi tis a small world i ahve already got pleanty of wonderful advice off here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth G Posted April 7, 2007 Report Share Posted April 7, 2007 Last night Pepper got her head stuck in one of the leg's of my son's small folding chair(all the legs are attached to each other, in the shape of V's) trying to get her ball out from under it. Now that I know she is ok, it's kind of funny.... But anyhow, after I held the poor frantic pup, and my husband freed her, she ran straight to her crate! She was so upset she sought it out! I remember, how at first she hated her crate. Now it is her sanctuary! A place where she goes when she needs peace and quiet or when she is scared(like when I vaccuum or when bad chairs attack her). So you see once they are acclimated to their crates, they do learn to like and even enjoy them. Pepper is actually quite possesive of her crate towards Poppy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo Peep Posted April 8, 2007 Report Share Posted April 8, 2007 have you tried putting the crate near your bed, then after a few minutes of puppy whine- tap on the top of the crate- giving the "this isn't acceptable"rule? Then after a few more whines tap again.. it's kind of like "Nanny 911" LOL. Use his name " Doggie- no whine" tap on the crate and try & fall asleep. It's a ritual. If they are far away, it's easy. But up close pets unlike having 6-7 ones in kennels are different. I had 6 eventually in outside kennels except my precious Miss Lacey, but they all knew house rules. You know it sure is easier to train 2 dogs than 1 and 3 dogs than 2 and etc..... so get yourself a bundle once you have the first one in control. BC hugs- Dianne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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