Hello,
I've been out of touch for awhile - the Holidays were crazy and we bought a Chimney Sweep business in December, so, needless to say, things are just settling down a little.
Colt is now 7 months old and doing great. We finished Puppy Training Classes and plan to move into intermediate in the spring. Here are a couple of pictures -
(Our thanks to SummerRiot for all the help with the ear tipping. I think they look great and we get a lot of compliments!!)
Colt has learned many things using both verbal and sign language - sit, down, roll over, paw, stay (not for long), release, come (sometimes) and he is COMPLETELY house trained (his best and most easily learned accomplishment). We still have trouble with greetings and jumping. He still gets REALLY wound up sometimes but usually if we are calm, he is. Oh, he also goes into his crate in his own although sometimes he needs coaxing but we never have to PUT him in. As promised from so many of you - all the worrisome puppy behaviors have just about vanished - so hang in there new puppy owners - it really does get better!!!
Colt is still quite small for a Collie - I don't know why as Mom and Dad were average size. He is very healthy though and we have him on Canidae so I do not think it is a nutrition issue. I do wish he would get bigger though....His hair is growing and I think it is clear he is a rough collie.
Colt has one issue that I still need help with - CHEWING!!
He will chew if left alone, and it is usually something valuable - like my Pottery Barn Rug or the molding on the wall. He does this even if I go upstairs for something and leave him down and don't crate him. I still have to crate him if I leave the area for a short amount of time. We ALWAYS crate him when we leave the house (for our sake and his). I realize that this is normal but I would like some suggestions on BONES for him. He doesn't really like toys for anxiety chewing (only for play). He needs a BONE and a BIG one as he is a GREAT chewer!! He can chew up a Ziggy or a Greenie before I even walk away!! He likes rawhide but I have been told to stay away from it as it is very unhealthy and dangerous. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery would be welcomed......
THANKS!!
I've been out of touch for awhile - the Holidays were crazy and we bought a Chimney Sweep business in December, so, needless to say, things are just settling down a little.
Colt is now 7 months old and doing great. We finished Puppy Training Classes and plan to move into intermediate in the spring. Here are a couple of pictures -
(Our thanks to SummerRiot for all the help with the ear tipping. I think they look great and we get a lot of compliments!!)
Colt has learned many things using both verbal and sign language - sit, down, roll over, paw, stay (not for long), release, come (sometimes) and he is COMPLETELY house trained (his best and most easily learned accomplishment). We still have trouble with greetings and jumping. He still gets REALLY wound up sometimes but usually if we are calm, he is. Oh, he also goes into his crate in his own although sometimes he needs coaxing but we never have to PUT him in. As promised from so many of you - all the worrisome puppy behaviors have just about vanished - so hang in there new puppy owners - it really does get better!!!
Colt is still quite small for a Collie - I don't know why as Mom and Dad were average size. He is very healthy though and we have him on Canidae so I do not think it is a nutrition issue. I do wish he would get bigger though....His hair is growing and I think it is clear he is a rough collie.
Colt has one issue that I still need help with - CHEWING!!
He will chew if left alone, and it is usually something valuable - like my Pottery Barn Rug or the molding on the wall. He does this even if I go upstairs for something and leave him down and don't crate him. I still have to crate him if I leave the area for a short amount of time. We ALWAYS crate him when we leave the house (for our sake and his). I realize that this is normal but I would like some suggestions on BONES for him. He doesn't really like toys for anxiety chewing (only for play). He needs a BONE and a BIG one as he is a GREAT chewer!! He can chew up a Ziggy or a Greenie before I even walk away!! He likes rawhide but I have been told to stay away from it as it is very unhealthy and dangerous. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery would be welcomed......
THANKS!!