Serious help needed

    • Bronze

    Serious help needed

    Hello
     
    I have a kelpie x boarder collie dog which is a girl and will be one year old next month. This dog is very hyperactive, digs up EVERYTHING, constantly barking, constantly jumping up at people, hunting birds constantly, and just wont sit still if she is in the house (she has to sniff everything and if anyone even moves the tiniest bit she will have to go check it out). What can I do? We took her to the vet and asked about this and they told us that she has ADD and needs to be on Prozac as a last resort but we just don#%92t have the money for it.
     
    They also said that she needs to be walked twice per day but no one in my house has any time to walk her even once for half an hour. I have till next month to sort her out other wise my mother will be selling her and I really don#%92t want that. If you can help me at all it would be very very very much appreciated.
     
    P.S
    I#%92ve tried so many things with her but I just don#%92t know what to do anymore…
    • Gold Top Dog
    To me, this sounds like a combination of two factors - lack of training and lack of exercise.
     
    Border collies and collie crosses, in general, have LOTS of energy - they are some of the most energetic dogs you can find.  I do not wish to be offensive, but if no one in your house has the time to give your dog the exercise she needs, it is perhaps better for her to go to another home.  A tired dog is a happy dog, and she is probably being hyperactive and distructive because she is not getting any opportunities to let off her energy in a productive manner. 
     
    I am surprised a vet recommended prozac for this situation.  I am not a vet but IMHO this dog does not need drugs, she needs exercise.  Does your vet know she is only getting 1/2 hour of exercise at most every day?  Hunting birds and sniffing everything are examples of dog behaviour - dogs "see" with their noses, and if you don't want her going after birds you need to train her to come when you call her - no matter WHAT the distraction.
     
    Here on dog.com under the breed description for border collie it says "may become hyperactive if not exercised daily" - this is going to be true of most collie crosses as well.   I am sorry to be hurtful but it may be in your dog's best interest to go to a home that has the time to wear her out.  If you can't bear the idea of letting her go, FIND THE TIME to exercise her.  She needs room to run and play for at least an hour - at least TWICE a day.   Watch less TV, wake up earlier and go to bed later - do whatever you have to do to make the time to take her somewhere she can run - and make the time to train her so that she will obey your commands when you take her out.
     
    Finally, here is a quote from border collie rescue as to why many collies and collie crosses wind up in shelters:
     
    "By far the largest percentage of dogs are turned in because they are "hyper" and far too difficult to handle. Most people are either not willing, prepared, or able to put in the large time commitment it takes to adequately exercise a Border Collie. Border Collies have been bred to herd sheep and that requires a lot of physical stamina and endurance. Herding sheep is an all-day activity and often entails miles of endless running and sprinting across uneven patches of farmland. Obviously, not everyone has the luxury (or burden) of owning sheep, so another outlet must be found for this energy."

    I hope this helps you make the right decision.
     
    Kate
    • Gold Top Dog
    So let me get this straight.  You have an 11 month old BC cross that has lots of energy that never gets used up and you wonder why she is hyperactive?  There is nothing wrong with your dog at all.  She is pup that needs exercise.  No dog is going to sit still and do nothing when they don't get any exercise.  If no one in the family has time to walk her, you have no business owning a dog.  Make time for her.  She needs it or you will have a problem dog on your hands for the rest of her life, or until your mom decides to give her up, in which case she is likely to be put down because not alot of people are willing to take on problem dogs.  And that is what you are creating.  If you are serious about helping her, then you need to take her out a few times a day everyday for a longer period of time than half an hour and really tire her out.  If you do this, things will start to fix themselves.  Then you need to work on obedience with her.  Put her in a puppy class.  This will teach you just as much as it will teach her.  
    • Gold Top Dog
    Have tried to post here TWICE now to no avail so hopefully THIS one will work.
     
    Ladies you are right, but lets please be right more gently.  I think this is a kid or young person who is having to deal with parents who don't want to spend money for training.
     
    BC's are extremely active dogs and two 30 minute walks a day just aren't gonna be enough.  If the family can't commit to meeting the needs of this gal, then they NEED to rehome her with someone who can.  It's just not fair to expect this pup to "fit in" in a busy household where no one has the time to take proper care of her needs.
     
    I agree, she is not ADD, does not need meds.  She is a normal BC mix pup.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Glend you are right.  I'm sorry I did not mean to sound harsh.  Its just that I cant imagine making my dogs sit around all day long.  I own huskies and the number one reason people give them up is the same reason as why people give up BC's.  Bowing out now.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Glenda, you're right, I didn't mean to sound harsh - I just reread my post and think I did a little.
     
    Rank_1 - I'm sorry if I came across a little strongly - I may have misjudged your age from you saying that you had a month to sort her out.  I don't know how old you are, or if sorting her out in a month is even within your power.
     
    I do, however, stick with what I originally said.  Your dog needs much more exercise.  I am sure you love her and want her to be a happy, well-adjusted dog, and that will only happen if she is somewhere she is allowed to me more active.  If you can make that happen in your house, that would be a wonderful thing.
     
    Kate
    • Gold Top Dog
    Ladies, please don't bow out.  Your advice can be very valuable to the OP.  All I wanted to do was point out that this does SEEM to be a young person who has to follow other peoples rules.  If this were an adult, everything that's been said would be right on...and the suggestions are...let's just temper them a tiny bit.
     
    And thank you both for recognizing that I wasn't jumping on anyone with what I said.
    • Silver
    I agree! if the dog isn't have'n the required excersise, may be you should think hard about rehoming the dog...
       You might love her, but she needs something that you can't give her 'regular walks'  which is vitall...
      Its always hard to make a choice like this, but you are in the end doing the dog a favour, if someone is prepared to take her on and give the walks she needs, all will be good...
       Sometimes you have to be cruel to yourself to be kind to the dog... (but i think she will be pleased with you, for making that decision)
      Hope this helps, Lance..
    • Bronze
    I understand where you are coming from all of you but I am 17 years old so don't try and be all nice with me I can take it. I'm currently doing my most important semester in my TEE courses and dont even have time to sit here posting. I will try walking her an hour twice a day at the park and I'll keep you all posted with my progress. Thanks for the help. It's not like I know everything there is to know about dogs you know. It IS my first dog which has been very difficult.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Rank_1 I think you have a great attitude (take the criticism like a champ, it's all with good intention).  You have a tough breed for a first time dog owner, but you have taken the right first steps here.  Start getting more educated. 

    I am going to be honest with you....2 hours walking will help some, but with a border cross you aren't even going to make a dent in his energy needs.  This dog needs some mental stimulation.  Basic obedience training for one hour a day will help.  I would walk for an hour in the morning and train for an hour at night.

    If you email your email addressee I will send you a generic 40 day training guide.  Follow it daily and you will see a dramatic improvement in your dogs behavior. 

    I wish you luck.
    • Gold Top Dog
    If you can enroll in dog obedience then maybe you coud get into some dog agility to help burn off energy.  What about doggie day care?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Rank_1, I was thinking that now that summer is here, you might have a little more time for dog walking/training. If not, do you have a friend who might walk your dog for you in exchange for some favor from you?

    Joyce
    • Silver
    I have to agree with what everyone has said.
     
    Yes you have a working dog which needs lots of exercise. Walking every morning 2.5 klms only takes about 30 min at a good pace. Then of an afternoon another walk, playing ball with him something to make him tired. He is digging holes because he is bored, give him something to keep him occupied during the day ie: a kong with dog treats a big bone. Yes a tired dog is a happy dog.
     
    I myself own a Malamute which is also a working dog. I HAVE to walk him 2.5-3 klms every morning, then of an afternoon he will either have another walk or my husband will play with him which will be with his toys, balls then they will have wrestles. So mornings is only 30min walk and afternoons between 30-40 min again. These times are the minimum we spend walking and playing these ae on a day that we have no time. If I don't walk him of a morning he will start to dig, and he will be naughty all day.
     
    You need to make time for this dog otherwise you have to be fare to it and maybe find him a good home where someone will have the time to spend with the dog the longer you leave this the more problems you will have. Be fare to the dog. 
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: Rank_1

    Hello

    I have a kelpie x boarder collie dog which is a girl and will be one year old next month. This dog is very hyperactive, digs up EVERYTHING, constantly barking, constantly jumping up at people, hunting birds constantly, and just wont sit still if she is in the house (she has to sniff everything and if anyone even moves the tiniest bit she will have to go check it out). What can I do? We took her to the vet and asked about this and they told us that she has ADD and needs to be on Prozac as a last resort but we just don't have the money for it.

    They also said that she needs to be walked twice per day but no one in my house has any time to walk her even once for half an hour. I have till next month to sort her out other wise my mother will be selling her and I really don't want that. If you can help me at all it would be very very very much appreciated.

    P.S
    I've tried so many things with her but I just don't know what to do anymore…

     
    I think you answered your own question in your post....
     
    A working dog needs lots of exercise and a job.  Find this dog a home where she will get what she needs.  Don't let her become more neurotic every day because she's not getting exercise or mental stimulation. 
     
    If you don't have the time to take a dog for at least two long walks a day, don't get a dog...
    • Gold Top Dog
    Rank - hang in there - and good luck with all your finals!  Definately keep us posted on your progress, dogs can be amazing companions, but we have to learn how to work with them so that they can fit into our lives.  My 9 month old pup is driving me nuts, but I'm trying my best and learning every day.  This forum is a great place to learn - don't take anything too personally though, sometimes words can be misconstrued.  Good luck!