@ S B
“We don’t want to just put our dog on drugs to calm him down, we would rather have him be trained properly. I am currently researching trainers in our area”.
Best to ask your vet for a referral regarding a trainer. Oh, and medication prescribed by a veterinary healthcare professional that has examined your dog is not “drugs”.
Without medication to treat anxiety disorders, many dogs will not be receptive to training.
A good trainer will explain this to you.
BTW: Anyone can call themselves a trainer, see who your vet recommends. If the dog responds to medication (if recommended by the examining vet) he may not even need a trainer!
Just walking and playing fetch may not be enough for a herding dog. I had a corgi that had to be walked 5 miles a day for good results.
Anyone in your household jog? Try running with the dog for at least a mile or two a day. In conjunction with other activities and treatment modalities.
