[Jo Ingram]

Thanks Patty!
I’ve been doing everything you suggested except the kicking up my heels part. I’m the only one he hasn’t tried to nip at. He’s attentive and obedient 95% of the time. It’s just the odd little character tic that pop up.
Thanks again for your advice, I’ve really appreciated every single tip you’ve passed my way.

[Jo Ingram]

@ pattyvaughn
I’ve noticed him nipping heels lately. Not very often, twice in the last 2 or 3 weeks at most. Poor kid is desparate to herd something, anything! I wish I lived near a sheep or cattle farm with an owner that would let me work their livestock. I previously owned a mongrel that was an outstanding livestock dog with cattle. He saved alot of work from horseback for me.

[Jo Ingram]

Hi Everyone!
A Rain update…………he’s come a long way and I can see a significant improvement in his behaviour. He still “goes off” but nowhere near as often as he was before I changed his diet. It usually happens when there’s alot going on around him, such as a heavy vehicle traffic day and bikes or walkers going by at the same time. I think that he thinks, all these things and nobody directing them! He’s a great boy and new things still bewilder him, but his intelligence is outstanding in grasping what he’s asked to do about them. Other than the younger of my Airedales, he’s the nosiest dog I’ve ever owned.
So, thanks again, so much, for all your help and input. We’ve still got some work to do but so far, so good.

[Jo Ingram]

Hi Everyone,
I really appreciate your input with Rain, all opinions welcome.

@somebodysme – he doesn’t just “go off” when he sees other dogs, he “goes off” alot when he’s over-stimulated. Traffic, people, bikes, big trucks, loud noises…..anything new or different. He adores swimming and is absolutely comical to watch in the water.
When I first adopted him I thought he was a car chaser but I quickly came to realize that he was trying to herd them, not chase them. I saw on the BC site that BC’s herd anything so that made alot of sense to me.
I think I’ll be spending some time on the BC site as Patty suggested. He is an honest, good dog and I don’t like people thinking that he’s a brat or I just don’t care enough to train him properly. It’s not his fault that he has to learn everything at once instead of being introduced to new things as he grew.
Thanks again everyone for your input, feel free to send more if something occurs to you.

[Jo Ingram]

They labelled him a Shepherd/Rottie cross at the pound and even I could see that there was no Rottie in him. He’s never been socialized – at the pound they keep them strictly segragated so every dog he meets is an immediate threat in his opinion.
Thanks again for the NutriSource tip, I’m buying some today to see if it’ll help.

[Jo Ingram]

Thank you so much for your help. He really is a great boy and it’s awful to see him so wound up and not able to settle down. I’ll buy some NutriSource first thing tomorrow morning and I’ll let you know how we’re making out.
I have watched him run, literally all day, and not tire. Keeping him mentally tuned in is a challenge, given his focus and interest on 43 things at the same time. My Dales were much the same way and sometimes it has truly comical results. He grasps concepts and commands easily – it’s a matter of if he agrees with them or not. He’s consistently responding to hand commands as well as voice.
Again, thank you for your advice, I sincerely appreciate it.

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