Quick background - Kipp is a intact male Border Collie that will be 2 y/o in December. I’ve had him for two months.

Recently he has started to act like a headstrong teenager. Last week I started over at square one following the adult dog groundwork, and could tell his attitude was changing after just a day of it. Looking back, I know I gave him too many privileges too quickly.

Here’s my question - I work away from home as live in nanny 4 days a week. So I have two options. I can leave him home and my 16 and 13 y/o brothers will take care of him and follow the rules that I set (i.e. feed him, take him out on a leash, walk him, but no free time/playtime). I take care of him almost exclusively when I am at home. He is already kept crated/kenneled when not supervised.

Or I can take him along with me to work (I’ve taken my older dog along for about a year now). I’d be the one totally in charge of everything then. My hesitation to this is that then I have to deal with that family wanting to play/interact with him, and not wanting to abide by my rules for him “the kids love dogs, they want to play with him”, “he is a sweetie, why can’t he be loose?” etc. I think they would abide by my rules, but wouldn’t understand. I’m not sure I want to deal with all that, but could if it would be better for me to be totally in charge.

Any opinions?

Your 16 & 13 y/o brothers "May" be old enough and mature enough to deal with the dog, it's dependent on them and if they will do as asked or be typical teenagers and do what they want and take care of your dog if/when they think of it.

Your employers are also crucial to that equation. If your dog training skills are such that you can make the case that it will be a learning experience for the kids, then maybe it will work.

Your dog needs a lot of activity, it's a working dog and some of your problems may stem from not having enough time to challenge the dog so his pent up energy is directed to inappropriate behavior.

Personally, I suspect that through no one in particular's fault the cards are stacked against you from the get-go. What would happen if you considered it would be best to re-home the dog to people who have the time/space/resources to keep a Border Collie active. Sadly I've owned dogs when my work/living space wasn't the best for the dog and ruined a couple of fairly good dogs before I got smart enough to realize the time/effort/resources/finances required for a active dog.

Okay, here is some more infomation. Home is a farm of 180 acres, and I've got 30 head of sheep who are also cared for by the teenage brothers when I'm gone. They are more responsible than your average teenager. I have Kipp working sheep when I'm home, and he listens/responds to me very well when working. It's just that the last week or so it seems he has started to have selective hearing when we are away from the barn. I had been allowing him to be loose out side with me, but am now keeping him on a long line so he can't choose not to listen. I don't have any qualms about my brothers caring for him correctly, I just want to make sure that that would not cause confusion as to pack structure in his eyes.

He is my second Border - I've had the first for 4 1/2 years. She is also a working dog who needs her work. She is just a much softer dog who has always lived to please.

Mara:
OK, that paints a way different picture. I had decided you lived in an apartment/condo and the brothers were in-town/city kids; I arrived at this conclusion based on nothing at all, which explains why I was wrong.

The boys are probably used to working with animals and understand that they need tended to. You may not need to be so drastic as to keep the dog kenneled all the time if the boys incorporate working the dog (or playing) with their chores; the idea is to burn off pent up energy. It will establish the boy's role as superior to Kipp, and Kipp will see in short order that you're superior to the boys.

Understand that Kipp will always be looking to move himself up in your pack, it's not bad, we try to make our lives easier by improving our living conditions, why wouldn't Kipp. By keeping Kipp in a framework of solid rules he gains comfort (just like children crave the security of a structured environment) Kipp will be calmer for knowing how he relates to the rest of the pack.

Perhaps getting the dog on a schedule will also reinforce his role in your pack, and get him accustomed to following orders.

Thanks for the reply. It all makes alot of sense. Kipp is a great dog, it's just a whole new set of lessons for me as his temperment and personality is quite different than my female. I'm sure I'll learn lots from working with him.

I'll get Kipp on a scheldule, and be more consistent with his obedience lessons. The guys will follow through when I explain what I want them to do.

Good question about the pack hierarchy! People just assume that
a dog will transfer loyalty and respect to anyone else in the home, another lesson I learned,it depends on the dogs temperament and the routine and structure of the home enviroment.
Sounds like you are covering all your bases.

Red's answer makes total sense. It would be a shame to have a Border Collie only go for walks 4 days out of every week when there's work he can and wants to do right there.

Update-

After about 4 days of leash limited activity, and a NILIF program, Kipp is responding to me much better. He still has a bit a "ADD" but he's not blowing me off like he was. I'll be working on the "ADD"... His focus has also improved a bit, and he will actually play a game of ball with me now. Before it was he would chase it, but run right past it on to something else.

FWIW, It was never my intention to restricting him to the leash 4 days/week from here on out. It was just to help him realize he wasn't running the show.

Oh, and I think he's figured out who the boss is. He slipped into the kitchen with my brother the other day. My brother called him to go back out, and the little rascal comes over to me, sits down at my feet, and gives me a "do I have to?" look

Thanks again for all the replies