Very glad to have found this forum. This spring both my older dogs passed away. We thought we'd like to try not having dogs, but only made it a couple months before I brought home a puppy.

Chloe is what I'd call a Kern Valley Cow Dog. Mostly Border Collie, with some Australian Shepherd thrown in. She comes from generations of working cow dogs, from ranching friends who run cattle, lots of cattle. My rural area has lots of farming and ranching, but no obedience training, agility, or anything like that within reasonable driving distance.



All my dogs have been tolerably well-trained as family dogs. But knowing Chloe will be a high-energy dog, seeing how very smart she is, and since she may be my last puppy due to my age, I decided to seriously train her as best I can, since I have no cows or sheep for her to harass.

She is 4 months old now. We are working on attention, Come, Sit, Down, Stay, decent leash manners and basic politeness skills. She understands the touch stick, and is teaching herself to walk on her hind legs since she knows I don't want her to jump on me. I was worried about her being timid, but have read ways to try to work through that, so we'll see. Aside from being seriously intelligent, she is the most physically well-coordinated and agile puppy I have ever had.

I'm not sure what my goals are with Chloe, except fun and happiness, but she is smart enough and spry enough to learn anything, IF I am smart and spry enough to teach her.

Hi Jody! Welcome to the forum!

That is one ADORABLE puppy!!! Have fun with her

--Kelly

Welcome to the forum Jody! I agree with Kelly, your pup is simply adorable!

Welcome! She is adorable!!

Jody, she is very cute.

Are you using marker training? You might also like to look into some of the Michael Ellis DVDs for training help.

There are lots of free e-books & videos here to watch & help you along.

You want to get started in the right diection with her.

 Quote: Anne Jones

Jody, she is very cute.

Are you using marker training? You might also like to look into some of the Michael Ellis DVDs for training help.

There are lots of free e-books & videos here to watch & help you along.

You want to get started in the right diection with her.

Big huge ditto! You sure came to the right place for someone with "no obedience training, agility, or anything like that within reasonable driving distance," because of the wealth of DVDs and free streaming video here.

Have you seen any of the Michael Ellis videos?

And WELCOME!

Okay, I have not had puppy fever in a long while (thank goodness) but this little gal lit that fire big time.

Anne and Connie are right... any of the ME vidoes are well worth watching/purchasing. Marker training, IMHO, is the ONLY way to go with training, and it is so easily incorporated, even if you have begun with another form of training. No stress, nothing negative... love it.

Keeping this pup exercised and "happily tired" will be a wonderful challenge for you... ahem... Start looking (searching) into mental/mind games which you can incorporate into your pup's day that will keep her mentally stimulated (and help wear her out) and hopefully, give you a few moments to breathe.

She really is a beautiful dog and I look forward to watching her mature.

She is beautiful!!

I'm thinking scenting/tracking games since all my sheep/cow dogs enjoy those. It's a easy way to mentally tire them out.

and Welcome to the forum.

Hi, I too have no obedience clubs or agility rings within flying distance. All I have learnt is through leerburg. You may find that you can learn ALMOST every thing through a bit of self help and help from leerburg forum and ME videos.

Plus , super cute puppy. I think a short video clip of your puppy will be much appreciated by one and all.

Welcome - she is a cutie!! I am a bit partial though - I have 2 Border Collies!

Border Collies like routine, they like knowing what is expected of them. Basically they like to be told what pleases you so that they can do it!

 Quote:

I decided to seriously train her as best I can, since I have no cows or sheep for her to harass.

I know this is probably an attempt at humor, but do want to point out that working stockdogs are not allowed to harass stock. In fact they have best self control of any type of dog around stock.

And I would also point out that if you want to learn stock work with her/compete at stockdog trials there is no reason you couldn't do that.