Dog sitting - what can I expect?

[Anonymous]

OP, I love dogs and have raised many puppies so I am going to stick to dog care advice and ignore family dynamics!

Definitely, assign first and last walk to your husband. If they can both be long, so much the better.

If you don't have a fenced yard get a cable on a stake so that you can at least put the dog out to sniff and smell and pee a few times a day. If you have to have the dog on a leash every single time the dog wants to go out, you are going to resent this from day one.

Do not worry about leaving the house for errands. The dog will get over it. You may have to be the one training him to get over but he will. This is a dog, not a baby. He can be left alone in a crate. Again, you won't last if you don't just decide on day one to live your life.

Also you need to use the crate as a way to train him not to get into your stuff. See if he likes billy sticks or something that takes a long time to chew and get him I'm the crate so he doesn't pee all over.

Border collies are one of the most energetic and intelligent breeds that exist. (It's insane that your in-laws picked this breed.) They need not only TONS of exercise, they need to WORK. If they don't get the mental stimulation in addition to physical, they are antsy, anxious, even destructive. I would consider hiring a dog walker once a day to really play/work with the dog so that he is stimulated and exhausted.

Can kids do one walk or play session a day?

I think you can do this without being miserable but you need to have a serious plan

[Anonymous]

Bully sticks. Sorry about typos. Fat fingers on phone.

[Anonymous]

A lot of work. We just got a puppy and its needs constant attention, constant potty breaks, lots and lots of accidents (we got large pee pads to cover the floors - constant cleaning) and more. Far harder than a young child. And, also puppy is very into biting (we have older kids who can redirect or handle it). She cannot be left alone so we cannot do things like go out to eat.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I could also use advice on how to handle interactions with other dogs as I’m quite nervous about this. My in laws live in area where they don’t come across other dogs occasionally. However we live in area where it will be impossible to go for a walk without running into lots of dogs on every walk. Their dog gets very jumpy and excited and starts barking when sighting another dog across the street- so much so that he will nip at the person holding him.

[Anonymous]

OP-sympathy to you! It doesn't seem as though your ILs made a wise decision in the type of dog they brought home and now you're dealing with the ramifications.

I love dogs, have been around them all my life and have family who swear by border collies-and live in the country where the dog can herd to heart's content, watch animals, and "patrol" the yard before coming in happy as a clam and calm. I can almost guarantee the IL's dog is anxious because it's not being exercised/stimulated enough. They are outrageously smart dogs who love to herd things-anything really. They bounce off the walls and need tons of exercise and toys that will stimulate them. They really aren't conducive to homes without that. They can be SUPER destructive if bored. Please be cognizant of this and that it's really not the poor dog's fault. Without a fenced yard, it's going to be really, really difficult. I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love dogs and have raised many puppies so I am going to stick to dog care advice and ignore family dynamics!

Definitely, assign first and last walk to your husband. If they can both be long, so much the better.

If you don't have a fenced yard get a cable on a stake so that you can at least put the dog out to sniff and smell and pee a few times a day. If you have to have the dog on a leash every single time the dog wants to go out, you are going to resent this from day one.

Do not worry about leaving the house for errands. The dog will get over it. You may have to be the one training him to get over but he will. This is a dog, not a baby. He can be left alone in a crate. Again, you won't last if you don't just decide on day one to live your life.

Also you need to use the crate as a way to train him not to get into your stuff. See if he likes billy sticks or something that takes a long time to chew and get him I'm the crate so he doesn't pee all over.

Border collies are one of the most energetic and intelligent breeds that exist. (It's insane that your in-laws picked this breed.) They need not only TONS of exercise, they need to WORK. If they don't get the mental stimulation in addition to physical, they are antsy, anxious, even destructive. I would consider hiring a dog walker once a day to really play/work with the dog so that he is stimulated and exhausted.

Can kids do one walk or play session a day?

I think you can do this without being miserable but you need to have a serious plan

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful. Especially appreciate the advice from and experienced owner!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-sympathy to you! It doesn't seem as though your ILs made a wise decision in the type of dog they brought home and now you're dealing with the ramifications.

I love dogs, have been around them all my life and have family who swear by border collies-and live in the country where the dog can herd to heart's content, watch animals, and "patrol" the yard before coming in happy as a clam and calm. I can almost guarantee the IL's dog is anxious because it's not being exercised/stimulated enough. They are outrageously smart dogs who love to herd things-anything really. They bounce off the walls and need tons of exercise and toys that will stimulate them. They really aren't conducive to homes without that. They can be SUPER destructive if bored. Please be cognizant of this and that it's really not the poor dog's fault. Without a fenced yard, it's going to be really, really difficult. I'm sorry.

Border collies are the most intelligent breed. Border Collies have to be kept busy & active all day. Need to run 5 miles a day--or more. Sweetest, most intelligent dogs on Earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-sympathy to you! It doesn't seem as though your ILs made a wise decision in the type of dog they brought home and now you're dealing with the ramifications.

I love dogs, have been around them all my life and have family who swear by border collies-and live in the country where the dog can herd to heart's content, watch animals, and "patrol" the yard before coming in happy as a clam and calm. I can almost guarantee the IL's dog is anxious because it's not being exercised/stimulated enough. They are outrageously smart dogs who love to herd things-anything really. They bounce off the walls and need tons of exercise and toys that will stimulate them. They really aren't conducive to homes without that. They can be SUPER destructive if bored. Please be cognizant of this and that it's really not the poor dog's fault. Without a fenced yard, it's going to be really, really difficult. I'm sorry.

Border collies are the most intelligent breed. Border Collies have to be kept busy & active all day. Need to run 5 miles a day--or more. Sweetest, most intelligent dogs on Earth.

Woof !

[Anonymous]

Someone will have teeth marks in them before this over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-sympathy to you! It doesn't seem as though your ILs made a wise decision in the type of dog they brought home and now you're dealing with the ramifications.

I love dogs, have been around them all my life and have family who swear by border collies-and live in the country where the dog can herd to heart's content, watch animals, and "patrol" the yard before coming in happy as a clam and calm. I can almost guarantee the IL's dog is anxious because it's not being exercised/stimulated enough. They are outrageously smart dogs who love to herd things-anything really. They bounce off the walls and need tons of exercise and toys that will stimulate them. They really aren't conducive to homes without that. They can be SUPER destructive if bored. Please be cognizant of this and that it's really not the poor dog's fault. Without a fenced yard, it's going to be really, really difficult. I'm sorry.

I think you are right. This is their 4th border collie but the other 3 they had when all 3 of their kids were living at home, and could share the load. And I think they just forgot how much work a puppy was. But my MIL really wanted the puppy stage.

Our family has helped out with the dog at their house, but they always say that the dog is better when we are visiting. And I think it is because we and the kids play with him and walk him and exercise him. When I have walked him, he seems to want to go at a constant jogging pace, and I know my in-laws are not able to do that. And now that they both have major mobility issues, they are really struggling to keep up with his needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I could also use advice on how to handle interactions with other dogs as I’m quite nervous about this. My in laws live in area where they don’t come across other dogs occasionally. However we live in area where it will be impossible to go for a walk without running into lots of dogs on every walk. Their dog gets very jumpy and excited and starts barking when sighting another dog across the street- so much so that he will nip at the person holding him.

Bumping this request…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I could also use advice on how to handle interactions with other dogs as I’m quite nervous about this. My in laws live in area where they don’t come across other dogs occasionally. However we live in area where it will be impossible to go for a walk without running into lots of dogs on every walk. Their dog gets very jumpy and excited and starts barking when sighting another dog across the street- so much so that he will nip at the person holding him.

Bumping this request…

Honestly, the best advice is to fence in your yard. Difficult to restrain a dog in your situation, and difficult to predict or anticipate the behavior of other dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I could also use advice on how to handle interactions with other dogs as I’m quite nervous about this. My in laws live in area where they don’t come across other dogs occasionally. However we live in area where it will be impossible to go for a walk without running into lots of dogs on every walk. Their dog gets very jumpy and excited and starts barking when sighting another dog across the street- so much so that he will nip at the person holding him.

You need to take high value treats on your walk (little pieces of hot dog, pea size pcs of chicken) and when there is another dog coming, have the dog sit and give multiple treats in succession facing you and facing away from the other dog until it passes. You can also walk behind a tree or a car so it doesn’t have to walk directly past the other dog. Your dog will eventually associate seeing another dog with happiness/treats rather than getting reactive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I love dogs and have raised many puppies so I am going to stick to dog care advice and ignore family dynamics!

Definitely, assign first and last walk to your husband. If they can both be long, so much the better.

If you don't have a fenced yard get a cable on a stake so that you can at least put the dog out to sniff and smell and pee a few times a day. If you have to have the dog on a leash every single time the dog wants to go out, you are going to resent this from day one.

Do not worry about leaving the house for errands. The dog will get over it. You may have to be the one training him to get over but he will. This is a dog, not a baby. He can be left alone in a crate. Again, you won't last if you don't just decide on day one to live your life.

Also you need to use the crate as a way to train him not to get into your stuff. See if he likes billy sticks or something that takes a long time to chew and get him I'm the crate so he doesn't pee all over.

Border collies are one of the most energetic and intelligent breeds that exist. (It's insane that your in-laws picked this breed.) They need not only TONS of exercise, they need to WORK. If they don't get the mental stimulation in addition to physical, they are antsy, anxious, even destructive. I would consider hiring a dog walker once a day to really play/work with the dog so that he is stimulated and exhausted.

Can kids do one walk or play session a day?

I think you can do this without being miserable but you need to have a serious plan

Great advice here^^.

Border Collies are SO cute but as an experienced dog owner I would never get one. They need a lot of stimulation to be happy and well balanced.

[Anonymous]

I’m not saying that this puppy will get into fights, but everyone who walks a dog should know how to break up a dog fight safely. A loose dog could attack your in-laws’ puppy. Google how to break up a dog fight. Also, since this is a rambunctious puppy, you should know that adult dogs will not hesitate to put a puppy in its place. An adult dog might growl or bark if the puppy gets too exuberant (jumping in other dog’s face), but that doesn’t mean the adult dog is aggressive or about to attack. It’s a normal part of dog socialization.