I just got a 10 week old border collie male (got him at 9weeks old).
It’s definitely been a learning curve no matter what kind of research I’ve done before getting him.
I’m currently extremely overwhelmed. I’ve had him over a week now and things feel like they’ve just gotten crazier.
We are currently in the middle of crate training and potty training, and honestly those are the main things that make everything so difficult.
Potty training: No matter how much positive reinforcement I provide when he successfully goes potty outside he just doesn’t seem to grasp that he’s supposed to go outside. When I bring him inside sometimes within 5 minutes of being in he’ll go potty inside even though we’ve just been outside for a long period of time (I do admit his diet has been fluctuating as we don’t think wet food digests well and gives him diarrhoea, so he currently does have diarrhoea) however it’s not just pooping but also peeing inside. I don’t know how to train him any better, I already give him treats and positive reinforcement. I currently can’t add any new foods/treats to his diet as we don’t want to cause more stomach issues. Any advice would be massively appreciated!!!???
Ok, here is the most difficult part.
Crate training: Here’s a quick run down of his first week with me. First 3-4 nights I’d allowed him to sleep wherever in my room (not a great idea, he pooped and peed everywhere even though I took him out every 2-2 and half hours. The fifth night, I had him in a pen, next to my bed where I could just put my hand into, but after that night he figured out how to climb out. So the sixth night I kept the pen but it put a blanket over it and still stuck my hand into it, however he learned how to climb out of it (I rlly don’t know how).
That lead to today, today I got him an actual crate, with a roof and everything, it’s wired and I have a cover over it to create a den, and as well as the pen I have his beds/ blankets, and favourite chew toys and just toys, as well as him having been fed in the crates/pens. I’ve tried leaving him in it throughout the day for short periods, me being in the room and me being out of it, he just whines and whines, than starts yelping and barking like crazy, he might eventually calm down for a few mins, but than he’ll start up again, and if I’m not in the room a sound outside of my room may start him off again (I usually have the tv on as well as a air con as it’s quite hot where I live, and he sleeps well with it, as his day naps are usually outside of the crate as he won’t willingly go into the crate unless for food and I don’t want to force him into it as I’ve been told to make it a positive place for him. ) We have a routine for him and it’s worked well the last few nights however I’m worried as the new crate cannot fit next to my bed and instead has to be at the end of it. That he’ll just repeat what he’s done all day and bark and howl like crazy especially since it has the cover on. I need some advice ASAP please! I’ll try anything, putting the cover door down to completely block out the outside world, waiting long periods of time, literally anything!!????
Also I’ve tried saying firm no’s, tapping the cage to interrupt his barking, putting my finger though it however he just starts whining again usually straight away no matter how much praise I give him when he’s being good.
I’m extremely overwhelmed, and a little sleep deprived, I’m stressed a lot and worried I’m giving him separation anxiety by allowing him to be with me all the time (I’m in between semesters so I spend usually all day with him) and it’s also making it difficult for me to do personal and school stuff as he won’t spend time in the crate.
Please help would be massively and greatly appreciated, all responses and advice are more than welcomed and highly encouraged!!???
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