Struggling to bond with my puppy

Hi all!

So I (22F) got a puppy back in August. My first dog that I'm raising on my own since coming to college! She's a Border Collie x Catahoula mix and is a little over 8 months old now. Before I get comments about it, yes I did know what I was getting into getting a mixed breed dog that is two very high energy working breeds. I have wanted and been researching working breed dogs for myself as an active companion and sport dog for about 3 years before I got her.

My issue with her is, I feel like we haven't really clicked and bonded the way I'd like. I love her, and she is super cute and SUPER damn smart (almost too smart for her own good sometimes), but I don't feel super attached or close to her. I am coming here wondering what I can do to build a better relationship and bond with her. I do all the things with her, playing her favorite games (tug and fetch), scattered training sessions throughout the day, I take her on outings once or twice a week, but something just doesnt feel right.

I don't want to get rid of her. I love her and can tell she is gonna be a super super fun dog the more we work on training (and socialization, which she had a severe lack of before coming to me and is taking awhile) and as she matures. I just wanna see if there's stuff out there to build a better relationship with her that I haven't tried. I am so so dedicated to giving her the best life I can and I think building a better relationship with her is part of that. Physically and mentally I am super happy with her, I can fulfill her even with my busy schedule and at her last vet check my vet told me he is super happy with her condition and told me he wouldn't have guessed its my first time raising a puppy. That felt so good and validating to hear (because my mom was the worst example of how to raise and own a dog I could've been exposed to) but again something just feels missing with her and I feel so guilty over it.

TIA! 🙂