u/gentleblanton

A new outdoors column!

Soooo, we did a thing. Our beloved mutt passed away from cancer last month. We decided to start looking again. Last weekend, we walked into a rescue and dogs and puppies were just flying off the floor. It was great! But crazy competitive. I don’t know, maybe we’re idiots, but we got caught up.

The adult dog we wanted to meet got immediately adopted. The kids fell in love with a puppy. All these puppies were getting adopted and my wife and I were like no puppies. But, you know. Sad eyes, licking our faces. Anyway, we melted and it came home with us.

The next day, we discovered we’d brought home some type of herding breed. He doesn’t look it. Maybe he does, I don’t know. But the rescue had no idea.

Anyway, all he does now (three days in) is jump and nip my kids. They’re afraid of him. Let me be clear, I don’t think there’s been any aggression. He’s so sweet. He thinks of my 5 year old and 9 year old as litter mates. He totally seems to love them. But he’ll hyper focus and chase, etc. Lots of nipping at legs and faces.

On leash, he’ll mainly focus on my 5 year old boy while we walk. We pull him back and say no every time. He once growled seemingly out of frustration when I wouldn’t let him jump up and nip my son (I’d pulled him back on the leash).

Something must be in his mouth at all times, which is normal teething. But it’s the jumping and nipping that we worry about. When he gets bigger, the kids will be toast if we don’t fix this now.

We had no idea we were getting a herding dog, our fault. He’s 3 months, but likely closer to 4.

We made an impulsive decision and we’re going to standby it. But we’re an active family who hikes and rides bikes and skateboards and he chases and barks and nips at everything.

Also, he seems to bark and have leash aggression towards other dogs?

Again, sweet boy. Our last dog was such a lover and would never bite, so this is a new world for us. I see a sad future where we have to give guests rules not to touch or run certain ways and maybe can’t have sleepovers, etc. and the kids are already a little afraid of their new puppy.

Has anyone made it through this and had a great family herding dog? Is it possible? Need some success stories, thx :)

Called a trainer. Have an appt on Thursday.