Hi,

Sorry in advance, this is going to be a long one.

Weve had our 11 week border collie for 4 weeks. Hes been really great up to the last 2 days. Hes always been mouthy, like any pup would be. We started bite inhabition (from 'the bite stops here') from the first week and it was going really well. When he started to nip we could get him to stop and mouth instead and we could even place a treat on his paw and he would listen to 'off' and then 'take it' when he was told.

Last week we took him to visit my parents. We stayed there for a few days and since weve been back hes been constantly biting, not mouthing. Hes staring at us while growling and barking alot and then will just charge, and bite our faces hard. Its strange, because before he didnt do it because he seemed to understand after a while that it hurt us. Yelping and leaving the room used to work when he did nip us a bit hard but it doesnt seem to have eny effect anymore. As soon as we come back in hes at it again. Hes getting to be quite a big pup and it does hurt quite a bit when hes charging full speed at your face with his jaws wide open.

Any thoughts?

thanks

But he's a little baby and won't know right from wrong at 11 weeks old. He's attempting to play with you as if you were his litter mates and they play very, very rough games.

How is he managing to bite your faces?

But what doesnt make sense is the sudden change. The training was going well and we managed to phase out the mouthing.

Hes managaing to bite our faces when we are sitting on the couch and bed. He can jump straight up on to them with ease.

Sounds like he's bored and trying to get you to play with him. How often does he go out and what is he fed?

He goes out on 15 minute walks 2 to 3 times a day. We both work at home so he gets plenty of attention and training (which he loves). Hes getting fed natures diet mixed with some dry burns. He will also have a few pedigree cheesy bites as treats while training.

...and what mentally challenging games do you play with him?

We train with him a lot. Ive just got him to stay, so weve been trying to get him to play hide and seek. Were teaching him to jump and crawl on command over obstacles. As I said in my first post we get him to stay 'OFF' treats and toys and then let him 'Take it' after waiting. Hes got a Kong and a puzzle toy too. Hes got a ball on a rope and when we ask him to take it for a walk he will proudly walk around the room with the rope in his mouth and the ball on the floor. Hes getting there with fetch too.

We do all of this daily. Any other suggestions bearing in mind hes still fairly timid outside?

Be careful with the jumping, he's a bit young to be jumping obstacles yet.

I think when he runs at you, he's probably getting bored. If you don't have a garden, 2 x 15 min controlled walks isn't really enough for a border collie pup to blow off steam. Can he run around like a maniac in your flat?

When Elles was that age, she would tear through the house, down the garden, around it, and tear back through the house again. She needed to ruuuuun. Of course it's easier now she's older and can go out for runs on the moors.

Although it is really, really important for a border collie to be challenged mentally and many people don't realise just how much, they do need to run too.

At that age 20 minutes a day is long enough. The rough guide is 5 minutes per month of age for the first 9 moths or so.

I can only suggest the yelp and isolation with misbehaviour. The thing I would do different is that you isolate the dog not isolate yourselves by leaving the room. The dog wins because you go away. If the dog has to go to a dull boring room where there is nothing to see or do there is an incentive not to be there.

I would not suggest using a cage as such isolation if you seek to have a cage as a positive thing later in life.

When we had a naughty dog phase he was isolated in sight of the rest of us but could not join in play for 10 minutes or so. That seemed to work for us.

By Obstacles we mean me sat down on the (VERY low) sofa with my legs outstretched, nothing too high or taxing for the little scamp

Thanks for your help so far! any further help apreciated muchly. We are trying the isolation tip at the moment Manoy suggested, he seemed to calm right down but we shall keep you posted on that one

I hope we can stop the face biting as it is a bit unnerving, I certainly dont mind puppy bites (on the arms) but Hannah has had nothing but bad experiences with vicious dogs in the past so we want to nip this behaviour in the bud ASAP so we can enjoy our otherwise pleasant little guy