Border collie/black lab problems?
OK, so I’ve have a border collie/black lab for over 2 months now. He is currently 5 and a half months. He is VERY naughty.. Whenever I go outside he constantly jumps on me, nips at my heels, or bites on my clothes or hands. I can not take him to a trainer because we can’t afford it… I know he needs good exercise but every time i try to take him for a walk he jumps bites etc. while we are walking and becomes very annoying.. He is a outside dog because my parents will not let him inside. I do say “NO” and other things in a deep voice to tell him to stop, but he still seems to do it.. please help.
Dogs are pack animals and shouldn’t be kept outside. Additionally, Border Collies are extremely intelligent dogs (in fact, they’re #1 on the breed intelligence rankings) who need incredible amounts of mental and physical stimuli…when denied and left in the back yard, they will become problem dogs and make their own fun in finding their own jobs to do…a few walks a day will not be enough to keep the Border Collie in him satisfied. Labs are an incredibly social breed…dumping them in the back yard without adequate interaction will turn them into problem dogs. All dogs require training, mental and physical exercise, as well as social interaction and affection training along with positive reinforced training, or they will become problem dogs.
Puppies DO NOT learn on their own. You dumped a puppy in the back yard and starved it for what he needs, it’s surprising he’s not worse…it’s NOT too late to turn it around, but you’ve got to do what’s right by him. Seems you’ve not provided what this dog needs to be much of anything but a problem dog. You can still remedy that, but you must take it seriously. If you can’t afford a professional trainer, at least enroll in an obedience class…they are really inexpensive and will teach you the basics of proper handling so you at least have control over him. Then you’ve got to play to this specific mixes strengths…is he more Lab or Border? Find him an outlet to utilize those traits and follow the trainers instructions.