Spellbound454
Senior Member
"In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
Joined: Sept 9, 2011 17:28:42 GMT -5
Posts: 3,990
|
Post by Spellbound454 on Apr 22, 2015 11:52:19 GMT -5
Hi...Yes I do have a border collie and I'm quite sure yours would have been able to open a gate.....probably just fancied going on a walk.
They are a bit of a handful and not everyone's idea of the perfect pet. Trick is, as agile says.....to wear them out.... mentally and physically....then it will be quiet. They can't really be left all day.
I do obedience training and competitive flyball with mine. It gets us out and about, travelling to all the venues and is a great hobby/interest. I got the right animal to do those interests with.
If I can't take her on a long run....I just stand in an enclosed field and wang a tennis ball 20/30 times Usually does the trick
|
|
Abby Normal
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 12:31:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,501
|
Post by Abby Normal on Apr 22, 2015 12:39:47 GMT -5
If I can't take her on a long run....I just stand in an enclosed field and wang a tennis ball 20/30 times Usually does the trick Laughing at the term "wang a tennis ball". 20-30 times. So jealous. That's a warm up for us. DS plays baseball so there is a lot of "monkey in the middle" at our house.
|
|
Spellbound454
Senior Member
"In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
Joined: Sept 9, 2011 17:28:42 GMT -5
Posts: 3,990
|
Post by Spellbound454 on Apr 22, 2015 12:55:50 GMT -5
Good heavens...your doggie must be high energy abby
I don't know what its called (I call it a wanger)... but its a long plastic stick which catapults a tennis ball quite a distance. I couldn't actually throw a ball to save my life....so just stand and catapult tennis balls... whilst she runs around like a mad thing.
I've ordered some agility jumps off amazon...Haven't started yet but we a getting there and its something else to keep her (and me) amused.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,378
|
Post by debthaven on Apr 22, 2015 13:15:00 GMT -5
If we can't take him on a big walk (ie in the forest) we do the tennis ball thing too.
His parents are coming to pick him up about 9 tonight. As much as we enjoy having him (most of the time!), we will breathe a sigh of relief!
ETA: Sorry, we throw the ball ourselves. I didn't realize you had a machine for that lol!
|
|
Abby Normal
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 12:31:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,501
|
Post by Abby Normal on Apr 22, 2015 13:17:59 GMT -5
Good heavens...your doggie must be high energy abby
I don't know what its called (I call it a wanger)... but its a long plastic stick which catapults a tennis ball quite a distance. I couldn't actually throw a ball to save my life....so just stand and catapult tennis balls... whilst she runs around like a mad thing.
I've ordered some agility jumps off amazon...Haven't started yet but we a getting there and its something else to keep her (and me) amused. The young one (aussie) is very high energy. Good thing she's adorable or she'd be obnoxious. Here we call it a "chuck it" that's the brand name. But I think I like wanger better.
|
|
Abby Normal
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 12:31:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,501
|
Post by Abby Normal on Apr 22, 2015 13:21:01 GMT -5
ETA: Sorry, we throw the ball ourselves. I didn't realize you had a machine for that lol! This last weekend, DS's baseball coach had the mega pitching machine out for outfield practice. He had it set for deep, fly balls. I walked over to DH and said " We need one of those for the dog". This thing launched it way further than we can get with the chuck it.
|
|
bobosensei
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 11:32:49 GMT -5
Posts: 1,561
|
Post by bobosensei on Apr 22, 2015 13:24:18 GMT -5
My lab mix knows exactly how to hit an interior door with his nose to get it to pop right open. I've also seen him scratch at the gate outside and because it doesn't always close properly we secure it with a bungee. I have no doubt he could paw it open if he wanted to get out ie if there was a dog on the other side.
With a border collie it wouldn't surprise me if he jumped over the gate and perhaps a hind leg hit the handle and the force opened it up. Border collies are known for the intelligence and athleticism, so you do have to keep an eye on them. And at least now you know. Next time get comfy, pour yourself some wine, and then go throw the ball for the dog!
|
|
bobosensei
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 11:32:49 GMT -5
Posts: 1,561
|
Post by bobosensei on Apr 22, 2015 13:27:41 GMT -5
debthaven-you don't have a cat by chance, do you? Ha! for a moment I thought the kitty was going to shut the door and keep the dog out, lol.
|
|
dannylion
Junior Associate
Gravity is a harsh mistress
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 12:17:52 GMT -5
Posts: 5,197
Location: Miles over the madness horizon and accelerating
|
Post by dannylion on Apr 22, 2015 13:33:39 GMT -5
ETA: Sorry, we throw the ball ourselves. I didn't realize you had a machine for that lol! This last weekend, DS's baseball coach had the mega pitching machine out for outfield practice. He had it set for deep, fly balls. I walked over to DH and said " We need one of those for the dog". This thing launched it way further than we can get with the chuck it. This reminds me of a YouTube video someone posted a few (or several) months ago. You may have seen it. He had devised a dog-activated ball-flinging machine for his (I think) Bassett hound or other fairly low-energy dog. He was using it indoors, so it was not putting much energy on the ball. The dog seemed to enjoy the experience, though. It would return the ball to the machine, reset the machine by pressing on a lever, and the machine would launch the ball. Surely someone has invented an outdoor version suitable for high-energy dogs like Border Collies and Aussies, who should be clever enough to learn to use it without much difficulty.
ETA: I've been calling those handheld ball-flinging devices atl-atls because they serve the same function as the original atl-atl only with balls instead of spears. My neighbor has one, and it is the only way I am able to participate in a decent game of fetch with their very high-energy Lab/Pitbull mix, with whom I have bonded. She's a sweetie pumpkin.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,378
|
Post by debthaven on Apr 22, 2015 14:45:58 GMT -5
So, the dog's parents just left. I don't think he jumped over the gate, but you never know. It's a solid wooden gate so a bungee cord won't work, but locking it works fine, and that's what we'll continue to do whenever we have him. My friends thought it was hysterical that I had to unlock the gate to let them in (we usually just buzz people in and only lock the gate at night) because they knew it was because of their dog. Bunny is thrilled, he's back downstairs again running around! This episode won't stop me from keeping the dog again, we know we have to lock the gate now. But I have to admit that once DS3 leaves home in a year, I'm not sure I'll be up for watching him anymore (I know DS3 wasn't home this time, but he usually is.) We've had him for 10 days, 8 days and 5 days. He is THRILLED to come over, so I know he's very happy here. Hopefully the dog calms down a bit over time!
|
|
Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
Posts: 63,604
|
Post by Tennesseer on Apr 22, 2015 15:20:43 GMT -5
debthaven-you don't have a cat by chance, do you? Ha! for a moment I thought the kitty was going to shut the door and keep the dog out, lol. Cats only prank each other.
|
|