He’s half a year old today. I thought I wouldn’t be able to keep up with having a border collie. Especially since I took the most energetic, but also the most focused puppy of the litter (my dog trainer recommended him based off of the puppy test).

But today, I feel like I have the most well rounded, satisfied, and happy puppy.

He doesn’t need “2-3 hours of exercise” a day, he needs good focused work, attention, and proper calmness training. Some days I don’t even throw a ball for him because he communicates to me that he needs mental stimulation, not physical.

I know he’s still young and that adolescence is ahead of me, but I feel that I can properly get through it. I’ve never had such a communicative, attentive, gentle (not always!) and smart dog.

I was worried I couldn’t give him enough, but now I’m relieved and I feel like he’s perfect.

Picture of my 2 year old BC mix in all his winter gear for the -15 weather, for attention! I am looking for advice or insight into his behaviour. He is a rescue and I was not told anything about his back story. Ever since I got him, if he is not sleeping in his crate at night, and he has just started to fall asleep, and if I twitch, or move my body or if anything moves around him, he will jerk awake - jumping 2 ft into the air and jump away and then fall asleep again. For example, he fell asleep on my bed tonight and when I slightly moved my arm ever so slightly, and he was asleep, he jumped so high into the air, literally almost jumping across my room, and is now asleep on the ground. What is this behaviour? Is he scared to be sleeping unless he is in his crate?

Her cat and her doing their grooming/play ritual. I’ve never heard a cat purr so loud while being roughed up by a dog. This was of course after herding him off the table and to the couch.

We realize they can be a bit expensive which is why we want to make sure if/when we buy one we get our money's worth.

Seems most of them won't work if the ball is damp or wet. Well, that won't work as Gracie likes to give the ball a few chews during fetch. Or the yard may be damp from the sprinklers or rain or morning dew.

A fair amount of them won't work if there is any debris on the ball. Ok, can't use it in the back yard due to dirt, leaves, grass, etc...

Some of them say they take a regular 2.5" tennis ball. A "regular" tennis ball is 2.57" so that description is misleading.

Some of the throwers utilize their own size balls which require you to only buy replacements from them.

We looked on Amazon and thought the ALL FOR PAWS Automatic Dog Ball Launcher was a good one. But of the ~1800 reviews, over 500 of them are 3 star, 2 star and 1 star. Over 200 1 star reviews. So we will pass on that one.

Looking at the Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher. It has some good reviews and good ratings. Just not sure though. Maybe the technology is not quite there yet for an affordable ball launcher for dogs.

Just wanted to see if anyone has experience with such a toy. Interested in both good and bad aspects. Thanks!

I bought my girl a snuffle ball yesterday and now she takes it EVERYWHERE. I have now started calling it her emotional support snuffle haha does anyone elses dog have an emotional support you or is she just extra special?

Couldn’t live without these cuddles.🥰

This boy is picky with treats. He used to love carrots and suddenly he’s uninterested! We’ve noticed some plaque build up and would love to know what your pups are into!

I am just so in love with this guys personality. At 6 months old he is very gentle with small children while he jumps up on most adults 🫣 He loves other dogs and lures the older ones into playing with lots of kisses on their faces. He is just a thoroughly good boy without a mean bone in his body but a few training hurdles left to climb. Just needed to give him a shoutout! Hug your border collie for me today!