How to teach independence?

[Smudge]

These shelties are super nosey. Bailey is always in my business. She has to know everything I'm doing... What I'm reading, what i'm watching, what I'm eating, who am I talking to.

Smudge not so much, but Fluffy 100% yes. If she is not the center of my universe at the moment she has to know why and how long it will be before it goes back to being about her. If you are sitting down a long snout suddenly appears. If you walk into another room you can feel fur brush up against your leg. If you are writing something down she stares you at. And stares at you. And stares at you some more.

 

[jerros]

Thanks for posting this. It's something I have really been struggling with.

Vash hasn't figured out how to bring me toys yet (he does fetch but he won't bring me a toy just to play), but if he's not in his ex-pen he wants to play.

I don't mind playing with him, but 2-3 hours straight of fetch or tug well that's just not a whole lot of fun for either of us by the time it's all done with. If I stop playing he sits and stares, then whines and barks, then jumps and licks. Eventually he either wanders off and gets into trouble thus causing me to play with him again, or I fall for the puppy cuteness and play.

I suppose I'd better start toughening up a little bit and start teaching him how to be more independant so he's not driving me absolutely bonkers when he's older.

Now the trick is to find something for him to play with he actually finds entertaining.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Get a kong cookie ball. Sca bounces his all over. Yes occasionally he will bring it for me to through (and it is ultra slobbered then) but mostly he drops and bounces it and checks for cookies. Now he does it because well it MIGHT have a cookie