Since we got Busby, they have both been walked separately each day, but do have an off lead walk together as well. Over the past two weeks they have been getting more and more excitable on their joint outings. Their recall is still pretty good, and they will walk on loose(ish!) leads together (after twenty minutes of pull, stop, go back the way we came, etc.) but when they get out on the fields and I let them off they're like maniacs. I posted a while back about Sparky herding Busby and got some good advice from digger, michelle and lots of other people who reassured me this was all very normal, but I've noticed this week that Sparky is starting to actually drive him further and further away from me, not just roll him over. Today, he also seemed to be "blocking" Busby from coming back to me when I called Busby to me. I did manage to make Sparky stay in a down a couple of times today (the distance down is coming along well, but not when he's this excited) and to "leave" as Busby came to me, but I don't feel fully in control when they are pelting around like this. It always starts at the same point on our walk, when we reach a particular field.

Do you think I should go back to walking them separately off lead, and perhaps go back to the long line again for a while to try to calm Sparky down?  Or am I being a fusspot, and should I ride with it and wait for Busby let Sparky know when he's gone too far? It won't be long until he's as big as him at the rate he's growing! The rest of the walk is usually fine, apart from the barking competition when they are racing each other along opposite banks of the river. It might also be worth mentioning that Sparky doesn't play like this with any other dogs we meet.

Tracy
PS. Oh, by the way, if anything it still seems to be Busby who has the upper hand at home.
PPS. They are both still BCs! :).

If it helps, I'd say again that this is normal collie behaviour - BUT I'd consider it somewhat undesirable and would concentrate on the 'leave' command, especially if he appears to be preventing him doing a full recall that you've asked for.  Some work on the 'leave' command around the house wouldn't go amiss either, just to reinforce it.

HTH

Thanks Digger
I must admit I'd feel mean depriving them of their joint walk now as they generally seem to enjoy each other so much - I'll do a bit more on the leave with distraction. It's getting Sparky's attention when he is so fixated that I need most help with. I suppose I'll just have to cope with even more strange looks from passers by!
Tracy