our border collie is 7 months old, he is good in the house, but we are starting to see a problem with him and we do not know how about going about breaking the habit,
when the other dogs are playing in the house with a ball or ragger, he will go around and around and around in circles herding them, we have put him in his cage in the last couple of weeks when he has done this as he is sending us dizzy, so we thought see if he will stop so we let him get on with it nearly and hour and half later  he was still doing it and getting more and more wound up, so we caged him put his cover down and let him calm down,
how do i help him, do i just put his leader on him and sit with him when they are playing in the house and make him learn to relax, he does not want to play with the other dogs just round them up, any ideas on what i can do or will we just have to learn to live with it.
carol

We have bearded collies and they round up everyone including the cats ,balls etc they are not as full on as a border collie.
imagine it... mine bark too as that is thier natural instinct they are known as barking beardies!!

I would imagine working him ie start with a training class /agility to use up all that excess energy .
I dont think crating him will do anything other than possibly stress him out.
(Although I am in favour of crates.)
To me it sounds like he is enjoying it ...thats his fun ...borders being intelligent dogs need to  use thier brain he's worked this one out for himself...
I used to go training 4 times a week to keep my collies occupied they came back mentally exhausted and happy.

Roni

Firstly, can I ask what you are doing to stimulate your border collie? At 7 months, he is a little too young to start agility training (I prefer to wait until at least 1 year old before starting) but he should certainly be enjoying some obedience training.
Secondly, how often and for how long is he walked daily? Again, at 7 months I would be limiting his free running exercise, but he will still need regular walks throughout the day.
Thirdly, do you spend some time playing with him and training him away from the other 2 dogs? He needs to know that there is other forms of fun and stimulation apart from herding your other 2 dogs around the house.
I don't allow my borders free access to their toys. I decide when it's playtime and when it's relaxing time. Perhaps that might help your situation.
Borders probably make the worst pets out of all dog breeds. They are very high maintenance dogs due to their high intelligence and high levels of exercise requirements. Couch potatoes they are not! They have a strong herding instinct and, if bored enough or if allowed to, will herd everything in sight from kids, to cats, to dogs and any other form of moving object they can find!
Find other ways to stimulate your dog and make sure that each of your dogs gets individual time (very important for a border). I would monitor playtime and only allow access to toys at these times. Once they are sufficiently puffed I tell mine "game over!" and put the toys away. I wouldn't crate my dog whilst the others are playing...that would send mine out of their minds with frustration lol!

he goes out upto 3 times a day for a walk this is through woods and the beach, he does not have acess to toys all the time and the toys are alternated so they do not get bored, we have started his obedience, puppy socilisation classes 2 nights a week, and he started his agility training just running through the wings 2 nights a week he also goes 2 nights a week to ringcraft classes, we have one to one training every day the same with the other dogs, i have two other border collie but they have never done this,
we also make him bring washing out the machine, and bring the paper, etc, so i was hoping it was not boredem
carol