One Year On — My Story of Rehoming an Adolescent Collie

On 5th February 2022, I visited Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary to speak to a group of adopters about training and socialisation. While I was there, I was asked to take a look at a Collie who had just arrived. His name was Cooper. He was terrified, wouldn't come near me, and wanted nothing to do with anyone.

Three weeks later, my colleague Donna sent me a photo of the same dog and suggested we adopt him together — that between the two of us, we could give him the time and training he needed. After thinking it through properly, I agreed. On 3rd March 2022, Cooper came home with me to join Maggie, Bill and Jake.

What followed was one of the most challenging experiences of my 21 years working with dogs.

The first few days

Getting Cooper into the car was the first problem. He immediately started bouncing around the back seat and herding traffic. Not a great start.

That first night at home, he ran amok. He scent-marked the curtains, the furniture, the water bowls. He chewed mats and beds, pulled things off the radiators, and generally turned the house upside down. My other dogs were stressed, there were skirmishes between them, and I slept downstairs to keep the peace. I remember lying there in the dark wondering what on earth I had taken on.

The second day was a little better, but not much. He was chewing, digging holes in the garden, trying to eat plants. The house looked like a building site. Keeping him safe outside was a constant battle — he was always looking for an escape route. One morning he jumped past me out of the car and decided to play with the traffic. Fortunately it was early and the road was quiet.

The long middle

For the first few months, there was no training. Cooper wasn't ready for it. He was still decompressing from his time in the sanctuary, adjusting to a new home, a new routine, and three other dogs. Adolescence and the Collie breed were doing their thing on top of all of that. He herded Maggie on walks, Jake chased him out of rooms, and he and Bill had occasional fights. He was, in short, a hooligan.

I'd be lying if I said there weren't moments when I thought about giving up. He had destroyed my home, my garden and my car. I was exhausted. Even with 21 years of experience, this was the hardest behaviour I had ever dealt with. It was a lonely, grinding kind of stress.

But I kept reminding myself: this would pass. He needed time, patience and consistency. Not pressure.

In January 2023, I was invited to speak for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) for their Train Your Dog Month, on the subject of adolescence. You can listen to the interview on the APDT YouTube channel.

Things starting to turn

When Cooper began to settle and focus a little, I started short training sessions in the kitchen. Sit, wait, recall, walking beside me — nothing complicated, just building a foundation. Then we moved to the garden. Outside the home, I still had no focus from him at all, but inside things were improving.

I joined a Facebook group called the "Collie Car Chasing Challenge" run by Sarah Hedderly, which taught me a great deal — both professionally and in terms of my relationship with Cooper. As a trainer I'm always looking to learn, and that group gave me tools I didn't have before.

Gradually, I started to see real change. He began to play — which is always a sign that a dog feels safe. Donna started spending more time with him, looking after him in her pet shop and helping with his ongoing training.

Then, just before Christmas, he escaped and was hit by a car. The ligaments in his back leg were damaged. I braced myself for a major setback. But he was a gem. He accepted the restricted walks, settled into his crate, and healed well. He now travels in the crate, which has made car journeys far less stressful for everyone.

Where we are now

Cooper is becoming an amazing dog. He still has his quirks — he doesn't enjoy busy walks in the afternoon or evening, so we keep those quieter and shorter. But the progress he has made is extraordinary, and watching it happen has been one of the most motivating things I've experienced in my career.

Adopting him tested me in ways I didn't expect. But it also reminded me why I do this work. With time, patience and the right approach, even the most challenging dogs can find their way.

If you have an adolescent dog and you're finding it hard going, you're not alone — and it does get better. I offer several ways to help:

•Adolescent Dog Online Course — available through the Robin Bates Dog Training Club

•5-week Adult Dog Training Classes — face to face, for dogs over 6 months

•One-to-One Behavioural Support — home visits and virtual sessions

Get in touch at robin@robinbatesdogtraining.com or book directly through the website.

This is Cooper in March 2023 — one year on from the day he came home.

As I know a lot about adolescence , in January 2023 I was asked to speak for the Association of Pet and Dog Trainers (APDT) for their 'Train Your Dog Month 2023' on the subject of adolescence.

You can listen to my interview and those carried out by other dog trainers on subjects as varied as via APDT's YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIM7aWPQXWg

If you have a dog that is an adolescent or coming into adolescence and you are finding it difficult i offer several services to help you keep your sanity and cool!

• Adolescent online course. A preview of this course is available by following the link below ‘Read More’. https://robinbatesdogtraining.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1024270

• 5 week Adult Dog Training face to face training course (for dogs over 6 months) this is ideal for a dog that has become an adolescent, is a rescued dog, an older dog or a dog who missed out on puppy training.Check out link below to find a date and location near you

Or if you have any specific issues reach out to me directly

This is a picture of Cooper training taken in March 2023 and we are looking forward to the year ahead and will keep you up to date on his progress.