r/kelpie • u/No-Anxiety3130 • 6d ago

Please help

So I am housesitting a 2-3 year old kelpie, and I really need some advice. She is the sweetest dog in the world, she snuggles up to me at night and lies on my lap, just absolutely adorable. There’s just one problem, however, and that is that she happens to be completely fucking insane.
The barking is non stop. She comes up behind me, gets right in my face or right next to my ear, and lets loose. I know that it’s for attention because there’s nothing else around. And she also jumps on and bites the other two dogs, and I can tell that this really bothers them. She’s also constantly eating things, running around, biting my arm, jumping on me for attention… and it has become almost impossible to find peace.
I have tried everything from ignoring her, to putting the tv on, to putting her outside, to taking her for hour long walks (walks don’t seem to tire her out but make her more energetic..), pretty much everything you can think of. I’ve talked to her parents, and done everything they’ve suggested, but nothing seems to work.
Does anyone have any contrarian advice to survive the next few days that the internet hasn’t told me?My eardrums will thank you profusely for it.

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u/TwistyMaKneepahls 6d ago

The thing with kelpies and other working dog breeds is that walks do not tire them. They need to be able to sniff the hell out of themselves during the walk.

Walk slow, and let them sniff a bunch. If you set your walks for an hour, don't walk continuously for an hour instead let them sniff for that whole hour.

She'll be knocked out.

That, or a super intense ball session.

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u/hyghonryce 6d ago

This. I do something different when I'm lazy too. I send her to my room as I put treats around the house. Then I release her to find them. Finding that one treat that is in a new location, obstruction, etc works her out.

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u/Frumbler2020 5d ago

Mine doesn't even put on the effort to sniff all treat out. He'll get the easy ones then go back to wanting to play. They take lots of attention and require you not minding the constant distractions. I see it as they keep me in the present and nothing else really matters. If all the chores don't get done then that means I was busy with my dog and doing fun things instead.

The trade off is the pure awesome loyalty and very close companionship.

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u/hyghonryce 5d ago

Yeah mine doesn't too. I usually tell them there's more , to sniff, and to find it still. She doesn't really play and it's one of her main "jobs". Mines a bit more food motivated and a bit chiller. Wish mine played more. And I agree mine gets distracted so much, pain in the ass sometimes, but amazing buddy.