As you may or may not know, last week I made my “big decision.” I publicly announced which of my 7 then seven week old puppies I was going to keep for my own. 
Tomorrow night I will be hosting a “coaching call” for my “Puppy Peaks” members. There I will share more details on why I picked Momentum. In the end, the decision was easy as one puppy absolutely stole my heart.
The puppy formerly known as “Genie” is now officially named “Say Yes to the Game ChangeRR.” 
Her registration name reflects the fact that I am “changing my game” a bit. As I am moving from selecting only red & white Border Collies puppies over the past 25 years to going back to a black & white one.
“Momentum”, as she is now known, was selected for a number of reasons. She appeared to be part glamour girl, part tomboy and part class clown. And, in addition, at the time she also appeared to have a strong attachment to me. 🙂
However it seems like within moments of me making a public announcement that I had selected her as my very own, little Miss Momentum transformed from “attached” to “attacking”, from “brilliant” to “bullying”, from “sweet” to “sinful” and from “self-assured” to “self-absorbed”. I went from calling her fun, fearless and fascinating to other words that started with “F.” 🙂
Momentum leads the pack off on any adventure the moment an “escape” from confinement is possible.
I can say with a great deal of confidence that each of the other six puppy owners are THRILLED that they do not own her today!
Muddy faced Momentum on the run…in the opposite direction to me.
Yes, I think she quickly became the naughtiest puppy I have ever known!
Take a look at this video montage. What word or words would you use to describe this puppy if she was yours?
Now, of course, all of those “descriptors” are not really “who” this puppy is. It is just me giving names to MY emotions. Labels I put on the puppy while observing the act of her doing what currently just comes naturally to her. My puppy still is that sweet, self-assured and brilliant puppy she has always been. However until I direct what reinforces her in her environment towards what I like, she is going to continue to find those “naughty” but oh so fun for a puppy reinforcements on her own!
Confident puppies are often labelled as “independent!” The former is something you work with… the later is something you end up working against!
In “Mentum’s” world everything she does is just perfect! My job as her now official “trainer” is to make sure I alter all of those “unplanned coincidences,” those things or events that have produced amazing rewards for her thus far in her life in a better direction!
This transition will be another topic I will discuss with my Puppy Peaks community.
The transition happens through games. Lots and lots of relationship building games. Games the two of us love!
Playing the collar grab game with Momentum.
Games of all different varieties, in all different locations.
Learning to retrieve!
I know we will still have our share of struggles to overcome…but I also know we will have a lot of fun and learn a lot of lessons along the way.
Retrieving Momentum from her adventure in our pond :).
Puppy Peaks is about to get a LOT more interesting as it looks like I have a brand new set of challenges to overcome!
Today I am grateful for how much I already love “the naughtiest puppy I have ever known.” Can’t wait to see what life will look like a year from now :).
Laughing out loud mostly because it was like a biography of my own dog as a puppy! We had many struggles along the way and I only wish I knew then what I know now! Despite all that I have the best 2 year old nutbag in the world. Confidence and ‘naughtiness’ is just intelligence in disguise. The ‘naughty’ ones are the best ones! Enjoy!!
I am laughing out loud! Think I would name her, at this point, she devil! Too funny-
Well, lit’ Momentum is in good hands.
Carry on,
I would call her — cheeky, challenging, testing, frustrating all in one totally adorable package.
Oh Sue, I know how this feels…..My pup called Peep (its ok I have a Beau to)she is a year old now and only just starting to grow up, or I think this then she does naughty things, two steps forward and 1 back.
In the end these stubborn pups will make the best dogs, they always did on the farm and it’s always females they are switched on all the time!!!!!!
If she was mine I’d defined her just like: “Oh my GOD! I got the crazy one!!” I can’t find better definition hahaha
oooooooh my God what beautifull puppy you have there.i want to thank you sooo very much to keep all of those puppys and there mother too,i think A.cause they look all like her. God will bless you for that.for sure sure Mam..you have a big yard that they can run around.and play a lot.i can’t belive you took them all.am soooooooooooooooooo happy that you did that,god knows where they would be if you didn’t take them all.. they would probably be abue like the other dogs poor them..thanks again for taking all those sweet and sooo lovebel puppy mam..yours truly..Claudette Robichaud from Canada NB am from the contry I have a sweet dog too,and his treated like a king..lol heres my e-mail add,in case you want to say anything to me mam ok .hers my e-mail. [email protected] )there it is. I would like to kmow how your dogs doeing.love them all too.
That video was hilarious! Laughed out loud many times! Looking forward to seeing the changes along the journey!
Have been trying unsuccessfully to log in to the webinar – I get a message saying to sit tight and I will be redirected but it never opens – all I can get is the Puppy Peaks headline and music.
I can’t believe I missed the webinar… and I’d signed up and it was in my plans and then I got involved in something and missed it. Will you replay it sometime?
The replay is available now and will be up until 7 pm tomorrow evening. Then it will be dropped into the Puppy Peaks membership area.
I am sure you are living her while sometimes pulling your hair. A glass of wine and more games with her for sure. She is lovely.Good luck
🙂 omg how cute, thank you for showing us those clips! I know youll work your magic
So funny. Momentum reminds me of my youngest — she used to bite me on the nose like that. I was so surprised the first time she did it I dropped her!
I loved the video clips of Momentum!!! Perfect name for her, as she’s always MOVING!!! I had a real belly laugh, thank you for that. It will be SO MUCH FUN to watch her develop into a world class performance champion under your EXPERT guidance. Thank you again, for sharing all that you do. You are AMAZING!!!
The video resonated so much with me. I’ve had such a difficult time with my 9 month old puppy. I’ve taken it so personally. I read that “your dog is a reflection of your abilities as a trainer” and thought that her naughtiness was all me. Now I can see that my puppy is challenging, more than average. The fact that you, too, Susan, have a strong-willed pup encourages me. I’ll be watching so closely everything you do to build a relationship between the two of you. I’m going to soak it up like a sponge. Thank you.
Susan, your little girl is just like my golden puppy that I brought home two weeks ago. I am going to enjoy Puppy Peaks so much.
I’m so glad you picked Momentum! This is such a learning opportunity for all of us! I can’t wait to see her continue to blossom!
Momentum reminds me of my own BC,Ari, as a puppy. She was the one running non-stop, eating dead birds, exploring far more than her siblings, stealing all of the toys. Today she is just loads of fun! She’s fast and fearless and I’m learning so much from her.
So I predict your life will never be the same again!
This little girl seems just like my Toller Odie was! She is now 11 months and thanks to your lessons on the power of positive training and your book Ruff Love, I stopped being stressed about all the crazy naughtiness, stopped beating my head against a wall and learned to embrace her unbridled energy and enjoy the ride. We have been working hard together these past 9 months with H360 and she is well on the road to being a well mannered house pet as well as a fantastic agility pup. Momentum is very lucky to have you.
Your video made me giggle, very confident and a little independent puppy. I love puppies who are “bad” as they make you smile, they really are not bad. Just want to see and do everything, today. Do you prefer girls to boys? Or is it just the one who wants to be with you, at least for minute.
Your video was my big smile for the day.
Mentum has certainly brought you new and wonderful places to go. I had a Doberman puppy like her and it was because of him that I found clicker training and a whole new way of looking at life. I am excited and I can’t wait to see the “Mentum chapters”.
I thought I had the naughtiest BC puppy, but I see that yours comes close to my Gypsy! At 11 months, things are turning around, but she still has some “independent” streaks that are so frustrating. I don’t want to squelch her boldness, but a wee bit more co-operation would be so welcomed!
I love that you choose an independent thinker! The hidden rewards in building drive for wanting to play together is going to be amazing!!! I see iceberg melting in your future. F.U.N.
So funy. Really brightened my day. Thank you.
Love it!
Love the video! She is quite the little pistol! you are going to have so much fun with her. Can’t wait for the coaching call.
Haha! I loved the video, the music and they way it was made to look like a Charlie Chaplin film. I’d call her feisty, fun and fabulous, can’t wait to follow your antics (sorry training) together! She is adorable :o)
can’t wait to see how this goes. You said about Buzzy and then Swagger that each in turn was the naughtiest…
Swagger and the blue squishy… But each dog is sent to teach you to be a better dog trainer.
I know mine certainly has taught me to be a better dog trainer. I would not have found you if it wasn’t for her.
Just imagine if she were your very first puppy to raise and train and you didn’t know a thing……Been there, Done that…..I definately learned a lot with my first “naught dog”. 😉 HAVE FUN!!! 😀
So true Nina!
Susan, I’d call her trouble on the run. Minty and you had me laughing out loud. Minty knew what she was doing when she picked you. She will need all your skills to channel her brilliance. Thanks for sharing.
Yup – that is TROUBLE with capslock on – add momentum to trouble and you have your hands full!
What a fun pup! She won’t even notice you weaving your magic. She will just think it was all her idea!! Enjoy the journey. Thanks for sharing.
I so admire and am grateful for your complete openness and honesty. There can be nothing more inspiring and comforting than knowing that even those with years and years of experience and successes behind them also have difficulties and new lessons ahead of them just as we all do.
She is absolutely gorgeous. She will help keep you learning new things and such fun you will both have I am sure.
I can understand why you picked her. She’s so full of life and adventure.
Oooh, methinks you have your work cut out for you, but if anyone can rise to the challenge, it’s you. Maybe you should have named her Bedlam; I would have said Mayhem was appropriate, but the agility world has already had a brilliant and famous Mayhem.
Sorry Susan but that video is hysterical, I have been sitting here giggling away. The character that puppy has – she has world champion all over her. She is going to be an awesome agility dog – once you come to an understanding that is. LOL.
awwwwwwwwwwww. sooooo cute puppys,am sooo glad you decided to keep them all.now I kow they will be ok with you.some places they abuse there pets,and its awfull I cry eery time I see a dog or cat or horse or cow chickenthats been abuse,i seen them all.and I tell you its not a pretty sight to see,i cried soooo much me when I see something like that happened to thease poor animals its not right at all.i congraduate you, for taking all those beutifull puppys,there sooo cute and sweet I love there colors too.anjoy every moments with them.you want be sorry dear..yours truly.Claudette Robichaud. from Canada nb.
Thanks for sharing this comical and real video. I have a 7month old chihuahua-Jack Russell mix who is smart as a whip but stubborn as they come! I love her dearly! Your video gives me hope!
Love Momentum. She is really shaping you already Susan!
Delightful video!
I would love to hear your tips on “working against” independence.
I also have a B&W BC puppy. She is not “naughty”, but she does prefer her own company a lot of the time, and rarely solicits attention.
Enjoy every moment with her. Our newest addition, a golden was into so many things as a puppy his nickname was “illegal”. He’s grown out of most of it now that he’s turned two. I enjoyed every moment and kept a happy sense of humor.
Enjoy!
I have one of those. A female Australian Terror…I mean Terrier. She is 10 months old now and we are definitely making progress. What a unique experience, I have never trained a puppy, up hill all the way. I feel your pain. But I will have to agree, through all the frustration, we are having fun!
Thank you for sharing. I love the video. Our collie is crossed with a spaniel and that made her a bit challenging as a puppy, well quite a bit actually.
They’re such fun when they’re little. You love them one minute and despair the next but never in a million years would you give up on them.
Isn’t there a better word for naughty? Labelling normal puppy behavior as being naughty always makes me feel uncomfortable. Naughty – for me – is still kind of poisoned by the old-fashioned training methods working with punishment.
Background info: I am breeder and whenever one of the new owners report naughtiness I am deeply stressed as you never know: do they stick to positive training even with a really naughty puppy? Or do they do what their parents and grand parents used to do?
What about a brainstorming contest for finding lots of other words to replace “naughty”?
Please read the entire blog post…I do go on to explain how it isn’t naughty at all…it is just human perception of normal puppy behaviour.
I did, Susan – sorry, my fault: Already dead tired I had several windows open yesterday at the same time and probably referred on a series of old comments. I admit what I talked about has nothing to do with the more recent ones on Mentums video and may even have been on another blog with subject “naughty dogs” as I cannot find any of them that caused my comment. Sorry again.
Yes indeed, she is the right pup!
That is hilarious. So glad you decided to share a “before video”.
I love that you have a “naughty puppy”! I have a tri-coloured BC and at eight years old is still just as naughty as the day we brought her home and I wouldn’t have it any other way. She keeps me honest…and laughing…and from taking life too seriously! I also greatly appreciate that you sharethe challenges that you have, along with your successes, rather than just your successes. To see someone who is successful in their chosen field willing to show that it’s not always a bed of roses makes it possible for others to press forward even when it seems futile. THANK YOU!!!!
Would like to sign up for peak performance but can’t find where to do that..
Dying laughing, wonderful video! Best encouragement possible!
Thank you X’s 3!!!
Love her, she has such an amazing character!!! LOL, it will be a joy and privilege for you to share her journey with us….
Delighted! I’m pretty sure I’m going to really enjoy this, as my little ‘herders’ can be just like that! It wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful if she were compliant and docile!
Oh, Susan she’s gonna show you how truly loving and brilliant YOU are…..as you may already know greater the challenge greater the Bond! I am excited to watch us all grow by sharing your journey with this incredible little girl!
I love your video! I am sure your ‘lady-dragon’ vill inspire you for developing a lot of creative methods how to shape attitude of an independent puppy. Thanks a lot for sharing!