In this episode we are going to talk about everything you need to know to keep your border collie safe and active in summer. We will cover acclimatisation, heat stroke, hot pavements, water safety, and what to watch out for if you are travelling to a hotter country with your dog.

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One of the most common questions I get asked is: "Who is the pack leader after you?" — and my answer is that there is no pack leader, because we are not a pack. In this episode I break down what a pack actually is, why it doesn't apply to dogs living in a human household, and what the relationship between us and our dogs really looks like.

We cover:

• The scientific definition of a pack and why humans and dogs don't qualify
• The alpha wolf myth: where it came from, and how it was debunked
• What feral and street dogs in Italy, Eastern Europe, and South America actually do (and don't do) socially
• Why dogs evolved to live with us, not to dominate us
• What our household really is — and why that matters for how we train and relate to our dogs

• Pack (canine) — Wikipedia
• Pack Structure — Wolf Haven International
• Packs (Zoology) — EBSCO Research Starters

• Mech (1999) full paper PDF — wolf.org/USGS — L. David Mech, "Alpha Status, Dominance, and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs," Canadian Journal of Zoology, 77(8): 1196–1203
• Mech (1999) — Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Scientific Self-Correction: How Mech undid the alpha wolf concept — Science Arena
• Debunking the Alpha Dog Theory — Whole Dog Journal
• Alpha Dog Theory Is Dead. Science Killed It in 1999. — Dogly

• Boitani & Ciucci (1995) — Tandfonline — "Comparative Social Ecology of Feral Dogs and Wolves," Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 7: 49–72
• The Ecology and Behavior of Feral Dogs: A Case Study from Central Italy — ResearchGate
• Feral Dog overview — ScienceDirect

• Dog Dominance, Alpha and Pack Leadership — VCA Animal Hospitals
• The Truth About Dominance — Positively.com

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

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In this episode I will be chatting to you about how I'm managing resting Kes, my 6 months old Border Collie while on a 3 long week rest!

I'm also running a workshop to show you exactly how to teach these exercises I'm talking about!

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/live-class/productive-rest-mental-activity-static-training-for-the-active-dog-on-a-break/register

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

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Border Collies are often described as “high-energy dogs”, but in reality their behaviour is usually shaped by something much deeper: whether their core needs are being met.

In this episode, I talk about the five needs that I believe are essential for Border Collies to feel balanced and fulfilled. These include their need to use their brain, their need to run and move freely, their need to properly switch off and rest, their need for social connection, and their need for routine and predictability.

When one of these needs is missing, behaviour often starts to wobble. What many people interpret as “too much energy” is often simply an unmet need.

In this episode, I break down each of these five areas and explain why understanding them can completely change the way you look at your dog’s behaviour and daily life.

If you live with a Border Collie, this episode will help you better understand what your dog may actually be missing.

Join My New Class Here:

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Learn More About The Collie Club:

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n this episode, Martina speaks with Anna Herzog about FCI obedience and why it’s growing in the UK.

They discuss:

• What FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) is

• How FCI obedience differs from KC obedience

• Why the sport suits more than just Border Collies

• The balance between motivation, precision and handling

• Why you compete against the round, not just other handlers

• How beginner-friendly UK intro classes are being developed

They also talk about training practicality, minimal equipment, and the long-term goal of building a UK team for the FCI World Championships.

If you’ve ever loved obedience but wanted more variety and movement, this episode is for you.

To learn more about what Anna is doing and all the FCI obedience events, check her Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/annaherzogdogsports

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

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In this first episode of 2026, Martina shares a short update on welcoming an unexpected litter and keeping one of the puppies, Kestrel (Kes). From there, the episode focuses on a key training concept: the difference between life skills and training skills.

Martina explains why behaviours like recall, loose lead walking and settling often look easy in puppies but fall apart as dogs grow, and why this usually happens when the underlying training skills haven’t been developed. The episode breaks down how reliable everyday behaviour is built through smaller foundational skills rather than training life skills in isolation.

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, Martina dives into the fascinating and sometimes frustrating topic of water obsession in Border Collies. From playful splashing to full-on fixation, she explains what this behaviour looks like, where it may come from, and how to work through it with empathy and structure.

What You’ll Hear:

• What water obsession looks like: Digging, biting, drinking, or fixating on moving water — and when it becomes a problem.

• Why it happens: The role of excitement, movement, genetics, and even early pain or discomfort.

• Inherited tendencies: How Kite’s fixation connects to his family line and what that tells us about genetic predispositions.

• Kite’s training journey: Step-by-step on how Martina used the Premack Principle to build control and recall around water.

• • Managing vs fixing: How to set realistic expectations when working through obsessions in high-drive breeds.

• • Other dogs’ stories: Moss, Tay, and Jock — each with their own take on water and how Martina managed their quirks.

  • 🗣️ When to seek help: Why professional guidance can help you identify if the behaviour stems from excitement, pain, or compulsion.

    
    

    
    

  Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

  https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

  
  

  Get in touch:

  ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

  
  

  ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

  https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

  
  

  To follow me on social media:

  Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

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In this episode, Martina shares her personal opinions and experiences regarding spaying and neutering dogs. She discusses the reasons behind her decisions, and the behavioural impacts of neutering. Martina emphasises the importance of considering each dog's individual needs and consulting with professionals before making decisions about their reproductive health. She also touches on managing hormonal changes and training intact dogs in competitive environments.

Book an assessment 1-1 with me, online or face to face

⁠https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/dog-training-assessment/⁠

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/