Where Bucco Is Right Now
Developmental Phase
Primary Socialization (closing)
Window closes around week 16 (June 8, 2026). Pack in positive exposures.
Expected Weight
12-18 lb
Body condition matters more than the number. Target BCS 4-5/9.
Daily Calories (est.)
745-1015 kcal
4 meals/day. ~80% delivered through training.
The 30-Day Focus (May 11 – June 11)
- Crate Games — 5 min/day. Door opens = stay. Release word = freedom.
- Reinforcement Zone (RZ) — feed into the zone, never reach to him.
- Restrained Recall — Nina holds, Scott runs and calls, Nina releases, party at finish.
Plus: name recognition, It's Yer Choice (closed fist), cooperative-care pairing for the June 11 vet visit.
This Week's Watchouts
- First Fear Period (8-11 weeks) is wrapping up. Anything scary now imprints harder than usual. Distance + food, not coddling.
- Cats on leash always. Every stalk rehearsal makes the next likelier. Kiki and Rainier are in his social template; keep them there as conspecifics, not prey.
- No stairs, no jumping off furniture. Growth plates wide open.
- Vet visit June 11 — call now if not already scheduled. Bring tier-3 treats; treat the visit as a training session.
Next 4 Milestones
June 11, 2026
16-week boosters (DHPP final + rabies). Last vaccines this round.
~June 25, 2026
Full immunity (~2 wk post-boosters). Can access pet store floors, structured class.
July 6, 2026 (week 20)
Loose-leash work begins. Adolescence approaches.
August 17, 2026 (6 mo)
Adolescence officially. Trainability dip expected. Maintain, don't expand.
Feeding Calculator
RER = 70 × (kg0.75). Multiplied by life-stage factor for daily calorie target.
Daily target
— kcal/day
— cups/day · — meals · — per meal
Macros to Verify on the Bag
| Nutrient | Target (dry matter) | Note |
|---|
| Protein | ≥22.5% | Animal protein #1 ingredient ideally |
| Fat | ≥8.5% | Including DHA for brain (omega-3) |
| Calcium | 1.0–1.4% | Medium breed sweet spot |
| Phosphorus | 0.8–1.2% | |
| Ca:P ratio | 1.1:1 – 1.3:1 | The most important number |
AAFCO statement must say: "complete and balanced for growth" or "for all life stages."
Treat Math
Treats ≤ 10% of daily calories if separate from kibble. If using kibble as training currency: just shift meal calories, don't add.
Hierarchy (build with Bucco's preferences):
- Tier 1: kibble (sufficient at home, DII 1-2)
- Tier 2: training treats, freeze-dried liver, cheese cubes
- Tier 3: boiled chicken, hot dog pieces, scrambled egg
- Tier 4: his absolute favorite (find it during low-stakes work, save it for recall + vet)
Week-by-Week First Year
From the cornerstone document. Click a week to expand.
Week 12 (May 11–17, 2026) — NOW
First Fear Period closing
- Weight: 12-18 lb · ~745-1015 kcal · 4 meals
- Training: Crate Games + RZ + Restrained Recall (the three)
- Socialization: 5+ new positive exposures (surface, sound, person, ride, environment)
- Vet: 12-week shots done · Schedule June 11 booster
Week 13 (May 18–24)
- Weight: 14-21 lb · ~870-1085 kcal · 4 meals · teething begins
- Add Hand Target. Crate Games duration to ~10 sec door-open.
- First positive parking-lot exposure (carried, treats from distance).
Week 14 (May 25–31)
- Weight: 15-23 lb · ~935-1170 kcal
- Socialization window closing — push 5+ exposures this week.
- Begin Sit/Down position discrimination, no luring.
- Vet dry run (drive there, eat treats in parking lot, leave).
Week 15 (June 1–7)
- Weight: 17-25 lb · ~1020-1235 kcal
- RZ in motion: 2-3 steps. Foundation of loose-leash.
- First positive structured interaction with known adult dog.
Week 16 (June 8–14) — KEY MILESTONE
June 11: final puppy boosters
- Weight: 18-27 lb · ~1085-1300 kcal
- Primary socialization window closes (~now).
- Vet visit IS the training session: treats through every step.
- Watch first 4 hr post-shot for any concerning reaction.
Show weeks 17-26 (Engagement → 6 months)
Week 17–18 (June 15-28)
- Recovery + full immunity (~June 25). Begin Tug as currency. Drop multiplier to ×2.
Week 19–20 (June 29 – July 12)
- Long-line work. First "field trip." BC eye-stalk-chase starts to be visible. Manage deliberately.
Week 21–25 (July 13 – Aug 16)
- Generalization push (DII layering). Settle on mat to 1 min. First DII-5 recall on long line.
Week 26 (Aug 17–23) — 6 MONTHS / ADOLESCENCE
- Trainability dip begins (Asher et al. 2020).
- Maintain Phase 1-3 skills. Don't add new things.
- Discuss spay/neuter — push for 12-18 months.
Show weeks 27-39 (Adolescent storm + sport intro)
Week 27–31 (Aug 24 – Sep 27)
- Hormonal storm. Trainability low. Short sessions. Catch early signs of resource guarding, reactivity, compulsion NOW.
Week 32–36 (Sep 28 – Nov 1) — Second Fear Period possible
- Sudden new fears possible. Distance + food + time. Don't force exposure.
Week 37–39 (Nov 2-22) — 9 months
- Sport intro: agility foundations (no jumping), nosework, disc, treibball, scent.
Show weeks 40-52 (Late adolescence to 1 year)
Week 40–47 (Nov 23 – Jan 17)
- First off-leash work in enclosed spaces (long line still attached). Calmer dog emerges.
Week 48–52 (Jan 18 – Feb 15, 2027) — 1 YEAR
- Transition to adult food gradually (7-10 days).
- Annual booster + heartworm test.
- Earliest reasonable spay/neuter window — most research supports waiting longer for medium breeds.
The Susan Garrett Game Library — When to Use What
| Game | What it builds | Start when |
|---|
| Crate Games | Impulse control, the crate as best place, foundation of every cued behavior | Week 12 (now) |
| Reinforcement Zone | Position habit, loose-leash foundation, heel later | Week 12 (now) |
| Restrained Recall | Emotional engine for recall | Week 12 (now) |
| It's Yer Choice | Self-selected impulse control | Week 12-13 |
| Name Recognition | Orientation = "good things" | Week 12 (now) |
| Hand Targeting | Move dog around without luring; body awareness | Week 13-14 |
| Two-Toy Game | Retrieve foundation | Week 17-19 |
| Tug as Currency | Drive, engagement, drop on cue | Week 17-18 |
| Find It / Scatter | Nose engagement, decompression | Week 19+ |
| Settle on Mat | Off-switch, restaurant-readiness | Week 14, build slowly |
| Capture Defaults | Offered behaviors that hold through adolescence | Ongoing, daily |
The Distraction Intensity Index (DII)
Don't ask for behavior at a higher DII than you've trained it. Don't test what you haven't built.
| DII | Environment | Bucco use |
|---|
| 1 | Living room alone | Teaching anything new |
| 2 | Living room + family | Early fluency |
| 3 | Hallway, mild distractions | Fluency check |
| 4 | Backyard quiet | Adding mild challenge |
| 5 | Yard + squirrels visible | Real fluency test |
| 6 | Driveway, passing cars | Generalization |
| 7 | Quiet park, no other dogs | Recall begins testable |
| 8 | Sidewalk, other dogs at distance | Reliability check |
| 9 | Busy patio, kids, dogs | Late proofing |
| 10 | Game-day chaos | Master level |
Three Questions Before Any Training Decision
- What do I want him to do? (Define behavior, not "stop X.")
- What's reinforcing the unwanted behavior right now? (Follow the money.)
- How do I make the wanted behavior pay better than the alternative?
Border Collie–Specific Watchouts
BCs aren't generic dogs with extra brain. They're behavioral specialists. Manage what makes them BCs.
NEVER — Laser Pointers
Not once. The BC brain is the most vulnerable canine brain to light fixation. Single sessions have produced lifetime compulsions. If a guest pulls one out, you take it.
NEVER — Dog Parks
BCs get bullied (small frame, intense focus) or develop herding/control issues toward other dogs. Most BC reactivity stories start at a dog park. Structured puppy class > dog park, always.
Predatory Motor Pattern Sequence
Orient → Eye → Stalk → Chase → (suppressed: grab-bite, kill-bite). The neural reward is in the stalk and chase, not the kill. Bucco's brain runs this circuit constantly.
Give legitimate outlets: agility, disc, treibball, structured fetch.
Early Compulsion Signs
- Staring at reflections, shadows, fan blades
- Tail chasing beyond cute puppy moments
- Snapping at invisible flies
- Repetitive pacing in patterns
Interrupt immediately. Persistent → veterinary behaviorist now, not later.
Eye Behavior
The intense BC stare on a cat, child, car, or bike is self-reinforcing. The longer it goes, the harder to interrupt. Catch it within 1-2 seconds. Don't wait to see if it escalates.
Velcro-Dog Pattern
BCs select one primary person and shadow them. Train alone-time deliberately (1 min → 30 min over weeks). Both Scott and Nina should run training sessions or Bucco becomes brittle around one handler only.
Documented BC Genetic Diseases
| Disease | Population | Action |
|---|
| CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) | ~2.5% affected | Ask breeder for eye-clear or genetic clear status |
| TNS (Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome) | 5.9-8% carrier; affected rare | If Bucco's healthy at 12 wk, not affected. Useful for breeding decisions only. |
| NCL5 (Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis) | ~3.5% allele freq, rare affected | Genetic test available; symptoms onset 18-24 mo |
| MDR1 | Rare in BCs (more common in Aussies, Shelties, Collies) | Confirm status before ivermectin, loperamide, vincristine |
| Hip Dysplasia | ~12% per OFA | Lean BCS + no overexercise during growth = biggest controllable factor |
| Epilepsy | Variable, familial pattern | Onset 6 mo - 5 yr; no preventive test |
Quick Reference Card
The Four R's
- Relationship — you are the most reinforcing thing in his world
- Recall — comes every time
- Retrieve — brings value back to the handler
- Reinforcement Zone — the side where reinforcement happens
Toxic Foods (no exceptions)
Grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chives, leeks, chocolate, xylitol, macadamia nuts, alcohol, cooked bones, avocado pits/skin, yeast dough, coffee/tea, marijuana, apple cores, peach/cherry pits.
Body Condition Score (9-point)
- Target: 4-5 for growing BC
- Ribs felt easily, not seen
- Waist visible from above
- Tummy tuck from side
Sleep Needs by Age
- 8-16 weeks: 18-20 hr/day
- 4-6 months: 16-18 hr/day
- 6-12 months: 14-16 hr/day
- Adult: 12-14 hr/day
5-Minute Rule (Exercise)
Structured leash walking max: 5 min × months of age, twice a day. Free play in safe spaces self-regulates separately.
When To Get Help
- Medical / sudden behavior change → Vet first
- Behavioral, mild → KPA-CTP or CPDT-KA trainer (+R only)
- Bite incident / compulsion → DACVB veterinary behaviorist