Hi, we’re Yen and Claire, a mother-daughter team sharing a home with our Border Collies, who have taught us more about resilience, instinct, and kinship than we ever thought possible.

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It all started with a Border Collie named Raven, who was more than just a dog—he was a mirror reflecting our own struggles and triumphs. When Raven’s herding instincts came alive, they weren’t just a quirk—they were a force of nature. Living with him wasn’t easy at first. His relentless need to control movement, his fixation on cars and kids, and his unstoppable desire to chase often left us overwhelmed.

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In a bustling city, we’ve learned how to balance the needs of herdy, high-instinct Border Collies with the demands of modern life. Through Raven, we discovered something incredible: a way to meet his needs that didn’t just manage his instincts but honored them. That’s where herding games came in. These weren’t about suppressing who Raven was—they were about celebrating it, giving him purpose in a way that worked for all of us.

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Now, we channel everything we’ve learned into helping other Border Collie guardians. We know what it’s like to feel out of sync with a dog whose instincts run deep. And we know the hope that comes with finally finding a way to work with those instincts instead of against them.

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Collies With Yen is a space where we embrace the unique challenges of the herding brain, find joy in its strengths, and build a partnership grounded in trust and purpose. If you’re here, you’re not alone. Together, we can create a life where both you and your dog thrive.