ZENFULdog of the Month: Skye

April 2025’s shining star is none other than the radiant, ever-sociable, and effortlessly charming Skye! With her dazzling black-and-white coat that could grace a magazine cover, Skye is the epitome of the classic border collie. She’s more than just a pretty pup—Skye is adored by her pet parents, Chrissy and Colleen, and holds a special place in the heart of the ZENFULdog Training community.

Skye 

Age: 2 and a half

Meet Skye’s Family

(Chrissy & Colleen—Skye’s pet-parents): Chrissy never knew just how much her world needed Skye—until this radiant pup came bounding into her life: “She is so sweet, loving and loyal and can make me smile on even the rainiest of days. Her sad, puppy dog eyes constantly push me to get out and move, even on the coldest, wet days. She has been such an amazing addition to my life.”

Colleen considers Skye her shadow dog, who can be found by her side or attached to her heels from the moment she wakes up until the end of each day, herding her from room to room: “She makes my heart so full. She is so supportive, caring and encouraging. She means so much to me and brings so much joy to each and every day.”

(Skye’s three grown brothers who live away from home but visit): Skye’s brothers might be a little jealous of her reigning queen status, but let’s be honest—they wouldn’t have it any other way. They absolutely adore her! Whenever they come by, Skye is thrilled to soak up the affection, revel in the playtime, and enjoy a well-earned pat on the back. But, of course, she makes one thing crystal clear: this is her domain now.

(Theo—Skye’s feline brother): Theo is Chrissy and Colleen’s senior cat who just doesn’t understand Skye’s boundless enthusiasm for playtime: “Theo is a typical feline with an ‘Eat, Sleep, Repeat’ motto.” Theo and Skye may live in completely different energy universes, but they don’t fool Chrissy and Colleen, who have caught them napping side by side or sharing a moment looking out the window. 

Skye's Personality According to Chrissy: Skye is beyond social, effortlessly going with the flow of any situation. She’s often spotted sporting a new outfit—because, well, her pet-parents just couldn’t resist! A giant fur ball of energy, Skye is always ready for the next challenge: “She also loves her downtime, and when she tires (and yes it does happen...sometimes haha), she likes to just chill out and be a lazy girl.”

Chrissy Shares The Most Unique Thing about Skye: Skye has an amazing ability to adapt: “Although she is a naturally high-energy, herding breed, she can adapt to just about anything and be so chill about it.”

Skye's favourite Treats/Foods according to Chrissy: Skye loves all food, but nothing beats her beloved morning dental chew and peanut butter! She is very treat/food driven and shows this when in training—she will give you anything you ask for as long as there is a tasty reward involved.  

Chrissy Lists Skye’s Favourite Activities:  

• Going to school

• Playing frisbee & catch

• Hiking with her friends in the Party Pack

• Learning new tricks in Trick Training

• Tackling anything in parkour.  

Chrissy Explains How Skye Unwinds After a Full Day of Activity: Each morning, Skye’s day starts with a 5 to 10-minute relaxation massage with lots of cuddles: “She rolls from side to side just soaking it all in before she jumps out of bed to start her day. During downtime in the evening, Skye has a recliner chair that she curls up in every night. If we have company, or if anyone is sitting in her chair, she paces around giving ‘the look’ and jumps on it the first chance she gets.”

Skye’s Training 

Skye began her training adventure at ZENFULdog Training nearly two years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since! She’s tackled a variety of classes, mastering Training Levels 2 and 3, Socialization, and multiple levels of Parkour. Right now, she’s deep into her second round of Trick class, with graduation from the Intermediate level right around the corner. But Skye isn’t stopping there—she’s already signed up for the next level of Trick, earning her the well-deserved title of ‘professional student’! 

Chrissy Tells Us How Training Has Shaped Skye: “Skye's training with Kendra & Kether has been nothing short of amazing. Training at ZENFULdog has taught our fun-loving, crazy-minded Border Collie that not everything is about the chase and herd and that you can also settle and be mindful to achieve success. More than just teaching Skye, ZENFULdog Training has also taught Colleen and me how to work with and understand Skye’s needs & challenges and how to assist and enrich her continued growth.”

Chrissy Describes Skye’s Biggest Training Challenges/Successes: 

Skye loves to play and thinks everyone needs to love and devote all attention to her. In the last year or so, Skye went from puppy to teenager and has learned she has a new voice!

“Between her Herder Stare and newfound ‘voice’ (bark), it can be a bit challenging to keep her focus when she has her mind set on a person or another dog. She can be a bit unsettled when there is a new person with whom she is not comfortable or another dog around that is not her biggest fan. We continue to work on this with her every day and remind her that not everyone always wants to play. We remind her also that even when she is uncertain, she can always count on us to have her best interest.

Seeing Skye transition from a super impulsive border collie puppy to a mindful dog that checks in for reassurance has been so amazing. We are seeing this in new ways each and every day, and know this is hugely thanks to the support received from the staff and friends at ZENFULdog.”

Chrissy recalls Skye’s Most Rewarding Moments of Training in Action: "There are so many to choose from!  She recently learned ‘rollover’! This was very exciting, and she always seems so proud when she does it. Although she favours one side, she will do the other as well with a bit of treat coaxing!”

Chrissy adds: "Thank you ZENFULdog, for all you do. You are all the absolute best, and we are so happy to be part of the ZENFULdog family!”

Kendra adds: “I love seeing the amazing arc of a dog as they learn and grow, and this is especially true of our super border collie Skye, thanks to the love and consistency in teaching from her wonderful family.

Colleen and Chrissy are amazing pet-parents, which is apparent in how well Skye excels at tackling challenges and loves them. They truly understand her need for a balance of high-energy exercises without compromising enriching and stimulating activities for her brain. Achieving a good balance means she can tackle difficult parkour and trick behaviours and can also settle and chill while waiting. She really has matured so much and I can say she is the Border Collie that influences me to want one!”

A heartfelt “Thank You!” Chrissy and Colleen for providing fantastic content for this feature! Don’t forget you can follow ZENFULdog Training on Facebook to stay connected with your like-minded, dog-loving community every day!